“I like long walks, especially when they’re taken by people who annoy me”

“I am fond of long walks—when taken by some folks who annoy me” is a jocular line that was cited in a February 1932 newspaper, without attribution. “Fred Allen admits that he likes long walks—when they are taken by people who annoy him” was cited in a March 1932 newspaper. The popular line is usually credited to American comedian Fred Allen (1894-1956).
 
English playwright Noel Coward (1899-1973) is sometimes credited (mostly since about 2000), but there is no evidence that he said it.
   
 
Wikipedia: Fred Allen
Fred Allen (born John Florence Sullivan; May 31, 1894 – March 17, 1956) was an American comedian whose absurdist, topically pointed radio show (1932–1949) made him one of the most popular and forward-looking humorists in the Golden Age of American radio.
 
28 February 1932, Bluefield (WV) ,i>Daily Telegraph, “Fodder for Sports from the Press Box,” pg. 11, col. 4:
I am fond of long walks—when taken by some folks who annoy me
 
20 March 1932, Illinois State Journal (Springfield, IL), “Gotham Pickups” by Mark Barron, pg. 6, col. 2:
Fred Allen admits that he likes long walks—when they are taken by people who annoy him.
   
Google Books
The Reader’s Digest
Volume 55
1949
Pg. 116:
Fred Allen: I like long walks, especially when they are taken by people who annoy me.
 
31 January 1951, Amarillo (TX) Daily News, “From A to Izzard” by Wes Izzard, pg. 1, col. 1:
Fred Allen says he enjoys long walks, especially when they are taken by people who annoy him.
 
20 February 1952, Aberdeen (SD) American-News, Bennett Cerf column, pg. 4, col. 4:
FRED ALLEN CONFESSES that he just loves long walks—especially when they’re taken by people who annoy him.
 
Google Books
The Concise Columbia Dictionary of Quotations
By Robert Andrews
New York, NY: Columbia University Press
1989
Pg. 99:
I like long walks, especially when they are taken by people who annoy me.
Fred Allen (1894-1957)
American comic
 
Google Books
Phillips’ Treasury of Humorous Quotations
By Bob Phillips
Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers
2004
Pg. 13:
I like long walks, especially when they are taken by people who annoy me. — Fred Allen
 
21 January 2004, Daily Republican Register (Mount Carmel, IL), “Musings on the Wabash,” pg. 1, col. 5:
I like long walks, especially when they are taken by people who annoy me. — Noel Coward
 
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I like long walks, especially when they are taken by people who annoy me. -  Noel Coward #quotes #quote
6:50 PM - 7 Jul 2015