If opportunity doesn't knock, build a door.
Milton BerleRead
There's a difference between being a comic and a comedian. A comic is a guy who says funny things, and a comedian is a guy who says things funny, and he has a style and point of view that will last much longer.
Interpretation
This quote distinguishes between a comic and a comedian, highlighting the deeper artistry in comedy.
Milton Berle's quote illustrates the nuanced differences between a comic and a comedian. While a comic simply delivers funny lines, a comedian uses their unique style and perspective to create humor that resonates on a deeper level, allowing their work to have a lasting impact. This distinction emphasizes the importance of authenticity and individual expression in the realm of comedy.
In practice
In a comedy workshop, a mentor could use this quote to teach the difference between simple jokes and true comedic performance.
If opportunity doesn't knock, build a door.
Laughter is an instant vacation.
I'd rather be a could-be if I cannot be an are; because a could-be is a maybe who is reaching for a star. I'd rather be a has-been than a might-have-been, by far; for a might have-been has never been, but a has was once an are.
Him, who incessantly laughs in the street, you may commonly hear grumbling in his closet.
In those days spirits were brave, the stakes were high, men were real men, women were real women and small furry creatures from Alpha Centauri were real small furry creatures from Alpha Centauri.
I have rooms full of little dongly things and don't want any more. Half the little dongly things I've got, I don't even know what gizmo they're for. More importantly, half the gizmos I've got, I don't know where their little dongly thing is.
Cheap cigars come in handy; they stifle the odor of cheap politicians.
There are so many low points with stand-up. You are perpetually humiliated, so it doesn't really matter anymore. I don't have any dignity left to lose. An audience can’t hurt you anymore when you’ve been completely dismantled.
You have to have a passionate opinion; otherwise you sound false. You end up telling the audience jokes they've already heard.
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