Lenny Bruce (1925–1966) comedian and social critic
Source: The Essential Lenny Bruce: his original unexpurgated satirical routines
“Satire is at once the most agreeable and most dangerous of mental qualities. It always pleases when it is refined, but we always fear those who use it too much, yet satire should be allowed when unmixed with spite, and when the person satirised can join in the satire. It is unfortunate to have a satirical turn without affecting to be pleased or without loving to jest.”
Reflections on Various Subjects (1665–1678), II. On Difference of Character
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François de La Rochefoucauld156
French author of maxims and memoirs 1613–1680Related quotes
“I think the people who say we need satire often mean, "We need satire of them, not of us."”
Tom Lehrer (1928) American singer-songwriter and mathematician
AV Club interview (2000)
Al Franken (1951) American comedian and politician
As quoted in "The Trump Era Is Al Franken’s Time to Shine" by Graham Vyse, in New Republic (2 February 2017) https://newrepublic.com/article/140342/trump-era-al-frankens-time-shine
“Political satire became obsolete when Henry Kissinger was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.”
Tom Lehrer (1928) American singer-songwriter and mathematician
On the awarding of the 1973 Nobel Peace Prize to Henry Kissinger, and Lê Ðức Thọ; one of his most quoted quips, it is often mentioned in articles and interviews, including "Stop clapping, this is serious" in Sydney Morning Herald (1 March 2003) http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/02/28/1046407753895.html
“It is difficult not to write satire.”
Difficile est saturam non scribere.
I, line 30.
Satires, Satire I
“Satire is a lesson, parody is a game.”
Vladimir Nabokov book Strong Opinions
Interview with Nabokov http://lib.ru/NABOKOW/Inter06.txt_with-big-pictures.html conducted on September 25, 27, 28, 29, 1966, at Montreux, Switzerland and published in Wisconsin Studies in Contemporary Literature, vol. VIII, no. 2, spring 1967. <br class="br">Source: Strong Opinions
“Tomorrow is a satire on today,
And shows its weakness.”
Edward Young (1683–1765) English poet
This is a quotation from "The Old Man's Relapse", a poem addressed to Edward Young, but written by Lord Melcombe.
Misattributed
“A satirical poet is the check of the laymen on bad priests.”
John Dryden book Fables, Ancient and Modern
Preface to the Fables.
Fables, Ancient and Modern (1700)