--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've been surprised by how little…" description: "\"I've been surprised by how little criticism I've got. Harry Potter's been taking all the flak. I'm a great fan of J.K. Rowling, but the people—mainly f..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24b/philip-pullman-525_america_i-ve-been-surprised-by-how-little-critic_980443.png" --- # I've been surprised by how little criticism I've got… ![“I've been surprised by how little criticism I've got. Harry Potter's been taking all the flak. I'm a great fan of J.K. Rowling, but the people—mainly from America's Bible Belt—who complain that Harry Potter promotes Satanism or witchcraft obviously haven't got enough in their lives. Meanwhile…” quote by Philip Pullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24b/philip-pullman-525_america_i-ve-been-surprised-by-how-little-critic_980443.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24b/philip-pullman-525_america_i-ve-been-surprised-by-how-little-critic_980443.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24b/philip-pullman-525_america_i-ve-been-surprised-by-how-little-critic_980443.png) > “I've been surprised by how little criticism I've got. Harry Potter's been taking all the flak. I'm a great fan of J.K. Rowling, but the people—mainly from America's Bible Belt—who complain that Harry Potter promotes Satanism or witchcraft obviously haven't got enough in their lives. Meanwhile, I've been flying under the radar, saying things that are far more subversive than anything poor old Harry has said. My books are about killing God.” [Philip Pullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-pullman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Critics focus on sensationalism while deeper, subversive themes in his work go unnoticed. **In simple terms:** People miss the deeper messages in his books. Key Takeaway Explore the underlying ideas beyond surface controversy. Themes criticism subversion religion Mood thoughtful critical Type analytical philosophical When to use this quote - book clubs - academic courses - public debates Key Concepts theology literary analysis cultural critique Questions to Reflect On - Why do sensational topics dominate discourse? - How can readers seek deeper meaning? A Different Perspective Controversy can eclipse nuanced discussion. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Criticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticism/) [Flying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flying/) [Harry potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harry-potter/) [Killing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/killing/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Radar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/radar/) [Satanism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/satanism/) [Subversive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subversive/) [Witchcraft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/witchcraft/) ## Related quotes > [Elton John's home is laden with trinkets and books relating to Satanism and witchcraft.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-taupin/elton-john-s-home-is-laden-with-trinkets-and-books-relating-to/) [Bernie Taupin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-taupin/) > [I have great fans, a great wife and three grandkids!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-j-thomas/i-have-great-fans-a-great-wife-and-three-grandkids/) [B. J. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-j-thomas/) > [It's great that fans have people they can enjoy and watch play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nomar-garciaparra/it-s-great-that-fans-have-people-they-can-enjoy-and-watch-play/) [Nomar Garciaparra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nomar-garciaparra/) > [I do Comic-Con and stuff all over the world. They can be taxing and they can take it out of you a little bit,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-anders/i-do-comic-con-and-stuff-all-over-the-world-they-can-be-taxing-and/) [David Anders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-anders/) > [If I can take pressure off other guys, that's great. And if the fans like the way I play, that's even better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lee/if-i-can-take-pressure-off-other-guys-that-s-great-and-if-the-fans/) [David Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lee/) > [I am just not a great fan of the Piers Morgan format. I would rather do something a bit more substantial.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/i-am-just-not-a-great-fan-of-the-piers-morgan-format-i-would-rather/) [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) > [I feel very strongly that a film isn't just a story, but the WAY that a story is told. It's why I am such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-fessenden/i-feel-very-strongly-that-a-film-isn-t-just-a-story-but-the-way-that/) [Larry Fessenden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-fessenden/) > [I feel blessed that I had an opportunity to be in the Big Ten for four years as a player and be in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-alford/i-feel-blessed-that-i-had-an-opportunity-to-be-in-the-big-ten-for/) [Steve Alford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-alford/) > [My father was a great fan of the horses. His only regret was that I never ran in the Grand National.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ovett/my-father-was-a-great-fan-of-the-horses-his-only-regret-was-that-i/) [Steve Ovett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ovett/) > [I've been fortunate, I've been blessed, and I attribute my success to all my fans. People want to do things with you when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-the-cable-guy/i-ve-been-fortunate-i-ve-been-blessed-and-i-attribute-my-success-to/) [Larry the Cable Guy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-the-cable-guy/) > [Hellyeah have great fans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vinnie-paul/hellyeah-have-great-fans/) [Vinnie Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vinnie-paul/) > [My greatest idol– I’'ve always told everyone – was Robinho as he was from Santos and I was always following him, so I'’m a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neymar/my-greatest-idol-i-ve-always-told-everyone-was-robinho-as-he-was-from/) [Neymar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neymar/) > [I always loved comic books and I'm still a great fan of the graphic novel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-hill/i-always-loved-comic-books-and-i-m-still-a-great-fan-of-the-graphic/) [Walter Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-hill/) > [I am not a great fan of the payroll tax holiday because I'm nervous about what it does to the future of Social Security.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/i-am-not-a-great-fan-of-the-payroll-tax-holiday-because-i-m-nervous/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [If your music is great, you will have fans, not because you have spent time chatting on social media.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-adams/if-your-music-is-great-you-will-have-fans-not-because-you-have-spent/) [Bryan Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-adams/) ## More by Philip Pullman > [The state of mind which I put myself when I tell a story is one in which superstition flourishes very easily. And I welcome…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-pullman/the-state-of-mind-which-i-put-myself-when-i-tell-a-story-is-one-in/) [Philip Pullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-pullman/) > [Religion grants its adherents malign, intoxicating and morally corrosive sensations. Destroying intellectual freedom is always evil, but only religion makes doing evil feel quite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-pullman/religion-grants-its-adherents-malign-intoxicating-and-morally/) [Philip Pullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-pullman/) > [We don't need lists of rights and wrongs, tables of do's and don'ts: we need books, time, and silence. Thou shalt not is soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-pullman/we-don-t-need-lists-of-rights-and-wrongs-tables-of-do-s-and-don-ts-we/) [Philip Pullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-pullman/) > [I have stolen ideas from every book I have ever read.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-pullman/i-have-stolen-ideas-from-every-book-i-have-ever-read/) [Philip Pullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-pullman/) > [All the stories of the Bible that I know came to me first from my grandfather's lips... He would see stories in everything. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-pullman/all-the-stories-of-the-bible-that-i-know-came-to-me-first-from-my/) [Philip Pullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-pullman/) > [What I do say is that I can write verse, and that the writing of verse in strict form is the best possible training…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-pullman/what-i-do-say-is-that-i-can-write-verse-and-that-the-writing-of-verse/) [Philip Pullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-pullman/) > [Writing is tyranny ... but reading is democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-pullman/writing-is-tyranny-but-reading-is-democracy/) [Philip Pullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-pullman/) > [“Middlemarch is a novel that is diminished by being put on the screen. It can't help but be, because so much of what we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-pullman/middlemarch-is-a-novel-that-is-diminished-by-being-put-on-the-screen/) [Philip Pullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-pullman/) > [I have maintained a passionate interest in education, which leads me occasionally to make foolish and ill-considered remarks alleging that not everything is well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-pullman/i-have-maintained-a-passionate-interest-in-education-which-leads-me/) [Philip Pullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-pullman/) > [And think what worrying does: has anyone ever added a single hour to the length of his life by worrying about it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-pullman/and-think-what-worrying-does-has-anyone-ever-added-a-single-hour-to/) [Philip Pullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-pullman/) > [“The question authors get asked more than any other is "Where do you get your ideas from?" And we all find a way of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-pullman/the-question-authors-get-asked-more-than-any-other-is-where-do-you/) [Philip Pullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-pullman/) > [“We are all subject to the fates. But we must all act as if we are not,” said the witch, “or die of despair.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-pullman/we-are-all-subject-to-the-fates-but-we-must-all-act-as-if-we-are-not/) [Philip Pullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-pullman/) > [Lonely? I don't know. They tell me this is cold. I don't know what cold is, because I don't freeze. So I don't know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-pullman/lonely-i-don-t-know-they-tell-me-this-is-cold-i-don-t-know-what-cold/) [Philip Pullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-pullman/) > [Just finished 'Secrecy' - truly enthralling both as a love story and as a tale of suspense - but much more than both.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-pullman/just-finished-secrecy-truly-enthralling-both-as-a-love-story-and-as-a/) [Philip Pullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-pullman/) > [“As Auden is believed to have said, no poem saved a single Jew from the gas chambers. Never mind. Write the poems anyway. Play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-pullman/as-auden-is-believed-to-have-said-no-poem-saved-a-single-jew-from-the/) [Philip Pullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-pullman/) [Explore all 479 Philip Pullman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-pullman/) ## More America quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [You live overseas, you see these exotic places and you want to know about them. But, weirdly, it also made me homesick for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-jennings/you-live-overseas-you-see-these-exotic-places-and-you-want-to-know/) [Ken Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-jennings/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) [Browse all 20,382 America quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I've been surprised by how little criticism I've got. Harry Potter's been taking all the flak. I'm a great fan of J.K. Rowling, but the people—mainly from America's Bible Belt—who complain that Harry Potter promotes Satanism or witchcraft obviously haven't got enough in their lives. 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