“A slavish concern for the composition of words is the sign of a bankrupt intellect,” roared the Humbug, waving his cane furiously.
Norton Juster
- Life
- 1929-2021
- Occupations
- writer, architect, children's writer
- Notable works
- The Phantom Tollbooth
Facts: Wikidata (CC0), as of 2026-07-09
A slavish concern for the composition of words is the sign of a bankrupt intellect, roared the Humbug, waving his cane furiously.
Norton Juster
"But that's just as bad," protested Milo.
Norton Juster
But that's just as bad, protested Milo. "You mean just as good," corrected the Humbug. "Things which are equally bad are also equally good. Try to look at the bright side of things."
Norton Juster
"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."
Norton Juster
"Don't say it," ghasped the dog, and Milo could see a tear well up in his eye.
Norton Juster
“Don’t say it,” ghasped the dog, and Milo could see a tear well up in his eye. “I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings,” said Milo, not meaning to hurt his feelings.
Norton Juster
Don't say it, ghasped the dog, and Milo could see a tear well up in his eye. "I didn't mean to hurt your feelings," said Milo, not meaning to hurt his feelings. "That's all right," said the dog, getting hold of himself. "It's an old story and a sad
Norton Juster
“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.”
Norton Juster
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."
Norton Juster
"I never knew words could be so confusing," Milo said to Tock as he bent down to scratch the dog's ear.
Norton Juster
“I never knew words could be so confusing,” Milo said to Tock as he bent down to scratch the dog’s ear. “Only when you use a lot to say a little,” answered Tock. Milo thought this was quite the wisest thing he’d heard all day.
Norton Juster
I never knew words could be so confusing, Milo said to Tock as he bent down to scratch the dog's ear. "Only when you use a lot to say a little," answered Tock. Milo thought this was quite the wisest thing he'd heard all day.
Norton Juster
Of course, if you've ever gotten a surprise package, you can imagine how puzzled and excited Milo was; and if you've never gotten one, pay close attention, because someday you might.
Norton Juster
"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?"
Norton Juster
“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?” “I can’t do any of those things,” admitted Milo. “What an ordinary little boy,” commented the king.
Norton Juster
"They're very tasty," explained the Humbug, "but they don't always agree with you. Here's one that's very good." He handed it to Milo and, through the icing and nuts, Milo saw that it said "THE EARTH IS FLAT."
Norton Juster
"Why, my cabinet members can do all sorts of things. The duke here can make mountains out of molehills. The minister splits hairs. The count makes hay while the sun shines. The earl leaves no stone unturned. And the undersecretary," he finished ominously, "hangs by a thread."
Norton Juster
Why, my cabinet members can do all sorts of things. The duke here can make mountains out of molehills. The minister splits hairs. The count makes hay while the sun shines. The earl leaves no stone unturned. And the undersecretary, he finished ominously, "hangs by a thread."
Norton Juster
"You're on the Island of Conclusions."
Norton Juster
"You see," continued the minister, bowing thankfully to the duke, "Dictionopolis is the place where all the words in the world come from. They're grown right here in our orchards."
Norton Juster