Ian Hislop Quotes

Comedy is a great weapon of attack. It's not a great weapon of support.

Humor can be an incredible, lacerating and effective weapon.

Satire also allows you to make fun of every different aspect. It allows you to make fun of both sides. It allows you to make fun of everything, really, so you can do it in a harmless way.

You have to be careful what you say in front of comedy writers because they will absolutely make fun of it in the next episode.

Comedians are obsessed with justice and the truth.

Comedy isn't just timing; it's about rooting out the funny in the real. You just bend reality to the left a little.

I think all comedy has victims, really. Even if it's not a victim that appears on camera, usually there's a victim. If it's political comedy, if you're talking about the president or whoever, there's a victim there.

Some comedy has turned into, 'Donald Trump's bad, isn't he?' That's a true statement. But where is your joke?

I don't think people understand what comedy is supposed to do. We will observe things, we will make fun of things.

As long as it's not an easy, outdated stereotype and it comes from an interesting or emotionally driven place, then anyone can be made fun of.

Humor distorts nothing, and only false gods are laughed off their earthly pedestals.

Comedy is simply a funny way of being serious.

No subject is unsuitable for comedy.

Satire is a lesson, parody is a game.

You're entering dangerous land when you start theorising about comedy.

You can't debate satire. Either you get it or you don't.

It's all been satirized for your protection.

The best shows to tweet about are the ones that are hilarious, but they might not necessarily be trying to be hilarious. Those are the easiest and the funniest because you're like 'come onnnn.'

Comedy has to be based on truth. You take the truth and you put a little curlicue at the end.

Humor has to surprise us; otherwise, it isn't funny. It's a death knell for a writer to be labeled a humorist because then it's not a surprise anymore.

I think one of the big things about comedy is the ability for the audience to identify.

I didn't think that anything is beyond humor - not profane humor, but a good, honest approach to humor.

Being a comedy writer gives you permission to be an outsider and poke fun at what people think about other people.

I've spent my entire career being a satirist.

Wit is the lowest form of humor.