Satire is tragedy plus time. You give it enough time, the public, the reviewers will allow you to satirize it. Which is rather ridiculous, when you think about it.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Satire depends on time passing before the public accepts mocking serious topics.
- In plain terms
- You can only make fun of tragedies after enough time has passed.
- What can you take from it?
- Timing determines whether satire is accepted or rejected.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- When is it too soon to joke about tragedy?
Another view
Time does not guarantee acceptance of all sensitive topics.
More from Lenny Bruce
It's the suppression of the word that gives it the power, the violence, the viciousness.
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Permalink to quote #26 If something about the human body disgusts you, the fault lies with the manufacturer.
Permalink to quote #23
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