My wife has a slight impediment in her speech. Every now and then she stops to breathe.

The quote by Jimmy Durante, "My wife has a slight impediment in her speech. Every now and then she stops to breathe," is a humorous and lighthearted remark that plays with the idea of a speech impediment in an exaggerated and playful manner. Durante, known for his comedic timing and distinctive voice, uses the phrase "slight impediment" to describe his wife's speech, but then adds an unexpected twist. The real joke lies in the second part of the quote, where he suggests that her "impediment" is simply the need to breathe, which is, of course, a normal and necessary function that everyone experiences. This turns the idea of an impediment into something absurdly ordinary.

The origin of this quote reflects Durante's style of comedy, which often involved poking fun at everyday situations with a clever twist. Known for his work in both film and music, Durante's humor was typically self-deprecating and delivered with a sense of exaggerated whimsy. His playful commentary on his wife's speech is not meant to be critical but rather to highlight how language and its delivery can be used for comedic effect. The way he sets up the expectation of a serious flaw, only to subvert it with the mundane reality of breathing, is characteristic of his comedic approach.

This quote also reflects the humor of marriage and relationships, where quirks and oddities are often exaggerated for comedic effect. The remark implies that the things we might normally find irritating or unusual in a partner can be reimagined with humor, showing the playful side of couples. By framing something as mundane as breathing as a "problem," Durante emphasizes the humorous ways in which couples can interact and poke fun at each other’s idiosyncrasies.

In essence, Durante’s quote is a perfect example of wordplay and the use of exaggeration to create humor from the most ordinary aspects of life. The subtle shift from a supposed flaw to a universal truth is what makes the joke effective, while also reflecting the charm and humor that Durante brought to his performances.