--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I can say with pride verging on smugness…" description: "\"I can say with pride verging on smugness that I've got two very successful shows that assume their audience is very smart.\" — Steven Moffat" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c6/steven-moffat-2328_assuming_i-can-say-with-pride-verging-on-smugness_1812756.png" --- # I can say with pride verging on smugness that I've got two… ![“I can say with pride verging on smugness that I've got two very successful shows that assume their audience is very smart.” quote by Steven Moffat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c6/steven-moffat-2328_assuming_i-can-say-with-pride-verging-on-smugness_1812756.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c6/steven-moffat-2328_assuming_i-can-say-with-pride-verging-on-smugness_1812756.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c6/steven-moffat-2328_assuming_i-can-say-with-pride-verging-on-smugness_1812756.png) > “I can say with pride verging on smugness that I've got two very successful shows that assume their audience is very smart.” [Steven Moffat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-moffat/) ## 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 proudly claims two successful shows that assume an intelligent audience. **In simple terms:** Shows target smart viewers. Key Takeaway Create content for discerning audiences. Themes creativity intelligence pride Mood confident proud Type professional analytical When to use this quote - television production - scriptwriting - marketing strategy Key Concepts media studies audience analysis Questions to Reflect On - Who is your ideal audience? - How to balance depth and accessibility? A Different Perspective Risk of alienating broader viewers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) [Pride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pride/) [Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smart/) [Smugness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smugness/) [Successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful/) ## Related quotes > [A lot of people in television who've had successful shows claim the 'Roseanne' show as their starting place, and I'm really proud of that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roseanne-barr/a-lot-of-people-in-television-who-ve-had-successful-shows-claim-the/) [Roseanne Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roseanne-barr/) > [I feel TV has a wider reach in terms of audience. Also, if you have successful shows - I had quite a few luckily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohnish-bahl/i-feel-tv-has-a-wider-reach-in-terms-of-audience-also-if-you-have/) [Mohnish Bahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohnish-bahl/) > [I had tremendous success in show business - star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. 'The Apprentice' was one of the most successful shows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-had-tremendous-success-in-show-business-star-on-the-hollywood-walk/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [Successful shows will always generate great business deals in the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-dubuc/successful-shows-will-always-generate-great-business-deals-in-the/) [Nancy Dubuc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-dubuc/) > [Their argument is that most shows are losers, which is true, but it's also disingenuous to say, 'We are not going to take the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-wolf/their-argument-is-that-most-shows-are-losers-which-is-true-but-it-s/) [Dick Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-wolf/) > [There's been a lot of successful shows like 'This Is Us,' 'Atlanta,' and 'Insecure,' so, I feel like whenever something works, Hollywood wants to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-waithe/there-s-been-a-lot-of-successful-shows-like-this-is-us-atlanta-and/) [Lena Waithe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-waithe/) > [When I make movies, I have a lot of respect for my audience. I think my audience is smart. If there's a way to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pitt/when-i-make-movies-i-have-a-lot-of-respect-for-my-audience-i-think-my/) [Michael Pitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pitt/) > [The audience is smart and catch on pretty quick when they are sold the same old thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ehren-kruger/the-audience-is-smart-and-catch-on-pretty-quick-when-they-are-sold/) [Ehren Kruger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ehren-kruger/) > [I think my audience is smart. If there's a way to be entertained and get things out - real things, not stupid moral crap…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pitt/i-think-my-audience-is-smart-if-there-s-a-way-to-be-entertained-and/) [Michael Pitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pitt/) > [Don't dumb it down. The audience is smart and gets what you are doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-paltrow/don-t-dumb-it-down-the-audience-is-smart-and-gets-what-you-are-doing/) Bruce Paltrow > [I always found the Chicago audience to be a smart, fast-moving, violent and cheerful lot, and it's always good to be back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/i-always-found-the-chicago-audience-to-be-a-smart-fast-moving-violent/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [The one thing you can do that the audience can't do - all those smart people online in the chat rooms can't do -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-spotnitz/the-one-thing-you-can-do-that-the-audience-can-t-do-all-those-smart/) [Frank Spotnitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-spotnitz/) > [I think that the audience is smart enough to know that just because a drama is relating to real-world parallels, it doesn't mean that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jed-mercurio/i-think-that-the-audience-is-smart-enough-to-know-that-just-because-a/) [Jed Mercurio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jed-mercurio/) > [I can't dumb down for the audience because I believe my audience is at least as smart as I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ranvir-shorey/i-can-t-dumb-down-for-the-audience-because-i-believe-my-audience-is/) [Ranvir Shorey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ranvir-shorey/) > [Akshay Kumar is a senior in the industry, and I consider myself lucky to be working with him. Each film of his opens to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kajal-aggarwal/akshay-kumar-is-a-senior-in-the-industry-and-i-consider-myself-lucky/) [Kajal Aggarwal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kajal-aggarwal/) ## More by Steven Moffat > [Like most writers, I write about what has happened to me as that involves the minimum amount of research.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-moffat/like-most-writers-i-write-about-what-has-happened-to-me-as-that/) [Steven Moffat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-moffat/) > [“I'm not a psychopath, I'm a high-functioning sociopath. Do your research.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-moffat/i-m-not-a-psychopath-i-m-a-high-functioning-sociopath-do-your-research/) [Steven Moffat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-moffat/) > [ The Doctor: This is bad, I don't like this. \[kicks console and yells in pain\] Never use force, you just embarrass yourself. Unless you're… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-moffat/the-doctor-this-is-bad-i-don-t-like-this-kicks-console-and-yells-in/) [Steven Moffat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-moffat/) > [Don't play games with me! You just killed someone I like, that is not a safe place to stand! I'm the Doctor, and you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-moffat/don-t-play-games-with-me-you-just-killed-someone-i-like-that-is-not-a/) [Steven Moffat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-moffat/) > [The universe is big, its vast and complicated, and ridiculous. And sometimes, very rarely, impossible things just happen and we call them miracles. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-moffat/the-universe-is-big-its-vast-and-complicated-and-ridiculous-and/) [Steven Moffat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-moffat/) > [Fascinatingly confident, rude people are great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-moffat/fascinatingly-confident-rude-people-are-great/) [Steven Moffat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-moffat/) > [ Rose: Look at you, beaming away like you're Father Christmas! The Doctor: Who says I'm not, red-bicycle-when-you-were-twelve? Rose: \[shocked\] What? The Doctor: And everybody… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-moffat/rose-look-at-you-beaming-away-like-you-re-father-christmas-the-doctor/) [Steven Moffat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-moffat/) > [River Song? Amy Pond? Hardly weak women. It's the exact opposite. You could accuse me of having a fetish for powerful, sexy women who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-moffat/river-song-amy-pond-hardly-weak-women-it-s-the-exact-opposite-you/) [Steven Moffat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-moffat/) > [Peter Capaldi and Jenna Coleman are back in Cardiff, back in the box, and back in action - for one of our scariest adventures…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-moffat/peter-capaldi-and-jenna-coleman-are-back-in-cardiff-back-in-the-box/) [Steven Moffat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-moffat/) > [Madge: I don't know why I keep shouting at them. The Doctor: Because every time you see them happy you remember how sad they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-moffat/madge-i-don-t-know-why-i-keep-shouting-at-them-the-doctor-because/) [Steven Moffat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-moffat/) > [If it’s time to go, remember what you’re leaving. Remember the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-moffat/if-it-s-time-to-go-remember-what-you-re-leaving-remember-the-best/) [Steven Moffat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-moffat/) > [The Doctor: 'You know when grown-ups tell you everything's going to be fine, but you really think they're lying to make you feel better?'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-moffat/the-doctor-you-know-when-grown-ups-tell-you-everything-s-going-to-be/) [Steven Moffat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-moffat/) > [“Hello, old friend. And here we are. You and me, on the last page. By the time you read these words, Rory and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-moffat/hello-old-friend-and-here-we-are-you-and-me-on-the-last-page-by-the/) [Steven Moffat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-moffat/) > [“Rory: Amy. I'm gonna need a little help here. Amy: Just stop it! Rory: Just think it through, this will work. This will kill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-moffat/rory-amy-i-m-gonna-need-a-little-help-here-amy-just-stop-it-rory-just/) [Steven Moffat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-moffat/) > [Brainy's the new sexy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-moffat/brainy-s-the-new-sexy/) [Steven Moffat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-moffat/) [Explore all 169 Steven Moffat quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-moffat/) ## More Assuming quotes > [Some books are not read in the right way because they have skipped a stage of opinion, assume a crystallization of information in society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/some-books-are-not-read-in-the-right-way-because-they-have-skipped-a/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [Our young Marines of today are courageous, willing to make sacrifices, and are marvelous team players. I am confident our Corps, and indeed our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-t-conway/our-young-marines-of-today-are-courageous-willing-to-make-sacrifices/) James T. Conway > [Everyone assumes writers spend their time lounging around, writing and occasionally striking a pose whilst having a think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-sheridan/everyone-assumes-writers-spend-their-time-lounging-around-writing-and/) [Sara Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-sheridan/) > [Islam never differentiates between men and women as regards political rights and puts them on an equal footing. However, even if a woman is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yusuf-al-qaradawi/islam-never-differentiates-between-men-and-women-as-regards-political/) [Yusuf al-Qaradawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yusuf-al-qaradawi/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [Assuming normal winter weather, we currently anticipate the coal markets to remain difficult through 2015; while we always strive to operate a full capacity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-craft/assuming-normal-winter-weather-we-currently-anticipate-the-coal/) [Joe Craft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-craft/) > [A state of mind is something that one assumes. It cannot be purchased, it must be created.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/a-state-of-mind-is-something-that-one-assumes-it-cannot-be-purchased/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [One must believe that every living thing whatsoever must change insensibly in its organization and in its form... One must therefore never expect to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baptiste-lamarck/one-must-believe-that-every-living-thing-whatsoever-must-change/) [Jean-Baptiste Lamarck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baptiste-lamarck/) > [I think the biggest problem working with me would be that I'm an only child, and so I have an internal dialogue that goes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maynard-james-keenan/i-think-the-biggest-problem-working-with-me-would-be-that-i-m-an-only/) [Maynard James Keenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maynard-james-keenan/) > [It is worth noticing that those who assume an imposing demeanor and seek to pass themselves off for something beyond what they are, are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-whately/it-is-worth-noticing-that-those-who-assume-an-imposing-demeanor-and/) [Richard Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/) > [People just assume that if you're famous, you're in Hollywood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-fox/people-just-assume-that-if-you-re-famous-you-re-in-hollywood/) [Megan Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-fox/) > [The behavior of any bureaucratic organization can best be understood by assuming that it is controlled by a secret cabal of its enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-conquest/the-behavior-of-any-bureaucratic-organization-can-best-be-understood/) [Robert Conquest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-conquest/) > [Humans suffer from self-centred notions as to the nature of life. Humans assume that alien life forms should conform to standards that match our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-perry/humans-suffer-from-self-centred-notions-as-to-the-nature-of-life/) [Steve Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-perry/) > [We can use our art to become political, to become something you want to talk about. We make clothes, but we have the chance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivier-rousteing/we-can-use-our-art-to-become-political-to-become-something-you-want/) [Olivier Rousteing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivier-rousteing/) > [Everyone seems to assume that the unscrupulous parts of journalism will be the frivolous or jocular parts. This is against all ethical experience. Jokes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/everyone-seems-to-assume-that-the-unscrupulous-parts-of-journalism/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) Browse all 2,452 Assuming quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I can say with pride verging on smugness that I've got two very successful shows that assume their audience is very smart.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Steven Moffat" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-moffat/i-can-say-with-pride-verging-on-smugness-that-i-ve-got-two-very/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Assuming" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-moffat/i-can-say-with-pride-verging-on-smugness-that-i-ve-got-two-very/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c6/steven-moffat-2328_assuming_i-can-say-with-pride-verging-on-smugness_1812756.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c6/steven-moffat-2328_assuming_i-can-say-with-pride-verging-on-smugness_1812756.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c6/steven-moffat-2328_assuming_i-can-say-with-pride-verging-on-smugness_1812756.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I can say with pride verging on smugness that I've got two very successful shows that assume their audience…” — Steven Moffat", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Steven Moffat", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-moffat/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I can say with pride verging...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-moffat/i-can-say-with-pride-verging-on-smugness-that-i-ve-got-two-very/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-moffat/i-can-say-with-pride-verging-on-smugness-that-i-ve-got-two-very/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```