Bass Quote by Dorothy Parker
“Prince or commoner, tenor or bass, Painter or plumber or never-do-well, Do me a favor and shut your face - Poets alone should kiss and tell.”
About This Quote
Source Poem: "The Little Girl Who Was Too Late", 1935
She critiques pretentiousness, urging poets to be authentic rather than self‑indulgent.
In simple terms: Poets should be sincere, not boastful.
Key Takeaway
Write honestly, avoid vanity.
Themes
authenticity
creativity
literature
critique
Mood
thoughtful
critical
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- writing workshops
- literary criticism
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
modernism
self‑expression
Questions to Reflect On
- What does authenticity mean to you?
- When have you seen pretentiousness hinder art?
A Different Perspective
Some may argue that bold self‑expression is valuable.
![“An artist must be a reactionary. He has to stand out against the tenor [group think] of the age and not go flopping along. By doing this he helps us to question and reassess our past, present and future situations, our assumptions and our options.” quote by Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/4f8/evelyn-waugh-850_age_an-artist-must-be-a-reactionary-he-has-t_571484.jpg)
