“Comedy is a serious business” (theatre adage)
"Comedy is a serious business" has been attributed to the actor David Garrick (1717-1779), but cited in print from only 1894. Garrick allegedly said that tragedy was much easier to play.…
Origin of “Canuck” (“Johnny Canuck”)
“Comedy is tragedy plus time” (theatre adage)
Entry in progress -- B.P. 21 July 1958, Bakersfield (CA) Californian, pg. 21, col. 1:Allen (Comedian Steve Allen -- ed.) also has another formula for laughs: "Tragedy plus time plus the will…
“Comes the revolution, everyone will eat strawberries and cream!”
In the Broadway production of Ballyhoo of 1932, Willie Howard (1886-1949) and his brother Eugene Howard (1991-1965) played in a skit where a soap-box orator told some Columbus Circle (New York…
“Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success”
"Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success" is a popular saying of uncertain authorship. U.S. President Calvin Coolidge said in 1927:…
“Commercials for prescription drugs would be better if the actors had to act out the side effects”
Commercials for prescription drugs almost always show a person happy and healthy after taking the drug. Some people have suggested that the commercials should act out the side effects. "TV…
“Commit to be fit”
"Commit to be fit" is a popular fitness slogan. "Commit to be fit" was cited in print in an advertisement for a Wisconsin health club in November 1984. The saying has appeared…
“Committee work is like a soft chair—easy to get into but hard to get out of”
"Committee work is like a soft chair -- easy to get into but hard to get out of" is a jocular saying about committees. "Committee work is easy to get into but hard to get out of --…
“Committees have become so important nowadays that subcommittees have to be appointed to do work”
"Committees have become so important that a subcommittee has to be appointed to do the work" is a jocular saying that has been cited in print since at least April 1964, when it was…
“Common sense is a flower that doesn’t grow in everyone’s garden”
"Common sense is a flower that doesn't grow in everyone's garden" is a saying that has been printed on many images. "common sense is a flower that doesn't grow in…
“Common sense is like deodorant. The people who need it most never use it”
"Common sense is like deodorant. The people who need it (the) most never use it" (or "Common sense is like deodorant. Those who need it most never use it) is a saying that has been…
“Common sense is like deodorant. Those who need it most never use it”
"Common sense is like deodorant. The people who need it (the) most never use it" (or "Common sense is like deodorant. Those who need it most never use it) is a saying that has been…
“Common sense is the knack of seeing things as they are, and doing things as they ought to be done”
"Common sense is the knack of seeing things as they are, and doing things as they ought to be done" is a saying that has been printed on many images. The saying has been frequently…
“Common sense should reveal the absolute absurdity of what is happening in the world right now”
"The truth is, you shouldn't even need to research at this point. Common sense should reveal the absolute absurdity of what is happening in the world right now" is a saying that has…
“Communion wine should always be full-bodied”
Is Communion wine "full-bodied"? "I wonder if communion wine could be described as 'full-bodied'. Suppose not. Unless you dropped a wafer in it" was posted on Twitter…
“Communism doesn’t work because people like to own stuff”
"Communism doesn't work because people like to own stuff" is a saying that has been printed on many images, credited to American musician, composer and bandleader Frank Zappa…
“Communism is the opiate of the intellectuals”
Karl Marx (1818-1883) wrote in 1843: "It (religion -- ed.) is the opium of the people." The quotation is often given as: "Religion is the opium/opiate of the masses/people."…
“Communism is when ugly deformed freaks make it illegal to be normal then rob and/or kill all successful people…”
A statement about communism was posted on X/Twitter -- now no longer available -- by Mystery Grove Publishing Co. @MysteryGrove on September 15, 2021: "Reminder: Communism is when ugly…
“Communism: Ideas so good they have to be mandatory”
"Authoritarianism/ Communism/ Government/ Liberalism/ Marxism/ Progressivism/ Socialism/ Statism: Ideas so good, they have to be mandatory" is a political saying that has been printed on…
“Communism: You masked for it”
The COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic resulted in many requirements to wear face masks. "Communism: You masked for it" (a pun on "you asked for it") was written on a sign by a…
“Communists aren’t people. They’re state property”
"Communists aren't people. They're state property" is what a communist view might be. "Communists aren’t people, they’re state property and must be disposed of"…