A high-brow is someone who looks at a sausage and thinks of Picasso

A high-brow is someone who looks at a sausage and thinks of Picasso

"A high-brow is someone who looks at a sausage and thinks of Picasso" is a quote often attributed to the British writer and politician A.P. Herbert. This quote encapsulates the idea of intellectual snobbery and the tendency of some individuals to elevate the mundane to the level of high art.

A.P. Herbert was known for his wit and satirical writing, often poking fun at the pretensions of the upper classes and the absurdities of British society. In this quote, Herbert is highlighting the absurdity of someone who would see a simple sausage, a common and everyday food item, and immediately draw a comparison to the great artist Pablo Picasso. The implication is that this person is so steeped in their own intellectualism and cultural elitism that they are unable to appreciate the simple pleasures of life.

The quote also speaks to the idea of cultural elitism and the tendency of some individuals to dismiss or look down upon things that are considered lowbrow or common. By equating a sausage with a work of art by Picasso, Herbert is pointing out the absurdity of this kind of thinking and the disconnect between high culture and everyday life.