Bill Engvall Quotes

I remain just one thing, and one thing only, and that is a clown. It places me on a far higher plane than any politician.

What am I responsible for? Who am I responsible to? Everybody? How come when Archie Bunker nailed everybody, it was funny - but when I do it, it's not?

I have a theory, which is that the idea of a roast is to go to this forbidden, uncomfortable, almost performance-art-level shock place, but because we're so regularly shocked and offended today, the idea of an hour and a half of unbridled negativity is just so unappealing.

I think there's always a line between what is parody in good fun in chanting and what is intended to belittle certain segments of society.

When satire is aimed at the powerless, it is not only cruel - it's vulgar.

Now, I'm not onboard with the argument that jokes are destructive to humanity. There are bigger issues, and I do not necessarily subscribe to the belief that jokes perpetuate violence and racism. They lampoon those things most of the time. But I could be wrong about that. I'm not a sociologist or an expert.

It's easy to say, 'This is just a joke.' You know, the bearded lady? And I feel the need to smash it with every performance just because I want to be clear this is not a joke.

Comedy now is all about body shaming and delivering vulgar dialogues. There can't be another Manorama.

I think it's hilarious when middle-aged white men try to take themselves seriously. It makes me laugh.

'The Dictator' - well, that was just a comedy, and I suppose the morality was incidental. It was just something to try and make people laugh rather than being a serious thing.

In a world where everything is ridiculous, nothing can be ridiculed. You cannot unmask a mask.

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

In general satire, every man perceives A slight attack, yet neither fears nor grieves.

Satire recoils whenever charged too high; round your own fame the fatal splinters fly.

Satire has a great big glaring target. If successful, it blasts a great big hole in the center. Directness there must be and singleness of aim: it is all aim, all trajectory.

Satire is tragedy plus time.

As long as it's not an easy, outdated stereotype and it comes from an interesting or emotionally driven place, then anyone can be made fun of.

I know that there are things that never have been funny, and never will be. And I know that ridicule may be a shield, but it is not a weapon.

Satire is dependent on strong beliefs, and on strong beliefs wounded.

I'm the guy in the crowd making fun of the hero's shirt.

For such is the fate of parody: it must never fear exaggerating. If it strikes home, it will only prefigure something that others will then do without a smile--and without a blush--in steadfast virile seriousness.

There is parody, when you make fun of people who are smarter than you; satire, when you make fun of people who are richer than you; and burlesque, when you make fun of both while taking your clothes off.

Satirize wickedness if you must--but pity weakness.

Humor is essential to a successful tactician, for the most potent weapons known to mankind are satire and ridicule.

She [Comedy] it is who proposes the correcting of pretentiousness, of inflation, of dulness, and of the vestiges of rawness and grossness to be found among us. She is the ultimate civilizer, the polisher, a sweet cook.