Inviting people to laugh with you while you are laughing at yourself is a good thing to do. You may be a fool but you're the fool in charge.
Carl ReinerRead
I think that comedy really tells you how it is. The other thing about comedy is that - you don't even know if you're failing in drama, but you do know when you're failing in comedy. When you go to a comedy and you don't hear anybody laughing, you know that you've failed.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Comedy provides a clear reflection of success or failure through audience reaction.
In this quote, Carl Reiner highlights the unique nature of comedy compared to other forms of art, particularly drama. He suggests that while failures in drama may go unnoticed by the audience, a comedian is immediately aware of their effectiveness or lack thereof based on the laughter (or absence of it) from the audience. This immediate feedback loop is what sets comedy apart, making it a profound form of artistic expression that captures truth through humor.
Themes
ComedyFailureLaughterDramaPerformance
In practice
Example use cases
In a stand-up comedy routine, you might say this quote to emphasize the importance of audience engagement.
More from Carl Reiner
All quotes →There's nothing more satisfying than having an idea and seeing it through to find out that, not only did you like it, but the audience and critics all seemed to agree.
Carl ReinerRead
I've done everything I've wanted to do. I have three children, I have grandchildren, I have books, I did movies, I've directed movies; I've done almost everything I've wanted to do.
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Anybody who tells a very big lie is paid attention to. If you say, 'Shakespeare could not write. He was illiterate,' everybody says, 'Well, what do you know that we don't?' That's what Trump does all the time.
Carl ReinerRead
'The Dick Van Dyke Show' was my labor of love. When asked the best thing I ever did - that was it. I wrote it originally for myself.
Carl ReinerRead
Going through war and living is a very important process. You realize how vulnerable you are and how lucky you are to be in the right place at the right time. As a matter of fact, I have a history of luck.
Carl ReinerRead
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