Skip to content
quotesby

About this quote

What does it mean?
The speaker shot an elephant while wearing pajamas, implying a surreal and impossible situation.
In plain terms
I shot an elephant in my pajamas; how it got there is unknown.
What can you take from it?
Nonsensical scenarios highlight the absurdity of language.

Where it applies

  • comedy writing
  • dream analysis
  • storytelling

Putting it to work

  • creating surreal art
  • writing jokes
  • thinking outside the box

Questions to consider

  • How does absurdity challenge logic?
  • Why do we enjoy impossible stories?

Another view

The joke is purely abstract and has no practical lesson.

More from Groucho Marx

  1. OK. You go Uruguay and I'll go mine!

    Permalink to quote #33

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

    Permalink to quote #35

  3. You know, I'd buy you a parachute if I thought it wouldn't open.

    Permalink to quote #32

Related quotes

  1. 'One cave she wolf go too farther, and I wolf leaf her' he said to his fave rave horse. Of course the horse didn't answer, because as you know they cannot spea…

    John LennonJohn Lennon quote #3

  2. If the moon were made of barbeque spare ribs, would you eat it? ...I know I would. Heck, I'd have seconds. And then polish it off with a tall, cool Budweiser.

    Will FerrellWill Ferrell quote #4

  3. Deck us all with Boston Charlie Walla Walla, Wash, and Kalamazoo! Nora's freezin' on the trolley, Swaller dollar cauliflower Alleygaroo! Don't we know archaic …

    Walt KellyWalt Kelly quote #16