Outside of a dog, a book is a man’s best friend. Inside of a dog it’s too dark to read.

Meaning of the quote

A book is like a best friend, but only when you're not inside a dog. That's because if you were inside a dog, it would be too dark to read your book. Groucho Marx, a famous American comedian, came up with this humorous way of saying that a book is a great companion, as long as you're not stuck somewhere super dark like inside a dog.

About Groucho Marx

Groucho Marx was an American comedian, actor, writer, and singer who performed with the Marx Brothers and had a successful solo career, notably as the host of the game show ‘You Bet Your Life’. He was known for his distinctive appearance, including his exaggerated stooped posture, spectacles, cigar, and thick greasepaint mustache and eyebrows.

More about the author

More quotes from Groucho Marx

I never forget a face, but in your case I’ll be glad to make an exception.

Groucho Marx

American comedian (1890-1977)

I’ve got the brain of a four year old. I’ll bet he was glad to be rid of it.

Groucho Marx

American comedian (1890-1977)

I refuse to join any club that would have me as a member.

Groucho Marx

American comedian (1890-1977)

A child of five would understand this. Send someone to fetch a child of five.

Groucho Marx

American comedian (1890-1977)

I have had a perfectly wonderful evening, but this wasn’t it.

Groucho Marx

American comedian (1890-1977)

Practically everybody in New York has half a mind to write a book, and does.

Groucho Marx

American comedian (1890-1977)

One morning I shot an elephant in my pajamas. How he got into my pajamas I’ll never know.

Groucho Marx

American comedian (1890-1977)

I must say I find television very educational. The minute somebody turns it on, I go to the library and read a good book.

Groucho Marx

American comedian (1890-1977)

Wives are people who feel they don’t dance enough.

Groucho Marx

American comedian (1890-1977)

Anyone who says he can see through women is missing a lot.

Groucho Marx

American comedian (1890-1977)

All people are born alike – except Republicans and Democrats.

Groucho Marx

American comedian (1890-1977)

The first thing which I can record concerning myself is, that I was born. These are wonderful words. This life, to which neither time nor eternity can bring diminution – this everlasting living soul, began. My mind loses itself in these depths.

Groucho Marx

American comedian (1890-1977)

Marry me and I’ll never look at another horse!

Groucho Marx

American comedian (1890-1977)

I read in the newspapers they are going to have 30 minutes of intellectual stuff on television every Monday from 7:30 to 8. to educate America. They couldn’t educate America if they started at 6:30.

Groucho Marx

American comedian (1890-1977)

Politics doesn’t make strange bedfellows – marriage does.

Groucho Marx

American comedian (1890-1977)

I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today. I can choose which it shall be. Yesterday is dead, tomorrow hasn’t arrived yet. I have just one day, today, and I’m going to be happy in it.

Groucho Marx

American comedian (1890-1977)

I didn’t like the play, but then I saw it under adverse conditions – the curtain was up.

Groucho Marx

American comedian (1890-1977)

Marriage is a wonderful institution, but who wants to live in an institution?

Groucho Marx

American comedian (1890-1977)

Go, and never darken my towels again.

Groucho Marx

American comedian (1890-1977)

Either he’s dead or my watch has stopped.

Groucho Marx

American comedian (1890-1977)

I’ve had a perfectly wonderful evening. But this wasn’t it.

Groucho Marx

American comedian (1890-1977)

Alimony is like buying hay for a dead horse.

Groucho Marx

American comedian (1890-1977)

I’m not feeling very well – I need a doctor immediately. Ring the nearest golf course.

Groucho Marx

American comedian (1890-1977)

Women should be obscene and not heard.

Groucho Marx

American comedian (1890-1977)

There’s one way to find out if a man is honest – ask him. If he says, “Yes,” you know he is a crook.

Groucho Marx

American comedian (1890-1977)

I wish to be cremated. One tenth of my ashes shall be given to my agent, as written in our contract.

Groucho Marx

American comedian (1890-1977)

If you’ve heard this story before, don’t stop me, because I’d like to hear it again.

Groucho Marx

American comedian (1890-1977)

Who are you going to believe, me or your own eyes?

Groucho Marx

American comedian (1890-1977)

I find television very educating. Every time somebody turns on the set, I go into the other room and read a book.

Groucho Marx

American comedian (1890-1977)

I worked my way up from nothing to a state of extreme poverty.

Groucho Marx

American comedian (1890-1977)

No man goes before his time – unless the boss leaves early.

Groucho Marx

American comedian (1890-1977)

Quote me as saying I was mis-quoted.

Groucho Marx

American comedian (1890-1977)

My favourite poem is the one that starts ‘Thirty days hath September’ because it actually tells you something.

Groucho Marx

American comedian (1890-1977)

Outside of a dog, a book is a man’s best friend. Inside of a dog it’s too dark to read.

Groucho Marx

American comedian (1890-1977)

Military intelligence is a contradiction in terms.

Groucho Marx

American comedian (1890-1977)

A hospital bed is a parked taxi with the meter running.

Groucho Marx

American comedian (1890-1977)

Those are my principles, and if you don’t like them… well, I have others.

Groucho Marx

American comedian (1890-1977)

In Hollywood, brides keep the bouquets and throw away the groom.

Groucho Marx

American comedian (1890-1977)

Next time I see you, remind me not to talk to you.

Groucho Marx

American comedian (1890-1977)

Man does not control his own fate. The women in his life do that for him.

Groucho Marx

American comedian (1890-1977)

I remember the first time I had sex – I kept the receipt.

Groucho Marx

American comedian (1890-1977)

The secret of life is honesty and fair dealing. If you can fake that, you’ve got it made.

Groucho Marx

American comedian (1890-1977)

I don’t care to belong to a club that accepts people like me as members.

Groucho Marx

American comedian (1890-1977)

Whoever named it necking was a poor judge of anatomy.

Groucho Marx

American comedian (1890-1977)

I’m leaving because the weather is too good. I hate London when it’s not raining.

Groucho Marx

American comedian (1890-1977)

Before I speak, I have something important to say.

Groucho Marx

American comedian (1890-1977)

A woman is an occasional pleasure but a cigar is always a smoke.

Groucho Marx

American comedian (1890-1977)

She got her looks from her father. He’s a plastic surgeon.

Groucho Marx

American comedian (1890-1977)

Behind every successful man is a woman, behind her is his wife.

Groucho Marx

American comedian (1890-1977)

My mother loved children – she would have given anything if I had been one.

Groucho Marx

American comedian (1890-1977)

Why a four-year-old child could understand this report. Run out and find me a four-year-old child. I can’t make head nor tail out of it.

Groucho Marx

American comedian (1890-1977)

I was married by a judge. I should have asked for a jury.

Groucho Marx

American comedian (1890-1977)

Well, Art is Art, isn’t it? Still, on the other hand, water is water. And east is east and west is west and if you take cranberries and stew them like applesauce they taste much more like prunes than rhubarb does. Now you tell me what you know.

Groucho Marx

American comedian (1890-1977)

A black cat crossing your path signifies that the animal is going somewhere.

Groucho Marx

American comedian (1890-1977)

Humor is reason gone mad.

Groucho Marx

American comedian (1890-1977)

Getting older is no problem. You just have to live long enough.

Groucho Marx

American comedian (1890-1977)

Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly and applying the wrong remedies.

Groucho Marx

American comedian (1890-1977)

I won’t belong to any organization that would have me as a member.

Groucho Marx

American comedian (1890-1977)

A man’s only as old as the woman he feels.

Groucho Marx

American comedian (1890-1977)

Room service? Send up a larger room.

Groucho Marx

American comedian (1890-1977)

It isn’t necessary to have relatives in Kansas City in order to be unhappy.

Groucho Marx

American comedian (1890-1977)

Why should I care about posterity? What’s posterity ever done for me?

Groucho Marx

American comedian (1890-1977)

From the moment I picked your book up until I laid it down, I was convulsed with laughter. Someday I intend reading it.

Groucho Marx

American comedian (1890-1977)

I intend to live forever, or die trying.

Groucho Marx

American comedian (1890-1977)

I have a mind to join a club and beat you over the head with it.

Groucho Marx

American comedian (1890-1977)

Military justice is to justice what military music is to music.

Groucho Marx

American comedian (1890-1977)

I must confess, I was born at a very early age.

Groucho Marx

American comedian (1890-1977)

Why, I’d horse-whip you if I had a horse.

Groucho Marx

American comedian (1890-1977)

Please accept my resignation. I don’t care to belong to any club that will have me as a member.

Groucho Marx

American comedian (1890-1977)

If I held you any closer I would be on the other side of you.

Groucho Marx

American comedian (1890-1977)