"SILENCE," suggested the King. "Now, young man, what can you do to entertain us? Sing songs? Tell stories? Compose sonnets? Juggle plates? Do tumbling tricks? Which is it?"

More from Juster Norton

• “A slavish concern for the composition of words is the sign of a bankrupt intellect,” roared the Humbug, waving his cane furiously.
• "But that's just as bad," protested Milo.
• "Dig in," said the king, poking Milo with his elbow and looking disapprovingly at his plate. "I can't say that I think much of your choice."
• "Don't say it," ghasped the dog, and Milo could see a tear well up in his eye.
• “Good,” said the judge, rapping his gavel three times. “I always have trouble remembering the long ones. How about ‘I am’? That’s the shortest sentence I know.”
• "I never knew words could be so confusing," Milo said to Tock as he bent down to scratch the dog's ear.