--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Pornography is any act that has no…" description: "\"Pornography is any act that has no artistic merit and causes sexual thoughts...Sounds like almost every commercial on TV to me.\" — Bill Hicks" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fc/bill-hicks-970_art_pornography-is-any-act-that-has-no-artis_1864848.jpg" --- # Pornography is any act that has no artistic merit and… ![“Pornography is any act that has no artistic merit and causes sexual thoughts...Sounds like almost every commercial on TV to me.” quote by Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fc/bill-hicks-970_art_pornography-is-any-act-that-has-no-artis_1864848.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fc/bill-hicks-970_art_pornography-is-any-act-that-has-no-artis_1864848.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fc/bill-hicks-970_art_pornography-is-any-act-that-has-no-artis_1864848.jpg) > “Pornography is any act that has no artistic merit and causes sexual thoughts...Sounds like almost every commercial on TV to me.” [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote critiques media that blurs art and exploitation, suggesting many ads are essentially pornographic. **In simple terms:** Many ads act like porn, lacking artistic value. Key Takeaway Question media critically for artistic merit. Themes media criticism art sexuality Mood skeptical critical Type cultural commentary satire When to use this quote - advertising analysis - media literacy - public policy debates Key Concepts cultural commentary ethical standards Questions to Reflect On - How do you differentiate art from exploitation? - What standards should guide media content? A Different Perspective Not all provocative content is pornographic; context matters. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artistic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artistic/) [Causes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/causes/) [Causes Sexual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/causes-sexual-2534659/) [Like Commercial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-commercial-988120/) [Merit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/merit/) [Pornography](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pornography/) [Pornography Act](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pornography-act-2534658/) [Sexual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sexual/) [Sexual Thoughts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sexual-thoughts-1768777/) [Sound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sound/) [Tvs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tvs/) ## Related quotes > [Supreme Court says pornography is anything without artistic merit that causes sexual thoughts; that's their definition, essentially. No artistic merit, causes sexual thoughts. Hmm.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/supreme-court-says-pornography-is-anything-without-artistic-merit/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [Supreme Court says pornography is anything without artistic merit that causes sexual thoughts, that's their definition, essentially. No artistic merit, causes sexual thoughts. Hmm...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/supreme-court-says-pornography-is-anything-without-artistic-merit-2/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [The mass media causes sexual misdirection: It prompts us to need something deeper than what we want. This is why Woody Allen has made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-klosterman/the-mass-media-causes-sexual-misdirection-it-prompts-us-to-need/) [Chuck Klosterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-klosterman/) > [I find it ironic that people who are against things that cause sexual thoughts are generally fundamentalist Christians who also believe you should be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-find-it-ironic-that-people-who-are-against-things-that-cause-sexual/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [Kids are dying from causes of sexual activity. You're not going to find a tombstone stating that Frankie died because he was a virgin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/kids-are-dying-from-causes-of-sexual-activity-you-re-not-going-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Waiting for the day women can verbally express their sexual thoughts without being misjudged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/waiting-for-the-day-women-can-verbally-express-their-sexual-thoughts/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“In a recent experiment, scientific researchers exposed a group of teenaged boys to an arcade game, and found that all of them had unclean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peg-tittle/in-a-recent-experiment-scientific-researchers-exposed-a-group-of/) [Peg Tittle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peg-tittle/) > [Women say they have sexual thoughts too. They have no idea. It's the difference between shooting a bullet and throwing it. If they knew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-miller/women-say-they-have-sexual-thoughts-too-they-have-no-idea-it-s-the/) [Larry Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-miller/) > [“The one who does not have even a trace of sexual thoughts is referred to as a saiyam parinaami (one who is free of anger-pride-deceit-greed, attachment-abhorrence).  ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/the-one-who-does-not-have-even-a-trace-of-sexual-thoughts-is-referred/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“-Hello, welcome to Wal-Mart. Amanda lifted up her pink sunglasses to gape at the old guy in the requisite blue vest. - Ohmigod, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-mccarthy/hello-welcome-to-wal-mart-amanda-lifted-up-her-pink-sunglasses-to/) [Erin McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-mccarthy/) > [I always feel like you don't do comedy for the special - you do the specials so you can do comedy. That's like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-che/i-always-feel-like-you-don-t-do-comedy-for-the-special-you-do-the/) [Michael Che](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-che/) > [Just once, I'd like a commercial.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-horry/just-once-i-d-like-a-commercial/) [Robert Horry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-horry/) > [I dislike labels like 'commercial' and 'non commercial.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhay-deol/i-dislike-labels-like-commercial-and-non-commercial/) [Abhay Deol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhay-deol/) > [Oh, well, I'd like to have commercial success. I guess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susanna-hoffs/oh-well-i-d-like-to-have-commercial-success-i-guess/) [Susanna Hoffs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susanna-hoffs/) > [I really don't like too much of the commercial acting in a lot of commercials.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boban-marjanovic/i-really-don-t-like-too-much-of-the-commercial-acting-in-a-lot-of/) [Boban Marjanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boban-marjanovic/) ## More by Bill Hicks > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [not all drugs are good.. some of them are great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/not-all-drugs-are-good-some-of-them-are-great/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [If you don't think drugs have done good things for us, then take all of your records, tapes and CD's and burn them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/if-you-don-t-think-drugs-have-done-good-things-for-us-then-take-all/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [I don't do drugs anymore... than, say, the average touring funk band.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-don-t-do-drugs-anymore-than-say-the-average-touring-funk-band/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [How many people disapprove of the job the Conservatives are doing? Seventy percent. Of those same people, how many will vote for them again?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/how-many-people-disapprove-of-the-job-the-conservatives-are-doing/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [BTW A 24 week old embryo is not a human being. You're not a human being until you're in my phone book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/btw-a-24-week-old-embryo-is-not-a-human-being-you-re-not-a-human/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [Christianity has a built-in defense system: anything that questions a belief, no matter how logical the argument is, is the work of Satan by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/christianity-has-a-built-in-defense-system-anything-that-questions-a/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [I'm just trying to rid the world of all these fevered egos that are tainting our collective unconscious...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-m-just-trying-to-rid-the-world-of-all-these-fevered-egos-that-are/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [I was told when I grew up I could be anything I wanted: a fireman, a policeman, a doctor – even President, it seemed.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-was-told-when-i-grew-up-i-could-be-anything-i-wanted-a-fireman-a/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [Good comedy helps people know they're not alone. Great comedy provides an answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/good-comedy-helps-people-know-they-re-not-alone-great-comedy-provides/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [People ask me what I think about that woman priest thing. What, a woman priest? Women priests. Great, great. Now there's priests of both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/people-ask-me-what-i-think-about-that-woman-priest-thing-what-a-woman/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [Oh sorry, I was taking life seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/oh-sorry-i-was-taking-life-seriously/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [I can't watch TV longer than five minutes without praying for nuclear holocaust.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-can-t-watch-tv-longer-than-five-minutes-without-praying-for-nuclear/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [I'm not really a heavy smoker any more. I only get through two lighters a day now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-m-not-really-a-heavy-smoker-any-more-i-only-get-through-two/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [You watch the news these days? It's unbelievable. You think you just walk out your door, you're immediately gonna be raped by some crack-addicted,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/you-watch-the-news-these-days-it-s-unbelievable-you-think-you-just/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) [Explore all 317 Bill Hicks quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) ## More Art quotes > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. 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You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) [Taf Teh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taf-teh/) > [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [In literature and art memory is a synonym for invention. It is the life-blood of imagination, which faints and dies when the veins are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/in-literature-and-art-memory-is-a-synonym-for-invention-it-is-the/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. 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