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About this quote

What does it mean?
This satiric warning suggests nervousness combined with firearms creates dangerous unpredictability.
In plain terms
Don't let anxious people handle guns.
What can you take from it?
Safety requires calm handling of weapons.

Where it applies

  • gun safety discussions
  • comedy writing
  • social commentary

Putting it to work

  • discuss firearm safety
  • write satire
  • advocate caution

Questions to consider

  • What traits make firearms dangerous in untrained hands?
  • How does humor expose real fears?

Another view

The quote relies on gender stereotypes that limit its modern applicability.

More from James Thurber

  1. Women are wiser than men because they know less and understand more.

    Permalink to quote #94
  2. Precision of communication is important, more important than ever, in our era of hair trigger balances, when a false or misunderstood word may create as much d…

    Permalink to quote #96
  3. Why do you have to be a nonconformist like everybody else?

    Permalink to quote #93

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