Memorable quotes for
A Thousand Clowns (1965) More at IMDbPro »

Murray Burns: If things aren't funny then they're exactly what they are; and then they're like a long dental appointment.

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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.

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Nick: I can imitate the voice of Alexander Hamilton. I do Alexander Hamilton, and Murray does a terrific Thomas Jefferson. We got the voices just right.
[Murray and Nick speak to each other in normal tones throughout]
Murray Burns: [to Nick] Hi, Alex, how're you doing?
Nick: Fine. Say, Tom, you should have been in Congress today.
Leo: This is ridiculous! You can't do an imitation of Alexander Hamilton, nobody knows what he sounds like!
Nick: That's the funny part.
Murray Burns: You missed the funny part, Leo.

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Albert Amundsen: You are not a person, Mr. Burns. You are an experience!

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[in a candlelit restaurant]
Waiter: Have you decided on your luncheon order, sir?
Murray Burns: Yes. I'll have a hamburger. And a flashlight.

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Leo: There's the little guy. I've got a Chuckles statue for you.
Nick: Thank you, Mr. Herman. Imagine how pleased I am to receive it.

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Murray Burns: Better go to your room.
Nick: This is a one-room apartment.
Murray Burns: OK, then go to your alcove.

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Albert Amundsen: ...after I leave here... from this place... from your mind. And regardless of what you think of me...
Murray Burns: I think you're a dirty O.W.
Albert Amundsen: [slight pause] And do you know what you are? Maladjusted!
Murray Burns: Ooh!
[strikes heart and sinks to the floor]

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Murray Burns: [answers phone] Hello, is this someone with good news or money? No? Goodbye!
[hangs up]

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Murray Burns: You might call Nick a bastard... or a little bastard, depending on how whimsical you feel at the time.

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Murray Burns: I just want him to stay with me until I can be sure he won't turn into Norman Nothing. I want to be sure he'll know when he's chickening out on himself. I want him to get to know exactly the special thing he is or else he won't notice it when it starts to go. I want him to stay awake and know who the phonies are, I want him to know how to holler and put up an argument, I want a little guts to show before I can let him go. I want to be sure he sees all the wild possibilities. I want him to know it's worth all the trouble just to give the world a little goosing when you get the chance. And I want him to know the subtle, sneaky, important reason why he was born a human being and not a chair.

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Murray Burns: Nick, you are about to see a horrible, horrible thing.
Nick: What's that Murray?
Murray Burns: People going to work.

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Arnold Burns: Why can't you just get blacklisted like everyone else?

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Murray Burns: [shouts at rows of houses] Neighbors, I have an announcement for you. I have never seen such a collection of dirty windows. Now I want to see all of you out there on the fire escape with your Mr. Clean bottles, and let's snap it up!

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Dr. Sandra 'Sandy' Markowitz: 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 Burns: 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.

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Murray Burns: You didn't answer my question. Would you like to visit the Empire State Building?
Dr. Sandra 'Sandy' Markowitz: No, not really.
Murray Burns: Well, then how about the zoo?
Dr. Sandra 'Sandy' Markowitz: Not just now.
Murray Burns: Well, then will you marry me?
Dr. Sandra 'Sandy' Markowitz: What?
Murray Burns: Just a bit of shock treatment there. I have found after long experience that it's the quickest way to get a woman's attention when her mind wanders. Always works.

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Murray Burns: [Leans out his apartment window] This is your neighbor speaking. I'm sure I speak for all of us when I say that something must be done about your garbage cans in the alley here.
[raises voice]
Murray Burns: It is definitely second-rate garbage. Now, by next week I want to see a better class of garbage, more empty champagne bottles and caviar cans! I'm sure you're all behind me on this. So let's snap it up and get on the ball!

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Albert Amundsen: Miss Markowitz did not show up in Queens yesterday.
Murray Burns: So?
Albert Amundsen: Her parents are quite upset. I am quite upset. Where is she?
Murray Burns: She's hiding in the closet.
Albert Amundsen: We're really all quite anxious to know where she is.
Murray Burns: Well, I'm not kidding, Albert. She's in the closet.
Albert Amundsen: [Goes to closet, opens door, looks in, closes door, walks back] She is in the closet.
Murray Burns: I wouldn't lie to you, Albert.
Albert Amundsen: Why is she in the closet?
Murray Burns: Well, I don't know. She's got this thing about closets.
Albert Amundsen: That's a very silly thing for her to be in that closet.
Murray Burns: Well, don't knock it until you've tried it.

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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?

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Nick: See, lady, he was developing into a bum. I mean, you don't want to see somebody you like developing into a bum and doing nutty things. You know what he does? He hollers. Like, we were on Park Avenue last Sunday, and it's very early in the morning, there's no one in the street, see, just all these big, quiet apartment houses; and he hollers, "Rich people, I want to see you all out on the street for volleyball! Let's snap it up!" And you know, sometimes, if we're in a crowded elevator some place, he'll turn to me and he'll say, "Max, there'll be no more of this self-pity. Now, you're forty; it's time you got used to being a midget!" And everybody stares. He has a wonderful time. What are you gonna do with someone who hollers like that?

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Murray Burns: [Takes off his hat] Sandy, I... I'm sorry. I'm very sorry.
[Sandra doesn't respond]
Murray Burns: Well, damn it, lady, that was a beautiful apology. I mean, you gotta love a guy who can apologize so nice. I rehearsed for over an hour. Aw, Sandy, that's the most you should expect from life, a really good apology for all the things you won't get.

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Murray Burns: Five months ago I was on the subway on my way to work, was sitting on the express same as every morning looking out the window watching the local stops go by in the dark with an empty head and my arms folded, not feeling great, not feeling rotten, just not feeling. And for a minute I couldn't remember, I didn't know, unless I really concentrated, whether it was a Tuesday or a Thursday or a... for a minute it could have been any day, Arn.
[Stands up]
Murray Burns: I gotta know what day it is. I gotta know what's the name of the game and what the rules are without anyone else telling me. You gotta own your own days and name 'em, each one of 'em, every one of 'em, or else the years go right by and none of them belong to you. And that ain't just for weekends, kiddo.

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Murray Burns: [shouts at rows of houses] Campers! The entertainment committee was quite disappointed in the really poor turnout at this morning's community sing. I mean, where's all that old Camp Chickawattamee spirit? I'm sure I speak for all of us here when I say that I...
[pause]
Murray Burns: Now, I'd like to say right now that... that...
[softly]
Murray Burns: Campers, I can't think of anything to say.

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