The late Groucho Marx quipped that ...what?... was the chief cause of divorce?

This classic one-liner is a perfect example of the comedian's signature style, which often relied on pointing out a simple, undeniable truth in a surprising way. The humor lies in its flawless, if frustrating, logic. While one might expect an answer like financial trouble or infidelity, Groucho instead identifies the most literal prerequisite. A couple cannot possibly get divorced without first being joined in matrimony, making the institution itself the one and only universal cause.

The quip perfectly suited Groucho's on-screen and public persona as a fast-talking, irreverent wise-cracker who delighted in poking fun at social conventions. Both in his films with the Marx Brothers and as the host of the game show "You Bet Your Life," he used his sharp wit to deconstruct language and expectations. The joke also carried a touch of personal experience; Groucho was married and divorced three times, giving his cynical observations on domestic life an air of hard-won authority.