Under the heading of “When insults had class,” John Price was kind enough to pass along to me “these glorious insults from an era before the English language got boiled down to four-letter words.” I thought they were more fun than talking about living in retirement homes.

“He had delusions of adequacy,” said Walter Kerr.

“He had all the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire,” said Winston Churchill.

“He has never been known to use a word that might send a reader to the dictionary,” said William Faulkner about Ernest Hemingway.

“Thank you for sending me a copy of your book; I’ll waste no time reading it,” said Moses Hadas.

“He has no enemies, but is intentionally disliked by his friends,” said Oscar Wilde.

“I am enclosing two tickets to the first night of my new play: bring a friend if you have one,” said George Bernard Shaw to Winston Churchill. “Cannot possibly attend the first night, will attend second if there is one,” said Winston Churchill in response.

“I feel so miserable without you; it’s almost like having you here,” said Stephen Bishop.

“He is a self-made man and worships his creator,” said John Bright.

“Some cause happiness whenever they go, others whenever they leave,” said Oscar Wilde.

“He used statistics as a drunken man uses a lamppost for support rather than illumination,” said Andrew Lang.

“He has Van Gogh’s ear for music,” said Billy Wilder.

“I’ve had a perfectly wonderful evening, but I’m afraid this wasn’t it,” said Groucho Marx.

Please send me any information you might have that you think will be fun or of interest to the class.

—Dave Kurr, 603 Mountain Ave., Apt. 331, New Providence, NJ 07974; (781) 801-6716; djkurr@verizon.net