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. – Lenny Bruce
Why should we fear; and what? The laws? They all are armed in virtues cause; And aiming at the self-same end, Satire is always virtues friend. – Charles Churchill
Unless a love of virtue light the flame, Satire is, more than those he brands, to blame; He hides behind a magisterial air He own offences, and strips others bare. – William Cowper
I wear my Pen as others do their Sword. To each affronting sot I meet, the word Is Satisfaction: straight to thrusts I go, And pointed satire runs him through and through. – John Oldham
Damn with faint praise, assent with civil leer, And without sneering teach the rest to sneer; Willing to wound, and yet afraid to strike, Just hint a fault, and hesitate dislike; Alike reservd to blame, or to commend, A timrous foe, and a suspicious friend. – Alexander Pope
Men are more satirical from vanity than from malice. – Francois de la Rochefoucauld
Satire is a sort of glass wherein beholders do generally discover everybodys face but their own; which is the chief reason for that kind reception it meets with in the world, and that so very few are offended with it. – Jonathan Swift
