Bennett Cerf

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Bennett Cerf – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes

Learn about Bennett Cerf (1898–1971), the American publisher, wit, and co-founder of Random House. Explore his early life, publishing breakthroughs, role in fighting censorship, media presence, and famous quips.

Introduction

Bennett Alfred Cerf (May 25, 1898 – August 27, 1971) was an American publisher, author, editor, humorist, and television personality. Best known as a co-founder of Random House, Cerf played a pivotal role in shaping 20th-century American publishing, defending literary freedom, and bringing literary culture to mass audiences. His sharp wit and public persona made him not only a cultural force behind the books but also a familiar face through television and lectures.

Cerf believed in both the power of words and the joy of laughter. His life is a testament to the idea that publishing is not merely a business of books, but a business of ideas, humor, and public engagement.

Early Life and Family

Bennett Cerf was born on May 25, 1898 in Manhattan, New York City, to a Jewish family of Alsatian and German roots.

When Bennett was about 16, his mother passed away, and his maternal uncle Herbert Wise moved into the household and became an influential literary guide to him.

Cerf attended Townsend Harris Hall Prep School in Manhattan for his secondary education. Columbia College (Columbia University), earning a Bachelor of Arts in 1919.

Growing up in New York City, Cerf was part of a milieu of literary and artistic connections; his friendships and social circle contributed to his later career in publishing.

Education, Early Career, and Entry into Publishing

After finishing his schooling, Cerf briefly worked as a reporter for the New York Herald Tribune.

He later became vice president at the publishing house Boni & Liveright, which was then one of the more adventurous literary publishers of the era.

In 1925, Cerf partnered with Donald S. Klopfer to acquire the Modern Library line from Boni & Liveright. 1927, they expanded beyond reprints into original trade publishing and formally adopted the name Random House.

Under his leadership, Random House became known not only for reprinting classics but also for publishing contemporary literary works—garnering authors of wide renown.

Among his notable publishing achievements was his role in bringing James Joyce’s Ulysses to American readers. Cerf challenged censorship laws by arranging for an importation and proceeding with a court case (United States v. One Book Called Ulysses) to establish that the work was not obscene. His victory in that case opened the door for unabridged publication of Ulysses in the U.S.

Beyond that, Cerf’s publishing house embraced a wide spectrum of writers—from William Faulkner to Truman Capote and Ayn Rand (even though he often disagreed with Rand’s philosophy).

Major Roles, Media Presence & Publications

Leadership at Random House

As a publisher, Cerf had a reputation for personal relationships with authors, sharp judgment, daring acquisitions, and a willingness to back controversial works.

He served as president of Random House for many years, and later as chairman.

Defending Free Speech & Censorship

Cerf was an outspoken opponent of censorship. His efforts to publish Ulysses were emblematic of his philosophy that readers have the right to decide for themselves what to read.

Humor, Lectures, and Book Collections

Cerf enjoyed being a public figure. He compiled numerous collections of jokes, anecdotes, riddles, and humorous observations. Some of his works include Try and Stop Me, Shake Well Before Using, The Bedside Book of Famous American Stories, Laugh Day, Bennett Cerf’s Book of Laughs, and others.

He also traveled and lectured widely across the United States, leveraging his public persona to promote literature, reading, and humor.

Television and Public Persona

Cerf became a household name in part through television. From 1951 to 1967, he held a regular spot on the CBS game show What’s My Line?, where he served as a panelist.

On TV and in public appearances, Cerf combined intellect, humor, and charm—bringing literary culture into popular settings.

He also served on the board of jurors for the Peabody Awards for many years, including as chair.

Later Projects & Controversies

In the 1960s, Cerf was involved in founding the Famous Writers School, a correspondence school for aspiring writers. However, in 1970, Jessica Mitford published a widely read exposé in The Atlantic criticizing its methods and business practices, which resulted in public scrutiny.

Cerf’s memoir, At Random: The Reminiscences of Bennett Cerf, was published posthumously in 1977, compiled from his interviews, diaries, and oral histories.

Historical Milestones & Context

• The rise of mass publishing in the 20th century changed books from restricted elite goods to widespread culture—Cerf’s Random House was at the center of that transformation.

• The battle over Ulysses signified shifting boundaries of censorship, literary freedom, and modernism in America. Cerf’s case is often cited as a landmark in free speech jurisprudence.

• Television and mass media expanded heads of the reading public; Cerf’s presence on What’s My Line? bridged elite literary worlds with popular audiences.

• In an era when publishers often remained behind the scenes, Cerf’s public persona—part humorist, part intellectual—helped make publishing itself more visible and plugged into popular culture.

• The criticisms of the Famous Writers School reflect the tensions between democratizing literary success and maintaining rigor or ethics in mass education.

Legacy and Influence

• Publishing innovation & scale
  Cerf helped transform publishing into a modern industry, balancing literary ambition with business scalability.

• Champion of literary freedom
  His stance against censorship and defense of controversial writing paved the way for bolder publishing decisions across the industry.

• Bridging culture and mass media
  Cerf’s media presence made the world of books more accessible and visible to broader audiences.

• Humor and intellectual culture
  He showed that serious ideas do not have to be solemn; wit, puns, laughter, and playfulness can accompany cultural seriousness.

• Institutional memory
  His associations—Random House, Famous Writers School, Peabody Awards—left institutional footprints still felt in publishing, media, and literary education.

Personality and Talents

Cerf was known for being witty, urbane, sociable, assertive, and yet self-aware. His persona combined the roles of publisher, conversationalist, raconteur, and public intellectual. He had a strong sense of humor and a belief in the value of laughter.

Though involved in high culture, he celebrated popular culture. He often said that the right to read should not be limited by elites, and he resisted those who would censor on behalf of others.

He was ambitious, well networked, and had a knack for relationships—widely credited with signing authors many others passed over. His public engagements suggest he thrived on contact, performance, and intellectual rapport.

At the same time, he faced controversies—especially around the Famous Writers School—but those episodes are part of the complexity of a life lived at the intersection of commerce, culture, and media.

Famous Quotes of Bennett Cerf

Here are some of Bennett Cerf’s most cited quips, reflections, and witty observations:

• “Oratory is the art of making a loud noise sound like a deep thought.”

• “I think the right to read is one of our inherent rights, and I think that people in America today are intelligent enough to decide for themselves what they want to read. Without being told, by self-appointed people, you must not read this, or you cannot read this.”

• “Fame — anyone who says he doesn't like it is crazy.”

• “Good manners: The noise you don’t make when you’re eating soup.”

• “The person who can bring the spirit of laughter into a room is indeed blessed.”

• “Gross ignorance is 144 times worse than ordinary ignorance.”

• “Everybody was being decent, and when people are decent, things work out for everybody. That has been my theory all through life. If you’re making money, let the other fellow make it too. … If you can work a thing out so that everybody profits, that’s the ideal business.”

• “Somebody once asked me, ‘What would you like your epitaph to be?’ I’ve always said that I’d like it to be: ‘He left people a little happier than they were when he came into the room.’”

• “In a notable family called Stein / There were Gertrude, and Ep, and then Ein. / Gert’s writing was hazy, Ep’s statues were crazy, / And nobody understood Ein.”

• “The fact that we don’t read more books in America can be traced squarely to the fact that we have newspapers that are about a hundred times as big as the newspapers anywhere else.”

These sayings reflect Cerf’s interests: humor, reading, public freedom, social justice, and the human side of ideas.

Lessons from Bennett Cerf

From Bennett Cerf’s life and work, we can draw several enduring lessons:

1. Culture demands courage
   Cerf’s stance on censorship and willingness to publish controversial works remind us: protecting literary freedom often requires bold decisions.

2. Blend serious ideas with levity
   He showed that intellectual engagement doesn’t have to be grave—humor can make ideas more approachable and memorable.

3. Relationship-building is key
   Cerf’s success was built not merely on manuscripts but on relationships—with authors, public figures, media, and audiences.

4. Public visibility can amplify influence
   By going on TV and lecturing widely, Cerf turned a behind-the-scenes profession (publishing) into a more public, cultural force.

5. Business and ethics can intersect
   Cerf articulated a vision that profitable business should also allow others to benefit. His quote about letting others make money too shows his ideal that commerce is not a zero-sum game.

6. Legacy has complexity
   His work with the Famous Writers School and the controversies that followed underscore that even influential figures have flaws and that evaluation over time must be balanced.

Conclusion

Bennett Cerf remains a towering figure in American publishing—not just for founding Random House, but for making publishing a cultural enterprise. His battles for free reading, his humor, and his mix of public persona and editorial judgment continue to inspire—and provoke—in the intersection of literature, media, and public life.

His life suggests that books are never solely objects—they are conversations, provocations, and sometimes entertainment. If you like, I can also pull together 20 more Bennett Cerf quotes or produce a short, blog-friendly version of this biography. Would you like me to do that?