John Dos Passos Quotes

I've spent my entire career being a satirist.

The satirical direction I have chosen is an indication of my disappointment in man, which is the opposite way of saying that I have high expectations for the human race.

There's always been this tradition of satirizing these rich groups of people.

Satire is fascinating stuff. It's deadly serious, and when politics begin to break down, there is a drift towards satire, because it's the only thing that makes any sense.

Rory Bremner I have no problem with; he is a satirist, and a very funny one, too.

A pessimist is a person who has had to listen to too many optimists.

I think the problems with comedians that are political, and there are some brilliant ones, are the ones that offer no solutions. Not that there's a moral obligation for a comic to fix things, but I like to see a comic that's upset about something and offer a solution. It can be a funny solution. I like to see the thought process.

Humor is laughing at what you haven't got when you ought to have it.

As satirists, we get to stand on the sidelines of life and comment on what's happening.

Comedians have to challenge the power. Comedians should be dangerous and devastating - and funny. That's the hardest part.

If I had written a book saying, 'Ladies, your life is terrible,' I would have sold three copies. It's always better to laugh people into recognition.

I think comedy and satire are the strongest ways to deal with very serious themes and very painful themes.

I've always thought that Lewis Carroll himself had a certain comedy tinge to him. He was a guy who was a satirist. He really was a social commentator in many ways and was trying to satirize Victorian society.

Satire is born of the cities it denounces.

Satire's my weapon, but I'm too discreet To run amuck, and tilt at all I meet.

Satire is moral outrage transformed into comic art.

But you do have to learn, if you want to be a satirist, you can't be part of the party. Meaning, you can't go horseback riding with Jackie O in Central Park if you're going to make a joke about her that night.

The satirist isn't just looking at things ironically but militantly - he wants to change them, and intends to have an effect on the world.

The only weapon we have is comedy.

Friendly satire may be compared to a fine lancet, which gently breathes a vein for health's sake.

Satire is an abuse of wit. It corrects few evils.

Parodies and caricatures are the most penetrating of criticisms.

I aimed at the public's heart, and by accident I hit it in the stomach.

Satire, being levelled at all, is never resented for an offence by any.

So far, the only major accomplishment of the Occupy Wall Street (OWS) protesters is that they have finally put an end to their previous initiative, Occupy Our Mothers' Basements.