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Awe Quote by Dorothy Parker

“There must be courage; there must be no awe. There must be criticism, for humor, to my mind, is encapsulated in criticism. There must be a disciplined eye and a wild mind...There must be a magnificent disregard of your reader, for if he cannot follow you, there is nothing you can do about it.” quote by Dorothy Parker
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“There must be courage; there must be no awe. There must be criticism, for humor, to my mind, is encapsulated in criticism. There must be a disciplined eye and a wild mind...There must be a magnificent disregard of your reader, for if he cannot follow you, there is nothing you can do about it.”

Dorothy Parker

About This Quote

Source Poetry: "The Portable Dorothy Parker" collection, 1971

Humor thrives on criticism and a bold, unrestrained voice that ignores audience expectations.

In simple terms: Humor needs criticism and a wild, unapologetic style.

Key Takeaway

Embrace boldness, ignore fear of misunderstanding.

Themes

humor criticism creativity

Mood

witty provocative

Type

literary humorous

When to use this quote

  • writing satire
  • stand‑up comedy
  • social commentary
  • blogging

Key Concepts

literature artistic expression

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do you balance boldness with clarity?
  • When does criticism enhance humor?
A Different Perspective

Ignoring audience can limit reach; criticism may alienate some readers.

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