A Thousand Clowns poster

A Thousand Clowns Quotes

"... IT'S A LIFT FOR THE SPIRITS"

1965 · 1h 58m
69
Audience
69
Audience
13 quotes
Conflict of Opinions in a Legal Dispute
Albert Mr. Burns, you can assume at this point that Miss Markowitz is no longer involved with your case. The Board will be informed that she is no longer involved with this particular case. Her continuing here, to discuss your case -- at this point -- is entirely unofficial. You can dismiss any conference -- that may resume after I leave -- when I leave here, from your mind. And regardless of what you think of me--
Murray I think you're a dirty O.W.
Albert And -- do you know what you are? Maladjusted!
Murray Oooh!
[''strikes heart and sinks to the floor'']
A Whimsical Take on Nick's Character
Murray Burns You might call Nick a bastard... or a little bastard, depending on how whimsical you feel at the time.
Celebrating a Local Deli Legend's Birthday
Murray Burns Irving R. Feldman's birthday is my own personal national holiday. I did not open it up for the public. He is proprietor of perhaps the most distinguished kosher delicatessen in our neighborhood, and, as such, I hold the day of his birth in reverence.
Exploring Identity and Unexpected Possibilities
Sandy There is a kind of relief that it's gone - the job, and even Albert. But I know what it is, it's just irresponsible, that's all. And I don't have the vaguest idea who I am.
Murray It's just that there are all these Sandras running around who you've never met before, and it's confusing at first, fantastic. But damn it, isn't it great to find out how many Sandras there are? It's like those little cars in the circus, you know? This tiny red car comes out, hardly big enough for a midget, and it putters around, and suddenly its doors open and out come a thousand clowns, whooping and hollering and raising hell.
A Difficult Decision Between Friends
Nick We got to get rid of him!
Murray Nick...
[hugging Nick]
Nick We got to! Please!
Murray Nick, we can't. We can't. Aw, kid, I'm sorry. Sorry, kid. I'm sorry.
Expectations of Life and Apologies
Murray Burns Aw, Sandy, that's the most you should expect from life, a really good apology for all the things you won't get.
Concern Over Miss Markowitz's Disappearance
Albert Miss Markowitz did not show up in Queens yesterday.
Murray So...
Albert Well, her parents are quite upset. I am quite upset. Where is she?
Murray She’s hiding in the closet.
Albert Now, we’re really all quite anxious to know where she is.
Murray I’m not kidding, Albert, she’s in the closet.
Albert She is in the closet.
[''checks the closet, gazes at her momentarily, quickly closes the door, and goes back to talk with Murray'']
Murray I wouldn’t lie to you, Albert.
Albert Why is she in the closet?
Murray I don’t know, uh…she’s got this thing about closets.
Albert Well, that’s a very silly thing for her to be in, that closet.
Murray Well, don’t knock it until you’ve tried it. Now, what else can I do for you, Albert?
Albert That’s a difficult thing for me to believe...I mean, that she’s right there in the closet. You know, you are not a person, Mr. Burns, you are an experience!
Murray That’s very nice, Albert. I’ll have to remember that.
[''laughing'']
Misunderstandings in Conversation About Parenthood
Albert I was not aware that Nicholas was an O.W. child.
Murray O.W."?
Albert Out of wedlock.
Murray For a moment there, I thought you meant prisoner of war. I think it's that natural warmth of yours, Albert, that leads me to misunderstand.
The Dread of Daily Routine
Murray Nick, you are about to see a horrible, horrible thing.
Nick What's that Murray?
Murray People going to work.
Critique of Personal Blacklisting in Society
Arnold Burns Murray, you've got a rotten reputation. Even these guys weren't easy to grab. Why do you have to build your own personal blacklist? Why can't you just get blacklisted as a Communist like everybody else?
Decision to Pursue a Case in Queens
Albert Sandra, it's really time we left for Queens.
Sandra Here's the Ledbetter file, I'm staying here.
Albert Sandra.
Sandra I have decided to pursue this case.
Albert Sandra, have we lost all professional control?
Sandra You just -- you just go yourself -- to the Leadbellies -- you go on to Queens.
The Humor in Life's Mundanity
Murray Burns If things aren't funny then they're exactly what they are; and then they're like a long dental appointment.
A Child's Honest Critique of Humor
Nick My simple child reaction of what you did is that you are not funny. Funnier than you is even Stuart Schlossman, who is my friend, and is eleven, and puts walnuts in his mouth and makes noises. What is not funny is to call us names, and what is mostly not funny is how sad you are, and I'd feel sorry for you if it wasn't for how dull you are. And those are the worst-tasting potato chips that I've ever tasted. And that's my opinion from the blue, blue sky.