Walter Kirn Quotes

It is as hard to find a neutral critic as it is a neutral country in time of war. I suppose if a critic were neutral, he wouldn't trouble to write anything.

I don't take much notice of reviews now - obviously you'd like to have straight worship but you're never going to get that.

The good critic is he who relates the adventures of his soul among masterpieces.

I don't read reviews, because if you believe the good ones, you have to believe the bad.

If they had said my writing wasn't good enough, fair enough, that's an opinion. But to say it's too complex is to insult the intelligence of the so-called young.

When you are talking about someone's art, it is usually so personal.

It's easy to see the faults in people I know; it's hardest to see the good. Especially when the good isn't there.

What I like about sceptics is that in good science you need critics that make you think: 'Crumbs, have I made a mistake here?' If you don't have that continuously, you really are up the creek. The good sceptics have done a good service, but some of the mad ones I think have not done anyone any favours.

Democratic politicians have disliked things I've written, Republican politicians... if they all love you, you might as well be driving a Good Humor truck.

I don't read reviews, good or bad, just for my own sanity.

I find it really appalling when people talk about comedy.

It's always harder satirize what you like rather than what you dislike.

Oh, I was never a very big Jim Woodring fan. I've never thought his work was that great.

My cousin's a fool, and thou art another.

I think I liked you better when you were a raging idiot.

Thou art a very ragged Wart.

It just supports my personal opinion that he's a wacko

Criticism shouldn't be a performance that upstages the work it's talking about.

There's a lot of people out there who didn't like my style of comedy.

It's all romanticism, nonsense, rottenness, art.

J. Edgar Hoover, J. Bracken Lee, J. Parnell Thomas, J. Paul Getty -- you can always tell a shithead by that initial initial.

When you're acting, you're subjective; when you're a director, you're more objective.You're kind of watching from the outside and helping others, and therefore I learn my mistakes through others, and also my assets through others.

Truly thou art damned, like an ill-roasted egg, all on one side.

Robert Smith is a whingebag.

You do not think much of me, do you, Cogburn?" "I don't think about you at all when your mouth is closed.