Divorces are getting so common that a woman I know doesn't bother getting a new marriage license. They just punch her old one and give her a transfer. You can't teach an old dog new tricks - so she keeps changing dogs.

Nipsey Russell’s quote humorously comments on the growing prevalence of divorces in modern society. He exaggerates the situation by suggesting that divorces have become so common that a woman, instead of getting a new marriage license, simply has her old one "punched" and is issued a transfer. This satire points to how divorce has become almost routine, with Russell suggesting that it has lost its original significance or seriousness due to its frequency. The tone is playful, but it also reflects a critical view of changing relationship dynamics.

The second part of the quote, "You can't teach an old dog new tricks," reinforces the idea that people may not change their behavior despite their experiences. Russell uses the metaphor of a dog to suggest that this woman, perhaps older and more set in her ways, continues to repeat the cycle of changing husbands or partners. His use of the phrase reflects a cynical view of romantic relationships, implying that some individuals never learn from their mistakes and continue to make the same choices, especially in terms of marriage.

Russell’s comparison of marriage and divorce to the idea of changing dogs offers a sharp, satirical commentary on the transient nature of relationships. Instead of focusing on lasting commitments, the woman in his example is portrayed as someone who simply keeps changing partners without learning from past relationships. The humor comes from the exaggeration of how commonplace divorce has become, reducing the institution of marriage to something almost transactional and less meaningful.

The origin of this quote stems from Nipsey Russell, an American comedian and poet known for his quick wit and clever wordplay. As a regular on television in the 1960s and 1970s, Russell often used humor to comment on societal norms and human behavior. His quote reflects the comedic approach he took to critique the changing attitudes toward marriage and divorce, offering both humor and a subtle commentary on how relationships are viewed in modern times.