Top 25 Satire Quotes of 83

Satire is traditionally the weapon of the powerless against the powerful. I only aim at the powerful. When satire is aimed at the powerless, it is not only cruel -- it's vulgar.

Satire is traditionally the weapon of the powerless against the powerful. I only aim at the powerful. When satire is aimed at the powerless, it is not only cruel -- it's vulgar.

Molly Ivins

Powerful, Weapons, Satire

"The Mouth of Texas". People Weekly, December 9, 1991.

Praise to the undeserving is severe satire.

Benjamin Franklin

Flattery, Praise, Satire

Benjamin Franklin (1914). “Poor Richard's Almanack”

I stand with Charlie Hebdo, as we all must, to defend the art of satire.

Salman Rushdie

Art, Charlie Hebdo, Satire

"Charlie Hebdo magazine attack: vigils held as French hunt suspects – as it happened". Statement, www.theguardian.com. January 7, 2015.

Satire is a lesson, parody is a game.

Vladimir Nabokov

Games, Lessons, Satire

1967 Interview in Wisconsin Studies in Contemporary Literature, Spring.

Political satire became obsolete when they awarded Henry Kissinger the Nobel Peace Prize.

Tom Lehrer

Political, Henry Kissinger, Satire

"Biography/ Personal Quotes". www.imdb.com.

Satire is people as they are; romanticism, people as they would like to be; realism, people as they seem with their insides left out.

Dawn Powell

Writing, People, Satire

Dawn Powell (1995). “The Diaries of Dawn Powell, 1931-1965”

How do we get a pantomime cow on set. Jeez, the rigours of satire.

Mel Smith

Cows, Satire, Rigour

Satire is traditionally the weapon of the powerless against the powerful.

Molly Ivins

Powerful, Weapons, Satire

The Mouth of Texas", People Weekly, December 9, 1991.

All the satires of the stage should be viewed without discomfort. They are public mirrors, where we are never to admit that we seeourselves; one admits to a fault when one is scandalized by its censure.

Moliere

Mirrors, Faults, Satire

Praise undeserved, is satire in disguise.

Alexander Pope

Literature, Praise, Satire

William Lisle Bowles, Alexander Pope (1820). “A reply to an "Unsentimental sort of critic,": the reviewer of "Spence's Anecdotes" in the Quarterly review for October [i.e. July] 1820; otherwise to a certain critic and grocer, the family of the Bowleses!!”, p.15

It is hard for power to enjoy or incorporate humour and satire in its system of control.

Dario Fo

Satire, Enjoy, Humour

One easily bears moral reproof, but never mockery.

Moliere

Bears, Moral, Satire

Satire should, like a polished razor keen, Wound with a touch that's scarcely felt or seen.

Mary Wortley Montagu

Razors, Satire, Should

Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, “Verses Addressed To The Imitator Of The First Satire Of The Second Book Of Horace”

Satire is tragedy plus time.

Lenny Bruce

Tragedy, Human Nature, Satire

When dunces are satiric, I take it for a panegyric.

Jonathan Swift

Satire, Dunces

Jonathan Swift, John Mitford (1854). “The Poetical Works of Jonathan Swift: With a Life”, p.168

If you're going to get into social criticism with absurdity and satire, you can't be politically correct when you do that.

John Cusack

Criticism, Satire, Social

If satire is to be effective, the audience must be aware of the thing satirized.

Gore Vidal

Satire, Audience, Ifs

Gore Vidal (1957). “Visit to a Small Planet: A Comedy Akin to a Vaudeville”, Boston ; Toronto : Little Brown

The audiences like to think that satire is doing something. But, in fact, it is mostly to leave themselves satisfied. Satisfied rather than angry, which is what they should be.

Tom Lehrer

Thinking, Facts, Satire

"Stop clapping, this is serious". Sydney Morning Herald interview, www.smh.com.au. March 1, 2003.