But things I once thought were funny are scary now. I often feel like a resident of Pompeii who has been asked for some humorous comments on lava. - Tom Lehrer

I often feel like a resident of Pompeii who has been asked for some humorous comments on lava.

I don’t think this kind of thing [satire] has an impact on the unconverted, frankly. It’s not even preaching to the converted; it’s titillating the converted. I think the people who say we need satire often mean, ‘We need satire of them, not of us.’ I’m fond of quoting Peter Cook, who talked about the satirical Berlin cabarets of the ’30s, which did so much to stop the rise of Hitler and prevent the Second World War.

I ache for the touch of your lips, dear, But much more for the touch of your whips, dear. You can raise welts Like nobody else, As we dance to the Masochism Tango.

I think the people who say we need satire often mean, ‘We need satire of them, not of us.