Who said “The only way to spend New Year's Eve is either quietly with friends or in a brothel.…”?

Verified

W. H. Auden. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceThe Table Talk of W. H. Auden (1991), 31 December 1947

Evidence: Wikiquote · How we check

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“The only way to spend New Year's Eve is either quietly with friends or in a brothel. Otherwise when the evening ends and people pair off, someone is bound to be left in tears.”
VerifiedThe Table Talk of W. H. Auden (1991), 31 December 1947 · evidenceNew Year

Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: The Table Talk of W. H. Auden (1991), 31 December 1947.

APA

Auden, W. H. (n.d.). The only way to spend New Year's Eve is either quietly with friends or in a brothel. Otherwise when the evening ends and people pair off, someone is bound to be left in tears. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/31224-the-only-way-to-spend-new-years-eve/

MLA

Auden, W. H. “The only way to spend New Year's Eve is either quietly with friends or in a brothel. Otherwise when the evening ends and people pair off, someone is bound to be left in tears.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/31224-the-only-way-to-spend-new-years-eve/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Auden, W. H. “The only way to spend New Year's Eve is either quietly with friends or in a brothel. Otherwise when the evening ends and people pair off, someone is bound to be left in tears.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/31224-the-only-way-to-spend-new-years-eve/.