--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: 'Hairspray' maybe did change people's…" description: "\"'Hairspray' maybe did change people's minds, and that's how you get your political enemies to change their minds - by making them laugh and making them..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f4/john-waters-751_change_hairspray-maybe-did-change-people-s-mind_608155.jpg" --- # 'Hairspray' maybe did change people's minds, and that's… ![“'Hairspray' maybe did change people's minds, and that's how you get your political enemies to change their minds - by making them laugh and making them look at something in a way they haven't seen it. Not by preaching and cutting them off and being a separatist.” quote by John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f4/john-waters-751_change_hairspray-maybe-did-change-people-s-mind_608155.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f4/john-waters-751_change_hairspray-maybe-did-change-people-s-mind_608155.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f4/john-waters-751_change_hairspray-maybe-did-change-people-s-mind_608155.jpg) > “'Hairspray' maybe did change people's minds, and that's how you get your political enemies to change their minds - by making them laugh and making them look at something in a way they haven't seen it. Not by preaching and cutting them off and being a separatist.” [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Humor can shift political views by presenting ideas in a fresh, entertaining way, rather than through direct preaching. **In simple terms:** Laughter changes minds. Key Takeaway Use comedy to open dialogue. Themes politics communication influence Mood playful critical Type satirical inspirational When to use this quote - campaigns - social activism - public speaking - media production Key Concepts satire persuasion media effects Questions to Reflect On - How can humor be balanced with seriousness? - When does satire risk alienating its audience? A Different Perspective Comedy may be dismissed as trivial. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Change Minds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change-minds/) [Change People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change-people/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Enemies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemies/) [Enemies Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemies-change-1551163/) [Hairspray Maybe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hairspray-maybe-4943987/) [Look](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/look/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Minds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-minds/) [Political enemies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-enemies/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [It's hard to win people's minds over. The only way to change their minds is to perform.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-groves/it-s-hard-to-win-people-s-minds-over-the-only-way-to-change-their/) [George Groves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-groves/) > [It is hard to change people's minds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-cummings/it-is-hard-to-change-people-s-minds/) [Dominic Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-cummings/) > [Funny how a little politeness can change people's minds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherman-alexie/funny-how-a-little-politeness-can-change-people-s-minds/) [Sherman Alexie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherman-alexie/) > [You can't change people's minds, we are not God. We can do our best to do what we do, whatever job we have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lachapelle/you-can-t-change-people-s-minds-we-are-not-god-we-can-do-our-best-to/) [David LaChapelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lachapelle/) > [You cannot expect soldiers to change people's minds. That has to be done in other ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-jackson/you-cannot-expect-soldiers-to-change-people-s-minds-that-has-to-be/) [Mike Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-jackson/) > [“The Party is not interested in the overt act: the thought is all we care about. We do not merely destroy our enemies, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/the-party-is-not-interested-in-the-overt-act-the-thought-is-all-we-2/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [“We do not merely destroy our enemies, we change them. Do you understand what I mean by that?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/we-do-not-merely-destroy-our-enemies-we-change-them-do-you-understand/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [Change happened and you thought it was forever, and immediately there were all the enemies of that change making common cause and meeting in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-cherryh-2/change-happened-and-you-thought-it-was-forever-and-immediately-there/) [C. J. Cherryh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-cherryh-2/) > [We do not merely destroy our enemies; we change them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/we-do-not-merely-destroy-our-enemies-we-change-them/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [Things don't change because people change their minds. They change because they retire or die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-crockford/things-don-t-change-because-people-change-their-minds-they-change/) [Douglas Crockford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-crockford/) > [People have a right to change their minds and it has absolutely nothing to do with you. People change. As people change, their needs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/people-have-a-right-to-change-their-minds-and-it-has-absolutely/) [Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/) > [“After years of watching adversaries comb through her public records for any hint of a scandal, and after accessing her own aides’ e-mails, Hillary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-allen/after-years-of-watching-adversaries-comb-through-her-public-records/) [Jonathan Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-allen/) > [Capitalism’s biggest political enemies are not the firebrand trade unionists spewing vitriol against the system but the executives in pin-striped suits extolling the virtues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raghuram-rajan/capitalism-s-biggest-political-enemies-are-not-the-firebrand-trade/) [Raghuram Rajan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raghuram-rajan/) > [This country does not punish its political enemies. What this country ensures is that no one is above the law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-sessions/this-country-does-not-punish-its-political-enemies-what-this-country/) [Jeff Sessions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-sessions/) > [I'm falling back on what some of the standard protocols for politics are after victory. We in America do not prosecute defeated political enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/i-m-falling-back-on-what-some-of-the-standard-protocols-for-politics/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) ## More by John Waters > [There was a cultural war going on, the '60s was going on. All the film critics were square.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/there-was-a-cultural-war-going-on-the-60s-was-going-on-all-the-film/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [I'm here today because of LSD. LSD gave me the confidence to be who I am today. Completely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/i-m-here-today-because-of-lsd-lsd-gave-me-the-confidence-to-be-who-i/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [When I was young, there were bars called the 'Hungry Hole,' and in those same neighbourhoods are now gay people pushing baby carriages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/when-i-was-young-there-were-bars-called-the-hungry-hole-and-in-those/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [True success is figuring out your life and career so you never have to be around jerks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/true-success-is-figuring-out-your-life-and-career-so-you-never-have/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [Around '62 in Baltimore, all the girls had those big hairdos. And then suddenly, a few of the really hip ones started doing their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/around-62-in-baltimore-all-the-girls-had-those-big-hairdos-and-then/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [“John!?” I ask in shock. This woman recognizes me? It can’t be! “How do you know my name?” I wonder out loud. Suddenly she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/john-i-ask-in-shock-this-woman-recognizes-me-it-can-t-be-how-do-you/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > ['Serial Mom' tested really well when we finally got with the right audience. But they would go to some shopping mall in a deep,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/serial-mom-tested-really-well-when-we-finally-got-with-the-right/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [One Christmas, Dennis Dermody, the movie critic of 'Paper,' gave me 'Rock Hudson: A Gathering of Friends,' the master invitation list from Rock Hudson's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/one-christmas-dennis-dermody-the-movie-critic-of-paper-gave-me-rock/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [Many hundred-million-dollar Hollywood comedies aren't any good. They're trying to shock you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/many-hundred-million-dollar-hollywood-comedies-aren-t-any-good-they/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [The Easter Bunny is a major reason for heroin addiction in America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/the-easter-bunny-is-a-major-reason-for-heroin-addiction-in-america/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [To use bad taste, you have to know the rules of good taste. I've always thanked my mother for that. She taught how to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/to-use-bad-taste-you-have-to-know-the-rules-of-good-taste-i-ve-always/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [I'm an old person because I still buy DVDs. I have every one of my albums and 45s - I even have a couple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/i-m-an-old-person-because-i-still-buy-dvds-i-have-every-one-of-my/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [I do like Christmas. I do understand that there are people who hate it, and there are other religions that resent it. So, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/i-do-like-christmas-i-do-understand-that-there-are-people-who-hate-it/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [I love to read about anger. A "feel bad" book always makes me feel good. And no other novel in the history of literature…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/i-love-to-read-about-anger-a-feel-bad-book-always-makes-me-feel-good/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [ Maybe I'll just write books. I'd like to make another movie, but I don't want to go back and \[do\] what they want you… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/maybe-i-ll-just-write-books-i-d-like-to-make-another-movie-but-i-don/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) [Explore all 381 John Waters quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) ## More Change quotes > [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [“…progress isn't necessarily about change but about things turning out as we want them to”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hogan/progress-isn-t-necessarily-about-change-but-about-things-turning-out/) [Phil Hogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-hogan/) > [Nobody can tell me that no changes are necessary in Washington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-weld/nobody-can-tell-me-that-no-changes-are-necessary-in-washington/) [William Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-weld/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [When you walk down the street of Kabul your values for life changes, they do change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-pierre-white/when-you-walk-down-the-street-of-kabul-your-values-for-life-changes/) [Marco Pierre White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-pierre-white/) > [Your world will change whether or not you choose to change, but you have the power to choose it's direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/your-world-will-change-whether-or-not-you-choose-to-change-but-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [I hope I continue to evolve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-flair/i-hope-i-continue-to-evolve/) [Charlotte Flair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-flair/) > [“Stay focused on bringing people together and more on positive messaging so that you can be the change you wish to see in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/stay-focused-on-bringing-people-together-and-more-on-positive/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/) [Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/) > [“After the funeral, my life changed. I felt as if time were suddenly precious, water going down an open drain, and I could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/after-the-funeral-my-life-changed-i-felt-as-if-time-were-suddenly/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. 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