SarcasmDeriving from a Greek word meaning “to strip off the flesh,” sarcasm is caustic, cutting humor in the form of ironic praise, or speaking oppositely in order to wound.Sarcasm |
IronyComic irony is speaking with a veiled meaning or an intended meaning that is opposite to or different from your words, aka dry humor. Sarcasm is a form of comic irony.Irony |
SatireDescribed by literary theorist Northrop Frye as “militant irony,” satire is irony writ large, social criticism that may or may not use humor to make its point.Satire |
BanterA playfully clever or teasing conversation featuring spontaneous and usually rapid joking. Unlike sarcasm, banter is typically friendly and good humored.Banter |
CynicismThe Cynics, named for the Greek word for dog, were philosophers advocating virtue and self-sufficiency above all. Cynicism later came to mean jaded or scornfully negative.Cynicism |
“Often it does seem a pity that Noah and his party did not miss the boat.”
“Honesty is the best policy -- when there is money in it.”
“Familiarity breeds contempt -- and children.”
“Reader, suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself.”
“I would like to live in Manchester, England. The transition between Manchester and death would be unnoticeable.”
“I have never killed a man, but I have read many obituaries with great pleasure.”
“If you ever become a mother, can I have one of the puppies?”
“You have delighted us long enough.”
“A modest little person, with much to be modest about.”
“He has never been known to use a word that might send a reader to the dictionary.”
“Poor Faulkner. Does he really think big emotions come from big words?”
“He can compress the most words into the smallest idea of any man I know.”
“He is a self-made man and worships his creator.”
“He loves nature in spite of what it did to him.”
“He has Van Gogh's ear for music.”
“The old system of having a baby was much better than the new system, the old system being characterized by the fact that the man didn't have to watch.”
“It is not necesssary to understand things in order to argue about them.”
“Calamities are of two kinds: misfortunes to ourselves, and good fortune to others.”
“Love: a temporary insanity, curable by marriage.”
“Man is the only animal that can remain on friendly terms with the victems he intends to eat until he eats them.”
“I believe in luck: how else can you explain the success of those you don't like?”
“The meek shall inherit the earth, but not the mineral rights.”
“When people are free to do as they please, they usually imitate each other.”
“A good listener is usually thinking about something else.”
“Every time I look at you I get a fierce desire to be lonesome.”
Once in a while I'll get a sarcastic haiku from visitors. They are all finely crafted and can be from a haiku master for all I know. Some of them are so sarcastic that I'm not even sure if they are actually sarcastic or if my mind is just playing tricks on me. Regardless, without any further ado, here are the sarcastic haikus
It makes no sense to say "I could care less"! That statement means that it is possible for you to care less, meaning that you at least care a little. What you really mean to say is, "I couldn't care less". I'm sure it is crystal clear to you now, but you could care less about what I have to say.
If you can really appreciate sarcasm, and just grin from ear-to-ear when a good sarcastic 'zing' is uttered, then the following TV shows are indispensable.