The best advice I was probably given and the best advice I could give someone who is trying to get into the comedy field is to take advantage of every opportunity you have to work to hone your skills.
Bob NewhartRead
You may have done 20 great shows in a row and come to one, and it doesn't work. You never presume anything.
Interpretation
What this quote means
No matter how successful you are, each performance is unique and should not be taken for granted.
This quote by Bob Newhart emphasizes the idea that success is not guaranteed, even after a series of triumphs. It encourages humility and the understanding that each opportunity must be approached with freshness and without presumptions, reminding us that the outcome can vary regardless of past achievements.
Themes
SuccessHumilityPerformanceExpectationsComedy
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be shared with aspiring artists to encourage them to stay humble despite their past successes.
More from Bob Newhart
All quotes βI've always said people say on a dramatic show, 'I was crying. It was so emotional when he went and grabbed that little girl from a burning building and handed her over to her mother.' In comedy, the best thing you can say is, 'I think it's funny.'
Bob NewhartRead
Jack Benny was, without a doubt, the bravest comedian I have ever seen work. He wasn't afraid of silence. He would take as long as it took to tell the story.
Bob NewhartRead
I've been told to speed up my delivery when I perform. But if I lose the stammer, I'm just another slightly amusing accountant.
Bob NewhartRead
I certainly don't delude myself that there aren't certainly more important things to do in life than make people laugh, but I can't imagine anything that would bring me more joy.
Bob NewhartRead
I found the most difficult thing when you became successful - when I had the record album, it won Album of the Year - that you were cut off from the source of your material. Your material was everyday people, and you were kind of cut off from that, and you had to work at it.
Bob NewhartRead
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