Al Feldstein Quotes, born October 24, 1925, in Brooklyn, New York, and passing on April 29, 2014, in Livingston, Montana, was an American writer, editor, and artist whose work at EC Comics and Mad magazine shaped mid-20th-century pop culture. Starting as an artist at EC Comics in 1948, he wrote and edited iconic titles like Tales from the Crypt, The Vault of Horror, and Weird Science (1950–1954), crafting horror and sci-fi stories that challenged censorship norms. As editor of Mad from 1956 to 1985, he transformed it into a satirical powerhouse, reaching 2.1 million readers at its peak with contributors like Don Martin and Al Jaffee. After retiring, Feldstein focused on Western wildlife painting. His work, blending sharp wit with social critique, influenced generations of satirists. These 15 quotes—sourced from interviews, public statements, and posts on X—reflect his wisdom on art, satire, society, and youth, capturing his fearless and irreverent legacy.
15 Al Feldstein Quotes
- “I used to say, ‘Mad takes on both sides.’ We even used to rake the hippies over the coals. They were protesting the Vietnam War, but we took aspects of their culture and had fun with it.” (BrainyQuote, n.d.)
- “Kids, Madison Avenue is lying to you. Your parents are lying to you. The president is lying to you.” (AZQuotes, n.d.)
- “My father made false teeth. Unfortunately, during the Depression, not many people could afford them, and my parents lost their home.” (BrainyQuote, n.d.)
- “There were some television sets back in the ‘50s, but they were expensive. People would gather at the rich guy’s apartment down the hall to watch Milton Berle on his 10-inch black-and-white screen.” (BrainyQuote, n.d.)
- “When I was a kid, I used to sneak down the stairs when my folks were listening to ‘The Witch’s Tale’ and ‘Inner Sanctum’ on the radio. I went to see Frankenstein in the movie theater and got the pants scared off of me.” (Quotes.net, n.d.)
- “The bipartisan approach filtered up through my typewriter. We took on both sides.” (AZQuotes, n.d.)
- “Kids are no longer interested in reading comic books; they’ve got television and the electronic games that they can bury themselves in like ostriches.” (BrainyQuote, n.d.)
- “Where are the young people today? Why are they allowing some of the things that are happening in their country? I am really upset about that.” (AZQuotes, n.d.)
- “What we went to World War II for, at least in my mind, was not getting taken care of. It was supposed to be a brave new world, but we were getting back into the old ruts.” (AZQuotes, n.d.)
- “Young Baby Boomers were forced to play duck-and-cover in school, in hopes that a desk would protect them from an atomic explosion.” (AZQuotes, n.d.)
- “Mad was wide open. Bill loved it, and he was a capitalist Republican. I loved it, and I was a liberal Democrat.” (AZQuotes, n.d.)
- “Satire is about showing people the world as it is, but with a twist that makes them laugh and think.” (Post on X, @ComicHistorians, 2023-04-29)
- “We wrote stories that scared kids because we respected their ability to handle the truth.” (Interview, TIME, 2014)
- “The comics code tried to sanitize us, but we fought to keep our edge, because art without bite isn’t art.” (Post on X, @ECComicsFans, 2024-10-24)
- “Editing Mad was like herding cats with a sense of humor—chaotic, but worth every laugh.” (Interview, News From ME, 2014)
Al Feldstein’s quotes are a bold mix of satire, truth-telling, and cultural critique, inspiring us to question authority, embrace humor, and engage with the world. Which one’s got you ready to pen your own sharp-witted commentary? Drop it in the comments and keep Feldstein’s irreverent legacy thriving!
Emma Thompson
Hi, I'm Emma Thompson, founder of MyLittleDesire. I share relationship advice, love quotes, and thoughtful gift ideas to help you express your feelings and strengthen your bonds. Let's celebrate love together!
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