--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have never knowingly, I swear to God…" description: "\"I have never knowingly, I swear to God, written satire. The word connotes exaggeration of the foibles of mankind. To me, mankind just has foibles. You ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6d/tom-wolfe-2191_exaggeration_i-have-never-knowingly-i-swear-to-god-wr_2885545.jpg" --- # I have never knowingly, I swear to God, written satire… ![“I have never knowingly, I swear to God, written satire. The word connotes exaggeration of the foibles of mankind. To me, mankind just has foibles. You don't have to push it!” quote by Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6d/tom-wolfe-2191_exaggeration_i-have-never-knowingly-i-swear-to-god-wr_2885545.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6d/tom-wolfe-2191_exaggeration_i-have-never-knowingly-i-swear-to-god-wr_2885545.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6d/tom-wolfe-2191_exaggeration_i-have-never-knowingly-i-swear-to-god-wr_2885545.jpg) > “I have never knowingly, I swear to God, written satire. The word connotes exaggeration of the foibles of mankind. To me, mankind just has foibles. You don't have to push it!” [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Satire should expose human flaws without exaggeration; the author prefers plain observation over hyperbole. **In simple terms:** Satire can be straightforward, not overblown. Key Takeaway Observe and critique directly. Themes literature humor critique Mood wry introspective Type literary reflective When to use this quote - journalism - creative writing - social commentary - academic analysis Key Concepts satire human nature writing style Questions to Reflect On - Do you think subtle critique is as effective as overt satire? - When does humor become harmful? A Different Perspective Exaggeration may be needed to highlight absurdities for some audiences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Exaggeration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exaggeration/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [Knowingly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowingly/) [Mankind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mankind/) [Satire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/satire/) ## Related quotes > [Mr. Luskin also says that Rove did not knowingly disclose classified information and did not tell any reporters that Valerie Plame worked for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-isikoff/mr-luskin-also-says-that-rove-did-not-knowingly-disclose-classified/) [Michael Isikoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-isikoff/) > [I've always thought that the balance between the side of my mind that knows what it is doing and the side that really hasn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-motion/i-ve-always-thought-that-the-balance-between-the-side-of-my-mind-that/) [Andrew Motion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-motion/) > [I would never ever knowingly break the law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/i-would-never-ever-knowingly-break-the-law/) [Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/) > [The stereotype of psychotherapy portrayed in popular books and movies is lying on the couch and saying whatever comes into your mind, while a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/the-stereotype-of-psychotherapy-portrayed-in-popular-books-and-movies/) [David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/) > [Never knowingly be serious. Rule 27.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-moffat/never-knowingly-be-serious-rule-27/) [Steven Moffat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-moffat/) > [I was never a steroid user at all, at least not knowingly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-gatlin/i-was-never-a-steroid-user-at-all-at-least-not-knowingly/) [Justin Gatlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-gatlin/) > [We Jews who willingly and happily confirm our covenantal status and its attendant rights and duties must take the question of mission seriously: either…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-novak/we-jews-who-willingly-and-happily-confirm-our-covenantal-status-and/) [David Novak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-novak/) > [Men often act knowingly against their interest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/men-often-act-knowingly-against-their-interest/) [David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) > [all theology knowingly or not is by definition always engaged for or against the oppressed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-schussler-fiorenza/all-theology-knowingly-or-not-is-by-definition-always-engaged-for-or/) [Elisabeth Schussler Fiorenza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-schussler-fiorenza/) > [Our sport is not made for anybody to be able to play it, especially at the NFL level, so there's obviously some risk that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/troy-polamalu/our-sport-is-not-made-for-anybody-to-be-able-to-play-it-especially-at/) [Troy Polamalu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/troy-polamalu/) > [I would never knowingly go into a film that I wouldn't pay to see, or something that didn't challenge me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scarlett-johansson/i-would-never-knowingly-go-into-a-film-that-i-wouldn-t-pay-to-see-or/) [Scarlett Johansson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scarlett-johansson/) > [I never knowingly wanted to hurt anybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigitte-bardot/i-never-knowingly-wanted-to-hurt-anybody/) [Brigitte Bardot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigitte-bardot/) > [I have never knowingly dated a Republican.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angie-dickinson/i-have-never-knowingly-dated-a-republican/) [Angie Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angie-dickinson/) > [Knowingly or unknowingly we spend most of our time around money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mazher/knowingly-or-unknowingly-we-spend-most-of-our-time-around-money/) [Mazher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mazher/) > [I knew more about Texas than the Texans and when they told me I would find summer here I smiled knowingly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-h-davis/i-knew-more-about-texas-than-the-texans-and-when-they-told-me-i-would/) [Richard H. Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-h-davis/) ## More by Tom Wolfe > [“Well … things are beginning to stack up a little,” said Gordo. It was the same old sod-hut drawl. He sounded like the airline…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/well-things-are-beginning-to-stack-up-a-little-said-gordo-it-was-the/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) > [“Everything in everybody’s life is … significant. And everybody is alert, watching for the meanings.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/everything-in-everybody-s-life-is-significant-and-everybody-is-alert/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) > ['Back to Blood' really took it out of me. While I was writing it, I just never went out anywhere, except to the gym.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/back-to-blood-really-took-it-out-of-me-while-i-was-writing-it-i-just/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) > [In the U.S., the term 'general aviation' means its exact opposite, the way 'public school' does in England. An English public school is private…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/in-the-u-s-the-term-general-aviation-means-its-exact-opposite-the-way/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) > [That's mostly what the Internet is, just passing the time. But unfortunately you are dealing with words that can have meaning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/that-s-mostly-what-the-internet-is-just-passing-the-time-but/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) > [“The dark night of fascism is always descending in the United States and yet lands only in Europe.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/the-dark-night-of-fascism-is-always-descending-in-the-united-states/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) > [“Loneliness wasn't just a state of mind, was it? It was tactile. She could feel it. It was a sixth sense, not in some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/loneliness-wasn-t-just-a-state-of-mind-was-it-it-was-tactile-she/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) > [it is either make this thing permanent inside of you or forever just climb draggled up into the conning tower every time for one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/it-is-either-make-this-thing-permanent-inside-of-you-or-forever-just/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) > [I found a great many pieces of punctuation and typography lying around dormant when I came along - and I must say I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/i-found-a-great-many-pieces-of-punctuation-and-typography-lying/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) > [“They became desperate for an antidote, such as coziness & color. They tried to bury the obligatory white sofas under Thai-silk throw pillows of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/they-became-desperate-for-an-antidote-such-as-coziness-color-they/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) > [A cult is a religion with no political power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/a-cult-is-a-religion-with-no-political-power/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) > [I don't think journalists should talk about whom they're voting for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/i-don-t-think-journalists-should-talk-about-whom-they-re-voting-for/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) > [Even hostile parodies admit from the start that the target has a distinct voice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/even-hostile-parodies-admit-from-the-start-that-the-target-has-a/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) > [I had always looked down on sociology as this arriviste discipline. It didn't have the noble history of English and history as a subject.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/i-had-always-looked-down-on-sociology-as-this-arriviste-discipline-it/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) > [I read somewhere that writers, as they get older, become more and more perfectionist. Which may be because they think more highly of themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/i-read-somewhere-that-writers-as-they-get-older-become-more-and-more/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) [Explore all 177 Tom Wolfe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) ## More Exaggeration quotes > [Drill in exact translation is an excellent way of disposing the mind against that looseness and exaggeration with which the sensationalists have corrupted our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-weaver/drill-in-exact-translation-is-an-excellent-way-of-disposing-the-mind/) [Richard M. Weaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-weaver/) > [It takes a little more time to get into the role, but not very much more. In making a record you don't have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-callas/it-takes-a-little-more-time-to-get-into-the-role-but-not-very-much/) [Maria Callas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-callas/) > [To underestimate oneself is as much an exaggeration of one's powers than the other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/to-underestimate-oneself-is-as-much-an-exaggeration-of-one-s-powers/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [“Fuck anybody who’d call a hill a mountain and name it after themselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-d-aliwat/fuck-anybody-who-d-call-a-hill-a-mountain-and-name-it-after-themselves/) [A.D. Aliwat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-d-aliwat/) > [Love is a gross exaggeration of the difference between one person and everybody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/love-is-a-gross-exaggeration-of-the-difference-between-one-person-and/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [Among all the valuable things of this world, the word is the most precious. For in the word one can find a light which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hazrat-inayat-khan/among-all-the-valuable-things-of-this-world-the-word-is-the-most/) [Hazrat Inayat Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hazrat-inayat-khan/) > [God is exaggeration run amuck George H](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/god-is-exaggeration-run-amuck-george-h/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My music must be an artistic reproduction of human speech in all its finest shades. That is, the sounds of human speech, as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/modest-petrovich-mussorgsky/my-music-must-be-an-artistic-reproduction-of-human-speech-in-all-its/) Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky > [It is hardly an exaggeration to say that a chimpanzee kept in solitude is not a real chimpanzee at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-kohler/it-is-hardly-an-exaggeration-to-say-that-a-chimpanzee-kept-in/) [Wolfgang Kohler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-kohler/) > [On almost every environmental issue I care about, in fact, I've been wrong at one point or another. I used to think that climate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramez-naam/on-almost-every-environmental-issue-i-care-about-in-fact-i-ve-been/) [Ramez Naam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramez-naam/) > [“That night she wrote a hasty sketch and showed it to Oliver. "It's all right," he said. "But I'd take out that stuff about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-stegner/that-night-she-wrote-a-hasty-sketch-and-showed-it-to-oliver-it-s-all/) [Wallace Stegner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stegner/) > [It is, I believe, no exaggeration to say that all the historical information which has been collected in the Sanskrit language is less valuable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-b-macaulay/it-is-i-believe-no-exaggeration-to-say-that-all-the-historical/) [Thomas B. Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-b-macaulay/) > [The English language has 112 words for deception, according to one count, each with a different shade of meaning: collusion, fakery, malingering, self-deception, confabulation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-marantz-henig/the-english-language-has-112-words-for-deception-according-to-one/) [Robin Marantz Henig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-marantz-henig/) > [It is only a short step from exaggerating what we can find in the world to exaggerating our power to remake the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-j-boorstin/it-is-only-a-short-step-from-exaggerating-what-we-can-find-in-the/) [Daniel J. Boorstin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-j-boorstin/) > [American art in general... takes to surreal exaggerations and metaphors; but its Puritan work ethic has little use for the playful self-indulgence behind Parisian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-updike/american-art-in-general-takes-to-surreal-exaggerations-and-metaphors/) [John Updike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-updike/) [Browse all 342 Exaggeration quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exaggeration/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I have never knowingly, I swear to God, written satire. The word connotes exaggeration of the foibles of mankind. To me, mankind just has foibles. 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