Business Quote by William Congreve
“It is the business of a comic poet to paint the vices and follies of human kind.”
About This Quote
Source Play: The Old Bachelor, 1699
A comic poet’s role is to expose human vices and follies through satire.
In simple terms: Satirists reveal human flaws.
Key Takeaway
Use humor to critique society.
Themes
satire
human nature
critique
Mood
witty
critical
Type
literary
satirical
When to use this quote
- theatre performances
- political cartoons
- media commentary
Key Concepts
social commentary
literary tradition
Questions to Reflect On
- What vices are most ripe for satire today?
- How does satire influence public opinion?
A Different Perspective
Humor may trivialize serious issues.
![“[S]ometimes, when you are a food person, the possible irrelevance of what you are doing doesn’t cross your mind until it’s too late. (Once, for example, when I was just starting out in the food business, I was hired by the caper people to develop a lot of recipes using capers, and it was weeks of…” quote by Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d79/nora-ephron-1217_business_s-ometimes-when-you-are-a-food-person-th_980.jpg)
![“If the State does not acquire supremacy over [vast private] enterprises, it becomes their puppet, and they become the real State.” quote by Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/bad/bertrand-russell-69_acquire_if-the-state-does-not-acquire-supremacy_1379.jpg)
