--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In modern America, anyone who attempts to…" description: "\"In modern America, anyone who attempts to write satirically about the events of the day finds it difficult to concoct a situation so bizarre that it ma..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7fc/calvin-trillin-4656_america_in-modern-america-anyone-who-attempts-to_2449408.png" --- # In modern America, anyone who attempts to write… ![“In modern America, anyone who attempts to write satirically about the events of the day finds it difficult to concoct a situation so bizarre that it may not actually come to pass while his article is still on the presses.” quote by Calvin Trillin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7fc/calvin-trillin-4656_america_in-modern-america-anyone-who-attempts-to_2449408.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7fc/calvin-trillin-4656_america_in-modern-america-anyone-who-attempts-to_2449408.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7fc/calvin-trillin-4656_america_in-modern-america-anyone-who-attempts-to_2449408.png) > “In modern America, anyone who attempts to write satirically about the events of the day finds it difficult to concoct a situation so bizarre that it may not actually come to pass while his article is still on the presses.” [Calvin Trillin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-trillin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Satire struggles to stay ahead of reality when absurd events become commonplace. **In simple terms:** Satire is hard when reality is absurd. Key Takeaway Find fresh angles beyond current absurdities. Themes satire media reality Mood critical thoughtful Type analytical creative When to use this quote - journalism - political commentary - comedy writing - media analysis Key Concepts cultural commentary creative writing Questions to Reflect On - How can satire stay effective? - What topics remain untapped? A Different Perspective Satire may become indistinguishable from news. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Articles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/articles/) [Attempts Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attempts-write-558381/) [Bizarre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bizarre/) [Difficult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficult/) [Events](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/events/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Modern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/modern/) [Modern america](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/modern-america/) [Newspapers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/newspapers/) [Presses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/presses/) [Satire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/satire/) [Satirically](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/satirically-558384/) [Satirically Events](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/satirically-events-558382/) [Situation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/situation/) [Situation Bizarre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/situation-bizarre-558383/) [Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stills/) [Write Satirically](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write-satirically-558380/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [“I suppose because we have no ruins and no curiosities,” said Virginia satirically.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/i-suppose-because-we-have-no-ruins-and-no-curiosities-said-virginia/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [For after my marriage I had made various attempts to write fiction. They were clearly failures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-augusta-ward/for-after-my-marriage-i-had-made-various-attempts-to-write-fiction/) [Mary Augusta Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-augusta-ward/) > [There's probably no concept in theology more repugnant to modern America than the idea of divine wrath.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/there-s-probably-no-concept-in-theology-more-repugnant-to-modern/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [Bart Giamatti did not grow up (as he had dreamed) to play second base for the Red Sox. He became a professor at Yale,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-halberstam/bart-giamatti-did-not-grow-up-as-he-had-dreamed-to-play-second-base/) [David Halberstam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-halberstam/) > [It is easy to understand why the cat has eclipsed the dog as modern America's favorite pet. People like pets to possess the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/it-is-easy-to-understand-why-the-cat-has-eclipsed-the-dog-as-modern/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [I was captivated by Sherrie Flick's meticulous and intelligent study of Margaret and Vivette, and the men they share. Reconsidering Happiness is a courageously…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-crace/i-was-captivated-by-sherrie-flick-s-meticulous-and-intelligent-study/) [Jim Crace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-crace/) > [Cats are to dogs what modern people are to the people we used to have. Cats are slimmer, cleaner, more attractive, disloyal, and lazy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/cats-are-to-dogs-what-modern-people-are-to-the-people-we-used-to-have/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [“Wonder Woman represented modern America as leader of the free world, and champion of the downtrodden. She forsook her kingdom and immortality to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-madrid/wonder-woman-represented-modern-america-as-leader-of-the-free-world/) [Mike Madrid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-madrid/) > [We urgently need a debate about the best ways of supporting families in modern America, without blinders that prevent us from seeing the full…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-coontz/we-urgently-need-a-debate-about-the-best-ways-of-supporting-families/) [Stephanie Coontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-coontz/) > [Unless they can pass the same test that immigrants must pass to become citizens, people shouldnt be allowed to vote. The idea that there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charley-reese/unless-they-can-pass-the-same-test-that-immigrants-must-pass-to/) [Charley Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charley-reese/) > [If we must grind up human flesh and bones in the industrial machine that we call modern America, then, before God, I assert that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/if-we-must-grind-up-human-flesh-and-bones-in-the-industrial-machine/) [John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/) > [The problem in modern America is not that an individual can't make a difference, but that nearly all of us are too distracted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-demille/the-problem-in-modern-america-is-not-that-an-individual-can-t-make-a/) [Oliver DeMille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-demille/) > [From last century's 'The Birth of a Nation' to this century's 'Gods and Generals,' Hollywood has likely done more than any other American institution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ta-nehisi-coates/from-last-century-s-the-birth-of-a-nation-to-this-century-s-gods-and/) [Ta-Nehisi Coates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ta-nehisi-coates/) > [It's funny how much of the 'old times' are still rooted in modern America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-myers/it-s-funny-how-much-of-the-old-times-are-still-rooted-in-modern/) [Dave Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-myers/) > [“Socially, politically, economically, militarily, culturally, racially, sexually, demographically, even mythologically, World War II was the crucible that forged modern America. It was the transforming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haynes-johnson/socially-politically-economically-militarily-culturally-racially/) [Haynes Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haynes-johnson/) ## More by Calvin Trillin > [“I am firmly committed to the proposition that whoever is in power is exceedingly silly… And that goes for the opposition as well.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-trillin/i-am-firmly-committed-to-the-proposition-that-whoever-is-in-power-is/) [Calvin Trillin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-trillin/) > [People, not just reporters, are more interested in politics than in government, so the actual issues wouldn't be something that interested them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-trillin/people-not-just-reporters-are-more-interested-in-politics-than-in/) [Calvin Trillin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-trillin/) > [Perhaps we've time to have a look at the Number Thirty-One bus queue before we turn in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-trillin/perhaps-we-ve-time-to-have-a-look-at-the-number-thirty-one-bus-queue/) [Calvin Trillin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-trillin/) > [Irving Wallace family - they have preservatives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-trillin/irving-wallace-family-they-have-preservatives/) [Calvin Trillin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-trillin/) > [“All White House hopefuls we forewarn: You'll have to prove that you were born. Before Trump hits the state of granite, He must identify…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-trillin/all-white-house-hopefuls-we-forewarn-you-ll-have-to-prove-that-you/) [Calvin Trillin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-trillin/) > [We all know funny people who can't get it down on the page - even funny writers who can't get it down on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-trillin/we-all-know-funny-people-who-can-t-get-it-down-on-the-page-even-funny/) [Calvin Trillin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-trillin/) > [If bumblebee leavings and stump paste are so good for you, why can't any of those guys (in the health stores) grow full beards?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-trillin/if-bumblebee-leavings-and-stump-paste-are-so-good-for-you-why-can-t/) [Calvin Trillin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-trillin/) > [At American weddings, the quality of the food is in inverse proportion to the social position of the bride and groom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-trillin/at-american-weddings-the-quality-of-the-food-is-in-inverse-proportion/) [Calvin Trillin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-trillin/) > [As far as I'm concerned, 'whom' is a word that was invented to make everyone sound like a butler.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-trillin/as-far-as-i-m-concerned-whom-is-a-word-that-was-invented-to-make/) [Calvin Trillin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-trillin/) > [Avoid restaurants with names that are improbable descriptions, such as the Purple Goose, the Blue Kangaroo or the Quilted Orangutan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-trillin/avoid-restaurants-with-names-that-are-improbable-descriptions-such-as/) [Calvin Trillin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-trillin/) > [I don't cook. I don't know anything about food. I've never reviewed a restaurant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-trillin/i-don-t-cook-i-don-t-know-anything-about-food-i-ve-never-reviewed-a/) [Calvin Trillin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-trillin/) > [Fairs are good places to eat, particularly for stand-up eaters--which is one of the kinds of eaters I am, although when I eat standing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-trillin/fairs-are-good-places-to-eat-particularly-for-stand-up-eaters-which/) [Calvin Trillin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-trillin/) > [When someone reaches middle age, people he knows begin to get put in charge of things, and knowing what he knows about the people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-trillin/when-someone-reaches-middle-age-people-he-knows-begin-to-get-put-in/) [Calvin Trillin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-trillin/) > [The interesting thing about class warfare is that it's only class warfare if it's up, not down. If you talk about welfare cheats or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-trillin/the-interesting-thing-about-class-warfare-is-that-it-s-only-class/) [Calvin Trillin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-trillin/) > [I actually think of being funny as an odd turn of mind, like a mild disability, some weird way of looking at the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-trillin/i-actually-think-of-being-funny-as-an-odd-turn-of-mind-like-a-mild/) [Calvin Trillin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-trillin/) [Explore all 108 Calvin Trillin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-trillin/) ## More America quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [ 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/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [You live overseas, you see these exotic places and you want to know about them. But, weirdly, it also made me homesick for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-jennings/you-live-overseas-you-see-these-exotic-places-and-you-want-to-know/) [Ken Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-jennings/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) [Browse all 20,382 America quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In modern America, anyone who attempts to write satirically about the events of the day finds it difficult to concoct a situation so bizarre that it may not actually come to pass while his article is still on the presses.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Calvin Trillin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-trillin/in-modern-america-anyone-who-attempts-to-write-satirically-about-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "America" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-trillin/in-modern-america-anyone-who-attempts-to-write-satirically-about-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7fc/calvin-trillin-4656_america_in-modern-america-anyone-who-attempts-to_2449408.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7fc/calvin-trillin-4656_america_in-modern-america-anyone-who-attempts-to_2449408.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7fc/calvin-trillin-4656_america_in-modern-america-anyone-who-attempts-to_2449408.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In modern America, anyone who attempts to write satirically about the events of the day finds it difficult…” — Calvin Trillin", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Calvin Trillin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-trillin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "In modern America, anyone who attempts...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-trillin/in-modern-america-anyone-who-attempts-to-write-satirically-about-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-trillin/in-modern-america-anyone-who-attempts-to-write-satirically-about-the/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```