--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I've gotten criticism, it's that…" description: "\"When I've gotten criticism, it's that it's too long, too soft, didn't hit the government hard enough. Then when I do hit the government, they go, What'..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a6/billy-crystal-6588_criticism_when-i-ve-gotten-criticism-it-s-that-it_895071.jpg" --- # When I've gotten criticism, it's that it's too long, too… ![“When I've gotten criticism, it's that it's too long, too soft, didn't hit the government hard enough. Then when I do hit the government, they go, What's he doing hitting the government?” quote by Billy Crystal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a6/billy-crystal-6588_criticism_when-i-ve-gotten-criticism-it-s-that-it_895071.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a6/billy-crystal-6588_criticism_when-i-ve-gotten-criticism-it-s-that-it_895071.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a6/billy-crystal-6588_criticism_when-i-ve-gotten-criticism-it-s-that-it_895071.jpg) > “When I've gotten criticism, it's that it's too long, too soft, didn't hit the government hard enough. Then when I do hit the government, they go, What's he doing hitting the government?” [Billy Crystal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-crystal/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Critics want harsher political satire; when it hits, the target is surprised. **In simple terms:** Critics want more bite; politicians are caught off guard. Key Takeaway Balance humor with impact. Themes politics comedy critique Mood witty critical Type entertainment political When to use this quote - stand‑up routine - media commentary - political campaign - public reaction Key Concepts satire public discourse Questions to Reflect On - How far should comedy go in political critique? - What makes satire effective without backlash? A Different Perspective Too aggressive satire can alienate audiences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Criticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticism/) [Criticism Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticism-long-435482/) [Enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enough/) [Gotten Criticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gotten-criticism-1186256/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Government Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government-hard-292511/) [Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard/) [Hit Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hit-government-1186257/) [Hitting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hitting/) [Hitting Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hitting-government-1186255/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Too long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/too-long/) ## Related quotes > [Everybody comments that I'm white. I'm surprised I haven't gotten more criticism for it. I'm always expecting any day now it's gonna come. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mayer-hawthorne/everybody-comments-that-i-m-white-i-m-surprised-i-haven-t-gotten-more/) [Mayer Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mayer-hawthorne/) > [I can handle constructive criticism as long as your not just being negative or saying it for the sake of it. If it's to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-can-handle-constructive-criticism-as-long-as-your-not-just-being/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I can take any amount of criticism, as long as it is unqualified praise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-coward/i-can-take-any-amount-of-criticism-as-long-as-it-is-unqualified-praise/) [Noel Coward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-coward/) > [One doesn't mind adverse criticism so long as it isn't stupid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-meades/one-doesn-t-mind-adverse-criticism-so-long-as-it-isn-t-stupid/) [Jonathan Meades](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-meades/) > [We can all take criticism as long as it's constructive. When it's complete lies, that's when it's disappointing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-bruce/we-can-all-take-criticism-as-long-as-it-s-constructive-when-it-s/) [Steve Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-bruce/) > [Perhaps art criticism cannot be reformed in a logical sense because it was never well-formed in the first place. Art criticism has long been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-elkins/perhaps-art-criticism-cannot-be-reformed-in-a-logical-sense-because/) [James Elkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-elkins/) > [Maybe it's my libertarian philosophy: but being in government is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bolton/maybe-it-s-my-libertarian-philosophy-but-being-in-government-is-hard/) [John Bolton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bolton/) > [If China someday gains a more fair, just, and accountable system of government, it will be due to the hard work and efforts of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/if-china-someday-gains-a-more-fair-just-and-accountable-system-of/) [Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/) > [The problem for large scientific projects is to do something that is being done for the first time, balanced against cost, schedule. and promises…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-barish/the-problem-for-large-scientific-projects-is-to-do-something-that-is/) [Barry Barish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-barish/) > [The creative project of self-government - hard and frustrating but necessary - is to produce that political commonwealth that changes over time, that can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-pierce/the-creative-project-of-self-government-hard-and-frustrating-but/) [Charlie Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-pierce/) > [I was always accused of being too stiff. In 1974, when I ran my first primary race for state rep, I was chief aide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-edgar/i-was-always-accused-of-being-too-stiff-in-1974-when-i-ran-my-first/) [Jim Edgar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-edgar/) > [A strange age of the world this, when empires, kingdoms, and republics come a-begging to a private man's door, and utter their complaints at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/a-strange-age-of-the-world-this-when-empires-kingdoms-and-republics/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The state of radio is not great. It's like playing the lottery. The chances of hitting are mind boggling slim.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-thompson/the-state-of-radio-is-not-great-it-s-like-playing-the-lottery-the/) [Teddy Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-thompson/) > [My real name's McGill. The Jew thing I just do for the homeboys. They all want a pipe-hitting member of the tribe, so to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul/my-real-name-s-mcgill-the-jew-thing-i-just-do-for-the-homeboys-they/) [Saul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul/) > [The thing about hitting kids is, think about if you were doing the same thing to another adult. Hitting your kid is really the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/the-thing-about-hitting-kids-is-think-about-if-you-were-doing-the/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) ## More by Billy Crystal > [Bambi, to a kid, was scary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-crystal/bambi-to-a-kid-was-scary/) [Billy Crystal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-crystal/) > [It's money. I remember it from when I was single](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-crystal/it-s-money-i-remember-it-from-when-i-was-single/) [Billy Crystal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-crystal/) > [“We tiptoe around like we’re the Frank family and the Gestapo is downstairs. The baby monitor is in our room, and the unspoken rule…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-crystal/we-tiptoe-around-like-we-re-the-frank-family-and-the-gestapo-is/) [Billy Crystal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-crystal/) > [I'd like to think there is a Heaven, and it starts from the happiest day in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-crystal/i-d-like-to-think-there-is-a-heaven-and-it-starts-from-the-happiest/) [Billy Crystal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-crystal/) > [I'm going to go on just living and laughing and loving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-crystal/i-m-going-to-go-on-just-living-and-laughing-and-loving/) [Billy Crystal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-crystal/) > [I quit drinking. That was a big problem for a lot of years. Then after that, I just started feeling grateful again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-crystal/i-quit-drinking-that-was-a-big-problem-for-a-lot-of-years-then-after/) [Billy Crystal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-crystal/) > [The house smelled of brisket and bourbon. That's the music I grew up on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-crystal/the-house-smelled-of-brisket-and-bourbon-that-s-the-music-i-grew-up-on/) [Billy Crystal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-crystal/) > [Don't give up your power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-crystal/don-t-give-up-your-power/) [Billy Crystal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-crystal/) > [Did you ever reach a point in your life, where you say to yourself, 'This is the best I'm ever going to look, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-crystal/did-you-ever-reach-a-point-in-your-life-where-you-say-to-yourself/) [Billy Crystal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-crystal/) > [I think when I feel I'm at my best is when I'm on stage, and it's my version of jazz because it's just riffing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-crystal/i-think-when-i-feel-i-m-at-my-best-is-when-i-m-on-stage-and-it-s-my/) [Billy Crystal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-crystal/) > [What's so fascinating and frustrating and great about life is that you're constantly starting over, all the time, and I love that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-crystal/what-s-so-fascinating-and-frustrating-and-great-about-life-is-that/) [Billy Crystal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-crystal/) > [ Those are all real things that I experienced, not with \[my daughters\] growing up but with the, you know - I'm trying not to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-crystal/those-are-all-real-things-that-i-experienced-not-with-my-daughters/) [Billy Crystal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-crystal/) > [Whoo-hoo-hoo, look who knows so much. It just so happens that your friend here is only MOSTLY dead. There's a big difference between mostly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-crystal/whoo-hoo-hoo-look-who-knows-so-much-it-just-so-happens-that-your/) [Billy Crystal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-crystal/) > [ \[My mother\] is the greatest hero I'll ever know because she kept us all together, she made sure we all graduated college. She always… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-crystal/my-mother-is-the-greatest-hero-i-ll-ever-know-because-she-kept-us-all/) [Billy Crystal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-crystal/) > [For almost 40 years, he was the brightest star in the comedy galaxy… The beautiful light will continue to shine on us forever and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-crystal/for-almost-40-years-he-was-the-brightest-star-in-the-comedy-galaxy/) [Billy Crystal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-crystal/) [Explore all 98 Billy Crystal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-crystal/) ## More Criticism quotes > [Regardless of the criticisms I receive from the left, the right and the middle, I think it's important to maintain a prolific writing jab,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ishmael-reed/regardless-of-the-criticisms-i-receive-from-the-left-the-right-and/) [Ishmael Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ishmael-reed/) > [I receive something we might euphemistically call an 'inappropriately hostile' response - that is to say, more than fair criticism or even fair anger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-beard/i-receive-something-we-might-euphemistically-call-an-inappropriately/) [Mary Beard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-beard/) > [A common fallacy in much of the adverse criticism to which science is subjected today is that it claims certainty, infallibility and complete emotional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/a-common-fallacy-in-much-of-the-adverse-criticism-to-which-science-is/) [Cyril Norman Hinshelwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/) > [For some reason, we are truly convinced that if we criticize ourselves, the criticism will lead to change. If we are harsh, we believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geneen-roth/for-some-reason-we-are-truly-convinced-that-if-we-criticize-ourselves/) [Geneen Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geneen-roth/) > [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. I think people are conditioned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tyrnauer/i-reject-criticism-because-the-last-thing-i-wanted-was-to-sit-there/) [Matt Tyrnauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tyrnauer/) > [I'm more comfortable modelling as a man because I don't get any criticism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rain-dove/i-m-more-comfortable-modelling-as-a-man-because-i-don-t-get-any/) [Rain Dove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rain-dove/) > [I don't mind positive criticism, but when it is negative and personal, it is quite hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/inzamam-ul-haq/i-don-t-mind-positive-criticism-but-when-it-is-negative-and-personal/) [Inzamam-ul-Haq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/inzamam-ul-haq/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Everything is allowable in literature, but what is not allowable in criticism is objection on the grounds of probability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-jacobson/everything-is-allowable-in-literature-but-what-is-not-allowable-in/) [Howard Jacobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-jacobson/) > [Lots of relationships fail because we spend more time pointing out each other's mistakes and not enough time enjoying each other's company.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/lots-of-relationships-fail-because-we-spend-more-time-pointing-out/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If our aim is to praise, we should forget to criticize; if our aim is to criticize, we should remember to praise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/if-our-aim-is-to-praise-we-should-forget-to-criticize-if-our-aim-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [No man can be criticised but by a greater than he. Do not, then, read the reviews.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/no-man-can-be-criticised-but-by-a-greater-than-he-do-not-then-read/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [People believe that criticism should be objective, whatever that means, but I really don't understand what people mean by that. I guess if you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-christgau/people-believe-that-criticism-should-be-objective-whatever-that-means/) [Robert Christgau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-christgau/) > [I welcome criticism. I come from a - I wouldn't say mean, but you've got to have tough skin to be in my family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saweetie/i-welcome-criticism-i-come-from-a-i-wouldn-t-say-mean-but-you-ve-got/) [Saweetie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saweetie/) > [The good author is he who contemplates without marked joy or excessive sorrow the adventures of his soul amongst criticisms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-conrad/the-good-author-is-he-who-contemplates-without-marked-joy-or/) [Joseph Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-conrad/) [Browse all 3,954 Criticism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I've gotten criticism, it's that it's too long, too soft, didn't hit the government hard enough. 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