--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But it’s no surprise that when someone…" description: "\"“But it’s no surprise that when someone truly awful dies, the cool break out in reverence. Which is what happened when Hugo Chávez croaked. On that day..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a8/greg-gutfeld-1129_darth-vader_but-it-s-no-surprise-that-when-someone-t_2116610.jpg" --- # But it’s no surprise that when someone truly awful dies… ![“But it’s no surprise that when someone truly awful dies, the cool break out in reverence. Which is what happened when Hugo Chávez croaked. On that day in March 2013, we saw a parade of misty-eyed celebrities and solemn left-wing hacks paying tribute to a dead guy. Out of the woodwork came a parade…” quote by Greg Gutfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a8/greg-gutfeld-1129_darth-vader_but-it-s-no-surprise-that-when-someone-t_2116610.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a8/greg-gutfeld-1129_darth-vader_but-it-s-no-surprise-that-when-someone-t_2116610.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a8/greg-gutfeld-1129_darth-vader_but-it-s-no-surprise-that-when-someone-t_2116610.jpg) > ““But it’s no surprise that when someone truly awful dies, the cool break out in reverence. Which is what happened when Hugo Chávez croaked. On that day in March 2013, we saw a parade of misty-eyed celebrities and solemn left-wing hacks paying tribute to a dead guy. Out of the woodwork came a parade of Hugoslavians, tyrant-lovers who could overlook the heathen’s badness for the sake of coolness. See, someone can be truly evil. But if that person runs a country and you know that person well, it makes you kinda cool. It’s better to know Darth Vader than Doris Day. It’s pretty cool to brag that you just shared a burrito with a murderous despot, as opposed to a biscuit with Billy Graham. And so when Chávez bit the dust, who did we see? Sean Penn. Oliver Stone. Jimmy Carter. Joe Kennedy. All decorating the corpse with wreaths of blithering blather. And no one blathers blitheringly like that quartet. That’s the worst set of four since the last Who reunion.”” [Greg Gutfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-gutfeld/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Critiques the tendency to glorify controversial figures after death, highlighting hypocrisy in public mourning and media spectacle. **In simple terms:** People often praise the dead, even if they were evil. Key Takeaway Question the sincerity of posthumous praise. Themes hypocrisy celebrity worship politics media death public perception Mood skeptical ironic critical Type satirical commentary political When to use this quote - political commentary - media analysis - public discourse - celebrity critique Key Concepts celebrity culture political rhetoric social psychology Questions to Reflect On - Why do we elevate controversial figures after they die? - What does this say about our values? A Different Perspective The admiration may ignore real harm caused by the individual. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/billy-graham/) [Chávez Croaked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ch-vez-croaked-4298613/) [Darth vader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/darth-vader/) [Dies Cool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dies-cool-4298612/) [Evil Person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil-person/) [Graham Chávez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/graham-ch-vez-4298614/) [Hugo Chavez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hugo-chavez-403845/) ## Related quotes > [ We have the ability to take him \[President of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez\] out, and I think the time has come that we exercise that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-robertson/we-have-the-ability-to-take-him-president-of-venezuela-hugo-chavez/) [Pat Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-robertson/) > [ He \[Hugo Chavez\] put poverty at the heart of political debate. Rightly so, given the country's immense inequality and poverty. He invested heavily in… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-carroll/he-hugo-chavez-put-poverty-at-the-heart-of-political-debate-rightly/) [Rory Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-carroll/) > [I don't want to send my money to a bunch of Hugo Chavez-loving, Ivy League ideologically educated, politically opportunistic careerist in Washington, D.C.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-hannity/i-don-t-want-to-send-my-money-to-a-bunch-of-hugo-chavez-loving-ivy/) [Sean Hannity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-hannity/) > [“The good ones who listen to women to children and the poor die too soon, their lives bedeviled by opposition: our hearts grieve for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/the-good-ones-who-listen-to-women-to-children-and-the-poor-die-too/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [One of my biggest inspirations is President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela. Yea, President Hugo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-sheehan/one-of-my-biggest-inspirations-is-president-hugo-chavez-of-venezuela/) [Cindy Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sheehan/) > [ Confronting the US made him \[Hugo Chavez\] a target for demonization. Partisan and/or lazy journalism exaggerated his faults, ignored his virtues, and downplayed the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-carroll/confronting-the-us-made-him-hugo-chavez-a-target-for-demonization/) [Rory Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-carroll/) > [ “I can see why people find him \[Hugo Chávez\] charming. He's very ebullient, as they say. I've heard him make a speech, though, and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/i-can-see-why-people-find-him-hugo-ch-vez-charming-he-s-very/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [Can you imagine what Bush would say if someone like Hugo Chavez asked him for a little piece of land to install a military…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/can-you-imagine-what-bush-would-say-if-someone-like-hugo-chavez-asked/) [Jose Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [My greatest regret at the passing of America-hating strongman Hugo Chavez is that he didn't live long enough to party with Dennis Rodman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-lowe/my-greatest-regret-at-the-passing-of-america-hating-strongman-hugo/) [Rob Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-lowe/) > [I was 15 when Hugo Chavez came to power in 1998. At the time, I lived in Vargas State, which borders the Caribbean. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-guaido/i-was-15-when-hugo-chavez-came-to-power-in-1998-at-the-time-i-lived/) [Juan Guaido](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-guaido/) > [Hugo Chavez has tried to steal an inspiring phrase 'Patria o muerte, venceremos.' It does not belong to him. It belongs to a free…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/hugo-chavez-has-tried-to-steal-an-inspiring-phrase-patria-o-muerte/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [An evil person is like a dirty window, they never let the light shine through.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/an-evil-person-is-like-a-dirty-window-they-never-let-the-light-shine/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [I'm a really evil person on TV! It's way more fun to be the bad guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-torres/i-m-a-really-evil-person-on-tv-it-s-way-more-fun-to-be-the-bad-guy/) [Eve Torres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-torres/) > [Let a good person do good deeds with the same zeal that an evil person does bad ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sholom-rokeach/let-a-good-person-do-good-deeds-with-the-same-zeal-that-an-evil/) [Sholom Rokeach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sholom-rokeach/) > [“May 30 A Prayer about Healing Words The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. (Prov.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scotty-smith/may-30-a-prayer-about-healing-words-the-words-of-the-reckless-pierce/) [Scotty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scotty-smith/) ## More by Greg Gutfeld > [I admire President Obama's ability to trust strangers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-gutfeld/i-admire-president-obama-s-ability-to-trust-strangers/) [Greg Gutfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-gutfeld/) > [America is like the greatest hit of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-gutfeld/america-is-like-the-greatest-hit-of-the-world/) [Greg Gutfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-gutfeld/) > [What begins as a Utopian vision, always - always - ends in bloodshed. Because you have to force a utopia on a free people.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-gutfeld/what-begins-as-a-utopian-vision-always-always-ends-in-bloodshed/) [Greg Gutfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-gutfeld/) > [“Politics is way cool, as long as it’s progressive. Conservatives by nature hate politics and politicians.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-gutfeld/politics-is-way-cool-as-long-as-it-s-progressive-conservatives-by/) [Greg Gutfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-gutfeld/) > [I haven't used that word since I was 7 years old. I don't understand Donald Trump.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-gutfeld/i-haven-t-used-that-word-since-i-was-7-years-old-i-don-t-understand/) [Greg Gutfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-gutfeld/) > [I don't understand why a 40 is a quarter of beer when a 40 is 40 ounces. It's time to embrace the metric system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-gutfeld/i-don-t-understand-why-a-40-is-a-quarter-of-beer-when-a-40-is-40/) [Greg Gutfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-gutfeld/) > [At a certain point, we need to figure out how to reward those who choose a path that offers, often, almost no reward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-gutfeld/at-a-certain-point-we-need-to-figure-out-how-to-reward-those-who/) [Greg Gutfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-gutfeld/) > [There's always something heroic and romantic about taking a stand against the powers that be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-gutfeld/there-s-always-something-heroic-and-romantic-about-taking-a-stand/) [Greg Gutfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-gutfeld/) > [How odd that the proponents of free expression think 'free' only applies to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-gutfeld/how-odd-that-the-proponents-of-free-expression-think-free-only/) [Greg Gutfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-gutfeld/) > [“separately.) The truth is that conservatives do have the cool message.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-gutfeld/separately-the-truth-is-that-conservatives-do-have-the-cool-message/) [Greg Gutfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-gutfeld/) > [You can't get more racist than hating black conservatives just because they're black.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-gutfeld/you-can-t-get-more-racist-than-hating-black-conservatives-just/) [Greg Gutfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-gutfeld/) > [When one becomes a liberal, he or she pretends to advocate tolerance, equality and peace, but hilariously, they’re doing so for purely selfish reasons.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-gutfeld/when-one-becomes-a-liberal-he-or-she-pretends-to-advocate-tolerance/) [Greg Gutfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-gutfeld/) > [I have to say that Adam Levine is truly a daring young man to go on Twitter to bash Fox News. He's so rebellious,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-gutfeld/i-have-to-say-that-adam-levine-is-truly-a-daring-young-man-to-go-on/) [Greg Gutfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-gutfeld/) > [Actors seem brave and unpredictable, but they're spontaneous as a tax return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-gutfeld/actors-seem-brave-and-unpredictable-but-they-re-spontaneous-as-a-tax/) [Greg Gutfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-gutfeld/) > [Al Gore completely lied about climate change in an effort to make a lot of money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-gutfeld/al-gore-completely-lied-about-climate-change-in-an-effort-to-make-a/) [Greg Gutfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-gutfeld/) [Explore all 286 Greg Gutfeld quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-gutfeld/) ## More Darth vader quotes > [“But you can make you happy, my father's voice repeats over and over as I stare at my ceiling. Have I been trying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leah-rae-miller/but-you-can-make-you-happy-my-father-s-voice-repeats-over-and-over-as/) [Leah Rae Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leah-rae-miller/) > [In three hundred feet, turn right," Darth Vader said. The Darth Vader. I felt like we were friends now. Like I could tell him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darynda-jones/in-three-hundred-feet-turn-right-darth-vader-said-the-darth-vader-i/) [Darynda Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darynda-jones/) > [Be Luke Skywalker, not Darth Vader. Ultimately love is stronger than evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-burr/be-luke-skywalker-not-darth-vader-ultimately-love-is-stronger-than/) [Don Burr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-burr/) > [I desperately wanted to play the part of Darth Vader's mother - I think she ended up being played by a Scandinavian actress -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-duncan/i-desperately-wanted-to-play-the-part-of-darth-vader-s-mother-i-think/) [Lindsay Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay-duncan/) > [We wish we were Obi-Wan Kenobi, and for the most part we are, but there's a little Darth Vader in all of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-christopher-stevens/we-wish-we-were-obi-wan-kenobi-and-for-the-most-part-we-are-but-there/) [J. Christopher Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-christopher-stevens/) > [Even to this day, when I think about the fact that I'm in this 'Star Wars' world, that I'm a half-brother to Darth Vader…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-edgerton/even-to-this-day-when-i-think-about-the-fact-that-i-m-in-this-star/) [Joel Edgerton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-edgerton/) > [“You've either bat-shit insane or you've watched too many movies. This isn't Star Wars , Mandel. I'm not Luke Skywalker. My dad's not Darth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-miller/you-ve-either-bat-shit-insane-or-you-ve-watched-too-many-movies-this/) [Kirsten Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-miller/) > [That furniture cost me a fortune! It's designer furniture." "Designed by whom ? Darth Vader ? The Hitler Youth ?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-crusie/that-furniture-cost-me-a-fortune-it-s-designer-furniture-designed-by/) [Jennifer Crusie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-crusie/) > [“He turned back to her stomach and got very close. She thought he meant to kiss her again and prepared to enjoy his lips…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caris-roane/he-turned-back-to-her-stomach-and-got-very-close-she-thought-he-meant/) [Caris Roane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caris-roane/) > [Some people may contend that there is no image more charming that a child holding a puppy or kitten. But for me that's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-van-allsburg/some-people-may-contend-that-there-is-no-image-more-charming-that-a/) [Chris Van Allsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-van-allsburg/) > [To me, Darth Vader is the epitome of evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manu-bennett/to-me-darth-vader-is-the-epitome-of-evil/) [Manu Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manu-bennett/) > [“One peek inside his top drawer had been enough for Sophie. Swimming goggles, nail clippers, a Ferragamo tie wound into a tight coil, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-hemphill/one-peek-inside-his-top-drawer-had-been-enough-for-sophie-swimming/) [Laura Hemphill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-hemphill/) > [We all take Mother's Day seriously and then it's like a month later, a bunch of kids get together and say, "I guess we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/we-all-take-mother-s-day-seriously-and-then-it-s-like-a-month-later-a/) [Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/) > [“Today is a day of celebration. We have triumphed over villainy and oppression and have given our Alliance—and the galaxy beyond it—a chance to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-wendig/today-is-a-day-of-celebration-we-have-triumphed-over-villainy-and/) [Chuck Wendig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-wendig/) > [Science offers no brief for the telekinetic powers of Darth Vader and hardly any greater justification for the faster-than-light travel that makes his empire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-di-filippo/science-offers-no-brief-for-the-telekinetic-powers-of-darth-vader-and/) [Paul Di Filippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-di-filippo/) [Browse all 89 Darth vader quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/darth-vader/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“But it’s no surprise that when someone truly awful dies, the cool break out in reverence. Which is what happened when Hugo Chávez croaked. 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