Dororthy Parker had SASS down to a SCIENCE.
By Liza Walter — Written on Aug 24, 2016
The first time I heard the name Dorothy Parker was during the Broadway musical, Thoroughly Modern Millie. It was the roaring 20’s and Ms. Dorothy Parker was a minor character but a sharp witted one. It turns out, she really was quite sarcastic — a trait she became widely known for. As of this year, Dorothy Parker would have turned a whopping 123 years old.
So who, really, was Dorothy Parker?
She was a critic, shorty story writer, screenplay writer, poet, and satirist. Her wise-cracking humor, sharp-tongued wit, and general disdain for life made her an extremely fascinating, supremely accomplished lady.
She was born with her quick wit. When her mother died and her father remarried, instead of calling her step-mother “Mom,” she called her “The Housekeeper” because she didn’t like her. And when Parker was told former President Calvin Coolidge had died, she said, “How could they tell?”
It was that saucy humor that also got her fired from her role with Vanity Fair, after insulting one too many producers. When she married actor/screenwriter Alan Campbell, who was rumored to be bisexual, she responded, in public, that he was “queer as a billygoat.” Needless to say, Dorothy Parker would have fit much more easily into our culture today.
When Parker passed away at the age of 73, she left her estate to Dr. Martin Luther King. When he passed, it was transferred to the NAACP.
Parker was one of the strongest women in American history, and today, we honor her memory with some of her funniest, slap-you-in-the-face quotes that will have you laughing, but more importantly, thinking!
If you're searching for the best quotes and memes to share with the people you love (or just want to feel inspired yourself) ... look no further! From the sweetest love quotes, inspirational sayings, and hilarious friendship truths, we've got you covered.
Sassy and smart takes preparation.
Photo: AZQuotes
"The first thing I do in the morning is brush my teeth and sharpen my tongue." — Dorothy Parker
On going with your gut.
Photo: PBS
"Don't look at me in that tone of voice." — Dorothy Parker
On her powerful work.
Photo: BlogSpot
"This is not a novel to be tossed aside lightly. It should be thrown with great force" — Dorothy Parker
On how she really feels about the big issues.
Photo: BlogSpot
"If you want to know what God thinks of money, just look at the people He gave it to." — Dorothy Parker
On how to make life WAY easier.
Photo: StatusMind
"Four things without which I would have been better: love, curiosity, freckles and doubts." — Dorothy Parker
On sexuality and society.
Photo: Tumblr
"Heterosexuality is not normal, it's just common." — Dorothy Parker
On what it takes to be a writer.
Photo: BabyToBoomer
"If you have any wrong friends who aspire to become writers, the second greatest favor you can do them is to present them with copies of The Elements of Style. The first greatest, of course, is to shoot them now, while they're happy." - Dorothy Parker
On loving (and hating) what she does.
Photo: CafePress
"I hate writing; I love having written." - Dorothy Parker
On growing and learning.
Photo: InspirationalQuotes
"And if my heart be scarred and burned, the safer, I, for all I learned." - Dorothy Parker
On taking risks, even when you don't think they are the right ones.
Photo: Pinterest
"That would be a good thing for them to cut on my tombstone: Wherever she went, including here, it was against her better judgment." - Dorothy Parker
On drinking.
Photo: SquareSpace
"I like to have a martini, two at the very most. After three I'm under the table, after four I'm under my host." - Dorothy Parker
On dealing with people.
Photo: RateAQuote
"I was always sweet at first. Oh, it's so easy to be sweet to people before you love them." - Dorothy Parker
On life.
Photo: QuotationsToday
"Beauty is only skin deep, but ugly goes clean to the bone." - Dorothy Parker
On friendship.
Photo: FullDose
"Constant use will not wear ragged the fabric of friendship." - Dorothy Parker
On
Photo: PictureQuotes
"I know that there are things that never have been funny, and never will be. And I know that ridicule may be a shield, but it is not a weapon." - Dorothy Parker
On marriage.
Photo: WordPress
"The definition of eternity is two people and a ham." - Dorothy Parker
On moving on.
Photo: WishAFriend
"Lips that taste of tears, they say, are the best for kissing." - Dorothy Parker
On heartbreak.
Photo: Pinterest
"By the time you swear you're his, shivering and sighing, And he vows his passion is, Infinite, Undying — Lady, make a note of this: One of you is lying." - Dorothy Parker
On love.
Photo: SomeeCards
“It serves me right for putting all my eggs in one bastard.” — Dorothy Parker