Leo Rosten Biography

Leo Rosten, Novelist
Occup.Novelist
FromUSA
BornApril 11, 1908
DiedFebruary 19, 1997
Aged88 years
Title: Leo Rosten: A Life Committed to Words as well as Comprehending

Leo Calvin Rosten was an American satirist, instructor, and political scientist that gained significant acknowledgment as a novelist and film writer. Born upon April 11, 1908, in Lodz, Poland, he immigrated to the United States with his household when he was merely 3 years of ages. Settling in Chicago, Illinois, Rosten matured in a Yiddish-speaking household, which profoundly affected his later work.

Rosten earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Chicago in 1930, followed by a Master of Arts level in 1933. He pursued his PhD in government from London School of Economics, London in 1937, under the assistance of Harold Laski. Throughout his scholastic quests, Rosten's primary focus got on politics, social scientific researches, and public opinion.

While still in London, Rosten released his first book, "The Education of H * Y * M * A * N K * A * P * L * A * N", which was at first printed under his pseudonym, Leonard Q. Ross. The book, a funny work based upon Rosten's experiences educating English to immigrants in the United States, was an instant success and also spawned follows up, a Broadway play, as well as a radio program.

Rosten worked as a scriptwriter for MGM throughout World War II, where he added to remarkable movies such as "The Conspirators" (1944), "Tomorrow The World" (1944), as well as "The Dark Corner" (1946). His writing talents prolonged past the cinema, making him credit scores on various radio programs, including the preferred American radio dramatization, "I Was a Communist for the FBI".

In the years adhering to the war, Leo Rosten published several works of non-fiction, mostly focusing on American national politics and psychology. His book, "The Radical Right" (1960), was an insightful examination of the far-right factions within the United States, offering valuable context to the political landscape of the time. Furthermore, he co-authored "The Power of the Prosecutor: A Survey of the Prosecution Function" (1953) with Louis Goodman, delving into the obstacles as well as duties within the prosecutorial system.

Notably, Rosten was enthusiastic concerning etymological wit as well as Yiddish culture, which led him to release "The Joys of Yiddish" in 1968. Guide functioned as an easy to use guide to comprehending Yiddish words and also expressions and is lovingly born in mind for its wit as well as beauty. Its immense appeal brought about a follow up, "The Joys of Yinglish" (1989), which better explored the intersection in between Yiddish and also English.

As a teacher, Rosten taught at Columbia University and was a going to professor at Yale University, inspiring future generations of writers and also political minds. Furthermore, he often contributed to magazines such as The New York Times, The New Yorker, and also Reader's Digest.

Rosten's humor as well as eager understanding made him a popular number within literary and social circles. Lots of respected artists, authors, as well as publishers surrounded him, like Saul Bellow, Isaac Bashevis Singer, and also William Shawn. He was likewise friends with renowned psychoanalyst Erik Erikson.

Leo Rosten died on February 19, 1997, in New York City. His legacy remains to survive via his ageless payments to both wit and also political science. He is kept in mind as a respected and amusing writer that skillfully checked out the ins and outs of language, national politics, and also the human experience.


Our collection contains 21 quotes who is written / told by Leo, under the main topics: Happiness - Politics.

Related authors: Erik Erikson (Psychologist), Isaac Bashevis Singer (Novelist), Saul Bellow (Novelist), Lawrence Taylor (Athlete)

Leo Rosten Famous Works:
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21 Famous quotes by Leo Rosten

Small: First-rate people hire first-rate people second-rate people hire third-rate people
"First-rate people hire first-rate people; second-rate people hire third-rate people"
Small: Words must surely be counted among the most powerful drugs man ever invented
"Words must surely be counted among the most powerful drugs man ever invented"
Small: Why did God give me two ears and one mouth? So that I will hear more and talk less
"Why did God give me two ears and one mouth? So that I will hear more and talk less"
Small: If you are going to do something wrong at least enjoy it
"If you are going to do something wrong at least enjoy it"
Small: I learned that it is the weak who are cruel, and that gentleness is to be expected only from the strong
"I learned that it is the weak who are cruel, and that gentleness is to be expected only from the strong"
Small: Courage is the capacity to confront what can be imagined
"Courage is the capacity to confront what can be imagined"
Small: A writer writes not because he is educated but because he is driven by the need to communicate. Behind
"A writer writes not because he is educated but because he is driven by the need to communicate. Behind the need to communicate is the need to share. Behind the need to share is the need to be understood"
Small: A conservative is one who admires radicals centuries after theyre dead
"A conservative is one who admires radicals centuries after they're dead"
Small: Truth is stranger than fiction fiction has to make sense
"Truth is stranger than fiction; fiction has to make sense"
Small: The writer wants to be understood much more than he wants to be respected or praised or even loved.
"The writer wants to be understood much more than he wants to be respected or praised or even loved. And that perhaps, is what makes him different from others"
Small: The only reason for being a professional writer is that you cant help it
"The only reason for being a professional writer is that you can't help it"
Small: Satire is focused bitterness
"Satire is focused bitterness"
Small: Proverbs often contradict one another, as any reader soon discovers. The sagacity that advises us to lo
"Proverbs often contradict one another, as any reader soon discovers. The sagacity that advises us to look before we leap promptly warns us that if we hesitate we are lost; that absence makes the heart grow fonder, but out of sight, out of mind"
Small: Extremists think communication means agreeing with them
"Extremists think "communication" means agreeing with them"
Small: Any man who hates dogs and babies cant be all bad
"Any man who hates dogs and babies can't be all bad"
Small: An angel is a spiritual creature created by God without a body for the service of Christendom and the c
"An angel is a spiritual creature created by God without a body for the service of Christendom and the church"
Small: Happiness comes only when we push our brains and hearts to the farthest reaches of which we are capable
"Happiness comes only when we push our brains and hearts to the farthest reaches of which we are capable"
Small: Humor is the affectionate communication of insight
"Humor is the affectionate communication of insight"
Small: We see things as we are, not as they are
"We see things as we are, not as they are"
Small: Some things are so unexpected that no one is prepared for them
"Some things are so unexpected that no one is prepared for them"
Small: I never cease being dumbfounded by the unbelievable things people believe
"I never cease being dumbfounded by the unbelievable things people believe"