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About this quote

What does it mean?
Calling things better is romantic, worse is realist, but stating facts exactly is satirist.
In plain terms
People call you romantic for optimism, realist for pessimism, but satirist for truth.
What can you take from it?
Describing reality exactly often labels you a satirist rather than a realist.

Where it applies

  • debating news accuracy
  • analyzing media
  • writing criticism

Putting it to work

  • challenge labels
  • seek factual accuracy
  • question perceptions

Questions to consider

  • How do you label honesty?
  • Why is truth often mocked?

Another view

Some truths are neither better nor worse, making the categories insufficient.

More from Quentin Crisp

  1. I became one of the stately homos of England.

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  2. The simplest comment on my book came from my ballet teacher. She said, 'I wish you hadn't made every line funny. It's so depressing.'

    Permalink to quote #32
  3. Health consists of having the same diseases as one's neighbours.

    Permalink to quote #29

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