Jean Stafford Quotes

Irony regards every simple truth as a challenge.

The great thing about irony is that it splits things apart, gets up above them so we can see the flaws and hypocrisies and duplicates.

Irony is the form of paradox. Paradox is what is good and great at the same time.

Irony is one of my favorite aspects of life.

Irony is a clear consciousness of an eternal agility, of the infinitely abundant chaos.

Irony is the gaiety of reflection and the joy of wisdom.

I love irony.

Irony: Don't let yourself be controlled by it, especially during uncreative moments.

The interesting thing about humor is that in humor, you - in logic, something is A or not A. In humor, it's both A and not A.

Irony is the hygiene of the mind.

I don't embrace irony, but I do think it's a pre-existing condition; we manage it as best we can.

There are elements of irony in my work, of course.

A transposable aphorism is a malaise of the urge to be witty, or in other words, a maxim that is untroubled by the fact that the opposite of what it says is equally true so long as it appears to be funny.

The satirist who writes nothing but satire should write but little - or it will seem that his satire springs rather from his own caustic nature than from the sins of the world in which he lives.

Irony is a great tool to deal with things. It's an intellectualization, a way to go above things, which can work.

I like the irony in my work.

Political satire became obsolete when Henry Kissinger was awarded the Nobel peace prize.

'Irony' is such an over-used word.

Ironic things are interesting.

Irony is a disciplinarian feared only by those who do not know it, but cherished by those who do

Irony is a disciplinarian feared only by those who do not know it, but cherished by those who do. He who does not understand irony and has no ear for its whispering lacks of what might called the absolute beginning of the personal life. He lacks what at moments is indispensable for the personal life, lacks both the regeneration and rejuvenation, the cleaning baptism of irony that redeems the soul from having its life in finitude though living boldly and energetically in finitude.

Irony deals with opposites; it has nothing to do with coincidence.

Irony differentiates. Cynicism never does.

Irony is based on insecurity; people like to not like things because they don't understand them.

Your favorite virtue? An appreciation for irony.