People would say I never censor. As Billy Crystal says, 'I don't have that button.'
Interpretation
Robin Williams often spoke freely and candidly, reflecting on his unique style of comedy.
In this quote, Robin Williams highlights his approach to comedy, which is characterized by an unfiltered and spontaneous delivery. He references Billy Crystal's idea of not having a button to censor oneself, suggesting that his humor comes from a place of authenticity and a refusal to hold back, which resonated with his audiences and defined his career.
In practice
Using this quote in a stand-up comedy workshop to discuss the importance of being authentic.
It's that idea that you can have one drink - and no you can't. Within a week I was drinking heavily. It was so quick that even I was like, 'Wow.' Because you have that initial warm feeling going, 'Oh, I remember this'. And your body does, too. And your body goes, 'Yeah, so do I'. Then the demon voice comes, 'Yeah, so do I. You know what would be great? You know we bought a little bottle before? A full bottle would be wonderful'.
I always thought the idea of education was to learn to think for yourself.
Sometimes over things that I did, movies that didn't turn out very well - you go, 'Why did you do that?' But in the end, I can't regret them because I met amazing people. There was always something that was worth it.
I've never been asked to appear on 'I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!,' so I guess I mustn't be on the professional skids just yet.
The Statue of Liberty is no longer saying, 'Give me your poor, your tired, your huddled masses.' She's got a baseball bat and yelling, 'You want a piece of me?'
I write on big yellow legal pads - ideas in outline form when I'm doing stand-up and stuff. It's vivid that way. I can't type it into an iPad - I think that would put a filter into the process.
Some debts are fun while you are acquiring them, But none are fun when you set about retiring them.
The one unforgivable sin is to be boring.
There are women named Faith, Hope, Joy, and Prudence. Why not Despair, Guilt, Rage, and Grief? It seems only right. 'Tom, I'd like you to meet the girl of my dreams, Tragedy.' These days, Trajedi.
The difference between comedians and the general public is that we are meant to be funnier. And when you've got politicians giving material so easy that the general public is doing it, what is the necessity of us anymore?
Humor has to surprise us; otherwise, it isn't funny. It's a death knell for a writer to be labeled a humorist because then it's not a surprise anymore.
I hate to lull the audience into letting them think that something is something. It's always fun to defy expectations.
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