About this quote

Pretentiousness often ruins the simplest joys of life. We get so caught up in what we are supposed to appreciate that we forget to actually enjoy it. This happens with art and food when academic snobbery takes over. Why do we let critics tell us what is worth our time? Go find something that actually makes you happy, even if intellectuals look down on it.

When to use it

• Chatting with a classmate during a college seminar when the professor over-analyzes a simple fantasy novel. 'Honestly, I do not care about the hidden political allegory. I just want to find out if the main character survives the dragon.'
• Talking to your partner after leaving an avant-garde, award-winning film that bored you to tears. 'That movie was supposed to be a masterpiece, but I would rather just go home and watch a silly action comedy.'
• Ordering at a hipster coffee shop with a ridiculously complex menu. 'I do not need single-origin beans sourced from a specific micro-climate. Just give me a hot cup of black coffee that tastes good.'