Evan Esar

Evan Esar (1899–1995) was an American humorist, aphorist, and compiler known for collecting and crafting wordplay, quips, and quotations. He authored and edited reference-style books that gathered humorous observations and pithy sayings for readers, writers, and speakers. Among his best-known works is *20,000 Quips & Quotes*, a large anthology of one-liners, epigrams, and assorted quotations. Esar’s publications reflect a mid‑20th‑century appetite for concise wit and ready-to-use lines, and they helped popularize the quotation-compilation genre in American publishing. His name remains associated with curated humor and the art of the aphorism.