--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I get a great laugh from artists who…" description: "\"I get a great laugh from artists who ridicule the critics as parasites and artists manqués — sucha horrible joke. I can’t imagine a more perfect art fo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/288/manny-farber-28192_art_i-get-a-great-laugh-from-artists-who-rid_77799.png" --- # I get a great laugh from artists who ridicule the critics… ![“I get a great laugh from artists who ridicule the critics as parasites and artists manqués — sucha horrible joke. I can’t imagine a more perfect art form, a moreperfect career than criticism. I can’t imagine anything more valuableto do.” quote by Manny Farber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/288/manny-farber-28192_art_i-get-a-great-laugh-from-artists-who-rid_77799.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/288/manny-farber-28192_art_i-get-a-great-laugh-from-artists-who-rid_77799.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/288/manny-farber-28192_art_i-get-a-great-laugh-from-artists-who-rid_77799.png) > “I get a great laugh from artists who ridicule the critics as parasites and artists manqués — sucha horrible joke. I can’t imagine a more perfect art form, a moreperfect career than criticism. I can’t imagine anything more valuableto do.” [Manny Farber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manny-farber/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker praises criticism as an essential, rewarding art form, suggesting that mocking critics is a futile joke and that true value lies in the act of critique itself. **In simple terms:** Criticism is a vital, rewarding craft. Key Takeaway Critique holds intrinsic worth. Themes art criticism value humor career Mood ironic defiant thoughtful Type aphor manifesto When to use this quote - artist reflecting on criticism - debate about art value - career counseling for critics Key Concepts parasitic critics artist identity self-awareness Practical Applications - Teaching criticism as a profession - Developing critique workshops Questions to Reflect On - Why might criticism be seen as a career rather than a hobby? - How does mocking critics affect the perception of art? A Different Perspective Some argue that criticism can be destructive and hinder creative freedom. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Art form](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art-form/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Artists Ridicule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artists-ridicule-1000874/) [Careers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/careers/) [Criticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticism/) [Critics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/critics/) [Critics Parasites](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/critics-parasites-1000876/) [Form](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/form/) [Horrible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/horrible/) [I can](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-can/) [Imagine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imagine/) [Jokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jokes/) [Laughing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laughing/) [Parasites](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parasites/) [Perfect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfect/) [Ridicule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ridicule/) [Ridicule Critics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ridicule-critics-1000875/) ## Related quotes > [The greater part of critics are parasites, who, if nothing had been written, would find nothing to write.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-greater-part-of-critics-are-parasites-who-if-nothing-had-been/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I think that's what changed you, Beth. Your job. The film critic. Critics are parasites. They live off other people's creativity. They bring nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/i-think-that-s-what-changed-you-beth-your-job-the-film-critic-critics/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [“The craft, trade, agriculture, science, a large part of the art - all this can only stand on a broad base , on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/the-craft-trade-agriculture-science-a-large-part-of-the-art-all-this/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [So-called 'higher education' is a veritable magnet for second-raters and actively destructive parasites bent on promoting unsound ideas to the inexperienced and gullible. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-casey/so-called-higher-education-is-a-veritable-magnet-for-second-raters/) [Doug Casey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-casey/) > [The text moves like a small crustacean with compound eye and complex nervous system; throbbing, involuted, it becomes a parasite on a different body,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-brossard/the-text-moves-like-a-small-crustacean-with-compound-eye-and-complex/) [Nicole Brossard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-brossard/) > [If I come back as an animal in my next lifetime, I hope it's some type of parasite, because this is the part where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/if-i-come-back-as-an-animal-in-my-next-lifetime-i-hope-it-s-some-type/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [ To say that poverty explains terror is to slander those caught in poverty who choose to lead worthy lives. \[Terrorists\] are not the oppressed,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-wilentz/to-say-that-poverty-explains-terror-is-to-slander-those-caught-in/) [Sean Wilentz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-wilentz/) > [ A lawyer’s either a social engineer or … a parasite on society … A social engineer \[is\] a highly skilled, perceptive, sensitive lawyer who… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-hamilton-houston/a-lawyer-s-either-a-social-engineer-or-a-parasite-on-society-a-social/) [Charles Hamilton Houston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-hamilton-houston/) > [Every club has three types: fans, parasites and people who work their bollocks off, even ladies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-bates/every-club-has-three-types-fans-parasites-and-people-who-work-their/) [Ken Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-bates/) > [Lacking its own ingenuity, the parasite fears the visionary. What it cannot plagiarize, it seeks to censor. What it cannot regulate, it seeks to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-ryan/lacking-its-own-ingenuity-the-parasite-fears-the-visionary-what-it/) [Andrew Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-ryan/) > [“Lankester’s mistake didn’t stem simply from a loathing for all parasites;”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/lankester-s-mistake-didn-t-stem-simply-from-a-loathing-for-all/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We need to take a leaf out of natures book. Any species that clones itself will eventually be attacked by a parasite, leading to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-suarez/we-need-to-take-a-leaf-out-of-natures-book-any-species-that-clones/) [Daniel Suarez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-suarez/) > [ If \[people\] place such things as friendship and family ties above their own productive work, yes, then they are immoral. Friendship, family life and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/if-people-place-such-things-as-friendship-and-family-ties-above-their/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [The word relationship best refers to the connection between parasite and host, or shark and remora. It's a biological term. I'd rather be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-shoales/the-word-relationship-best-refers-to-the-connection-between-parasite/) [Ian Shoales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-shoales/) > [I have a real low tolerance for parasites, and you're so close to the limit that I'm already reaching for the flea powder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-howard/i-have-a-real-low-tolerance-for-parasites-and-you-re-so-close-to-the/) [Linda Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-howard/) ## More by Manny Farber > [Actually, what will be shown from here to eternity will be Burt Lancaster and Deborah Kerr cavorting on the beach. From Here to Eternity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manny-farber/actually-what-will-be-shown-from-here-to-eternity-will-be-burt/) [Manny Farber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manny-farber/) > [Before seeing 'The Pride of the Yankees,' you may or may not know that the Yankees referred to are the ones who win the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manny-farber/before-seeing-the-pride-of-the-yankees-you-may-or-may-not-know-that/) [Manny Farber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manny-farber/) > [There are several types of movie space, the three most important being: (1) the field of the screen, (2) the psychological space of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manny-farber/there-are-several-types-of-movie-space-the-three-most-important-being/) [Manny Farber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manny-farber/) > [One of the fine moments in 1940s film is no longer than a blink: Bogart, as he crosses the street from one bookstore to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manny-farber/one-of-the-fine-moments-in-1940s-film-is-no-longer-than-a-blink/) [Manny Farber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manny-farber/) > [Orson Welles's second 'I-did-it' should show once and for all that film making, radio and the stage are three different guys better kept separated.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manny-farber/orson-welles-s-second-i-did-it-should-show-once-and-for-all-that-film/) [Manny Farber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manny-farber/) > [Capra is an old-time movie craftsman, the master of every trick in the bag, and in many ways he is more at home with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manny-farber/capra-is-an-old-time-movie-craftsman-the-master-of-every-trick-in-the/) [Manny Farber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manny-farber/) > [The new Disney cartoon 'Bambi' is interesting because it's the first one that's been entirely unpleasant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manny-farber/the-new-disney-cartoon-bambi-is-interesting-because-it-s-the-first/) [Manny Farber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manny-farber/) > [Henry V' is a great deal more than almost any other hell-bent-for-armor movie that you've seen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manny-farber/henry-v-is-a-great-deal-more-than-almost-any-other-hell-bent-for/) [Manny Farber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manny-farber/) > [Sunset Boulevard' - the story of Hollywood movies draped on a depressing sex affair - is an uncompromising study of American decadence displaying a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manny-farber/sunset-boulevard-the-story-of-hollywood-movies-draped-on-a-depressing/) [Manny Farber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manny-farber/) > [I have a great love of the actual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manny-farber/i-have-a-great-love-of-the-actual/) [Manny Farber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manny-farber/) > [The Big Sleep' is an unsentimental, surrealist excitement in which most of the men in Hollywood's underworld are murdered and most of the women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manny-farber/the-big-sleep-is-an-unsentimental-surrealist-excitement-in-which-most/) [Manny Farber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manny-farber/) > [The story of Warner Brothers' movie, 'Mildred Pierce,' recounts the enormous and unrewarded sacrifices that a mother (Joan Crawford) makes for her spoiled, greedy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manny-farber/the-story-of-warner-brothers-movie-mildred-pierce-recounts-the/) [Manny Farber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manny-farber/) > [The cold, mean 'Sunset Boulevard' - a beautiful title, though I suspect it was shot on another boulevard - is further proof of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manny-farber/the-cold-mean-sunset-boulevard-a-beautiful-title-though-i-suspect-it/) [Manny Farber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manny-farber/) > [The Big Sleep' would have been a more effective study of nightmarish existence had the detective been more complicated and had more curiosity been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manny-farber/the-big-sleep-would-have-been-a-more-effective-study-of-nightmarish/) [Manny Farber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manny-farber/) > [I think it's sinful to give the audience material it knows already, whether the material is about race relations or the car culture or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manny-farber/i-think-it-s-sinful-to-give-the-audience-material-it-knows-already/) [Manny Farber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manny-farber/) [Explore all 19 Manny Farber quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manny-farber/) ## More Art quotes > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Hear the sum of the whole matter in the compass of one brief word — every art possessed by man comes from Prometheus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/hear-the-sum-of-the-whole-matter-in-the-compass-of-one-brief-word/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) [Taf Teh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taf-teh/) > [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [In literature and art memory is a synonym for invention. It is the life-blood of imagination, which faints and dies when the veins are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/in-literature-and-art-memory-is-a-synonym-for-invention-it-is-the/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [“The only thing--I tell you this straight from the heart--that disgusts me in Salzburg is that one can't have any proper social intercourse with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/the-only-thing-i-tell-you-this-straight-from-the-heart-that-disgusts/) [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) > [The sublime in art is the attempt to express the infinite without finding in the realm of phenomena any object which proves itself fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-sublime-in-art-is-the-attempt-to-express-the-infinite-without/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) [Browse all 48,643 Art quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I get a great laugh from artists who ridicule the critics as parasites and artists manqués — sucha horrible joke. 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