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Gerald Dworkin writes to me
How about best shortest sentences? My favorite is Ring Lardner's: Shut up, he explained. For five words Woody Allen: I am two with nature.
Please give us other candidates, either from others or your own. Here is my previous post on six-word novels.
From Wired, here are more six-word stories. I like:
He read his obituary with confusion.
And, from Orson Scott Card:
Please, this is everything, I swear.
Posted by Tyler Cowen on October 31, 2006 at 05:31 AM in The Arts | Permalink
Comments
Shamelessly begging, the Gates remained closed.
She approached the casket, envious.
I belong, above all else, below.
Posted by: glenn at Oct 31, 2006 7:15:51 AM
I'd rather be rich than stupid.
-Jack Handey, from Deep Thoughts
Posted by: Scott W at Oct 31, 2006 8:25:07 AM
"Hello", she lied.
Posted by: Rue Des Quatre Vents at Oct 31, 2006 8:50:56 AM
"He read his obituary with satisfaction" would be better.
Posted by: Anderson at Oct 31, 2006 9:17:00 AM
Not my own, but a historical one appropriate to this page:
Free at last, free at last.
Posted by: hamilton at Oct 31, 2006 10:06:50 AM
Okay, I've been thinking about the six-word story since your post on it. Here's mine:
***
"Who?"
"You!"
"Me?"
"You!"
"Yes, me."
***
That about sums up every epic hero story or murder mystery.
Posted by: Person at Oct 31, 2006 10:08:44 AM
Glenn: The gates were begging? (I may misunderstand you.)
How about:
Shamelessly solicited, the Gateses said no.
Posted by: anon at Oct 31, 2006 10:42:41 AM
Can you give me a reference for the OSC quote?
Posted by: Kyle at Oct 31, 2006 10:56:29 AM
Someone said this about India
"There is richness in her poverty".
Posted by: Shruti at Oct 31, 2006 11:16:17 AM
Encyclopedias. Cheap. F****** wife knows everything.
Elasticity of demand left him limp.
Posted by: Raging Ranter at Oct 31, 2006 11:59:23 AM
For those interested in religion or literature a very short, very beautiful sentence:
Jesus wept.
Posted by: Ted at Oct 31, 2006 1:08:47 PM
"Take your hand off my breast," she tittered.
(Winner, Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Award, 1984)
Posted by: A.M. Mora y Leon at Oct 31, 2006 1:11:29 PM
"Vaya con huevos, amigos".
From Richard Russo, "Nobody's Fool"
Posted by: Tim at Oct 31, 2006 1:11:59 PM
Brazil is the country of the future, and always will be.
Posted by: A.M. Mora y Leon at Oct 31, 2006 1:13:36 PM
From Mohammed Ali, shortest poem:
Me;
We.
Posted by: GamblingEconomist at Oct 31, 2006 2:05:59 PM
"For sale: Baby shoes, never used."
Posted by: Jacob at Oct 31, 2006 3:31:11 PM
Haiku? Too cumbersome, mused Bashō.
Posted by: nick at Oct 31, 2006 3:32:38 PM
How can they tell?
Si monumentum requiris, circumspice.
Veni, vidi, vici.
Is this gun loa...?
Peccavi.
Honi soit qui mal y pense.
Ich dien.
Tout passe, tout casse, tout lasse.
Ich kann nicht anders.
Fix bayonets.
Nemo me impune lacessit.
Posted by: dearieme at Oct 31, 2006 5:58:55 PM
Les jeux sont faites
My own att:
Truth be told, he explained, I'm a compulsive liar
Posted by: US at Oct 31, 2006 6:44:03 PM
"Diminishing returns," he grumbled, clicking "Back."
Posted by: Guest 15 at Oct 31, 2006 6:55:59 PM
"Jesus wept".
Dan Jenkins call that verse the greatest lede ever.
Posted by: xdog at Oct 31, 2006 7:17:24 PM
This is a lie.
Posted by: hannah at Oct 31, 2006 7:27:59 PM
"This is a lie."
Prove it.
Posted by: triticale at Oct 31, 2006 7:35:54 PM
I don't know if R-rated entries are allowed, but how about:
Vidi. Vici. Veni.
Posted by: triticale at Oct 31, 2006 7:36:57 PM
I can't tell Pentothal from Pentathlon.
Posted by: Chema at Oct 31, 2006 11:21:13 PM
