If you can’t say anything nice …

There is art to the putdown. My friend Kathleen Magone sends me quotes from time to time. The following are some of the best putdowns of all time:

“I am enclosing two tickets to the first night of my new play, bring a friend … if you have one.” – George Bernard Shaw to Winston Churchill

”Cannot possibly attend first night, will attend second … if there is one.” – Winston Churchill , in reply

“I have never killed a man, but I have read many obituaries with great pleasure.” – Clarence Darrow

“I’ve had a perfectly wonderful evening. But this wasn’t it.” – Groucho Marx

“I didn’t attend the funeral, but I sent a nice letter saying I approved of it.” – Mark Twain

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