Cary Grant, born Archie Leach, was a poor boy who could barely spell posh. That's acting for you-or maybe Hollywood.
– Melvin Maddocks
Discreet as an old teacup.
– Melvin Maddocks
Giving jazz the Congressional seal of approval is a little like making Huck Finn an honorary Boy Scout.
– Melvin Maddocks
It is beyond the imagination of the menu-maker that there are people in the world who breakfast on a single egg.
– Melvin Maddocks
It is one test of a fully developed writer that he reminds us of no one but himself.
– Melvin Maddocks
Journalists do not like to report on uncertainties. They would almost rather be wrong than ambiguous.
– Melvin Maddocks
Nothing is more idealistic than a journalist on the defensive.
– Melvin Maddocks
Once we thought, journalists and readers alike, that if we put together enough facts and gave them a fast stir, we would come up with something that, at least by the standards of short-order cooks, could be called the truth.
– Melvin Maddocks
To choose art means to turn one's back on the world, or at least on certain of its distractions.
– Melvin Maddocks
Watching baseball under the lights is like observing dogs indoors, at a pedigree show. In both instances, the environment is too controlled to suit the species.
– Melvin Maddocks
Writing is the most demanding of callings, more harrowing than a warrior's, more lonely than a whaling captain's-that, in essence, is the modern writer's message.