QuoteProject
You can't study comedy; it's within you. It's a personality. My humor is an attitude.
Don Rickles
ShareWTF𝕏

Interpretation

What this quote means

Comedy is an inherent trait and an expression of personality rather than something that can be taught.

In this quote, Don Rickles emphasizes that the essence of comedy comes from within a person, suggesting that humor is deeply tied to one's personality and attitude towards life. Rather than being a skill that can be acquired through study or practice, true comedic ability reflects an individual's inherent characteristics and perspective, highlighting the importance of authenticity in humor.

Themes

ComedyHumorPersonalityAttitudeExpression

In practice

Example use cases

In a comedy workshop, I reminded the students that as Don Rickles said, 'You can't study comedy; it's within you.'

More from Don Rickles

When I was a younger guy doing comedy, it was a big struggle. Promoters canceled me out of clubs left and right when I called somebody a dummy or a yo-yo. Then they realized I was different.
Don RicklesRead
I think if I took therapy, the doctor would quit. He'd just pick up the couch and walk out of the room.
Don RicklesRead
The young comedians always ask me, 'What's the secret for staying around?' I tell them, 'There is no secret - just stay around. Longevity is the most important thing.'
Don RicklesRead

Similar quotes

The signs of excessive indulgence in this destructive pastime are easily detectable. They are these: A disposition to eat, to drink, to smoke, to meet together convivially, to laugh, to joke, and tell indelicate storiesβ€” and mainly, a yearning to paint pictures.
Mark TwainRead
Only laughter can blow [a colossal humbug] to rags and atoms at a blast. Against the assault of laughter nothing can stand.
Mark TwainRead
People say I'm difficult and sometimes that's a badge of honour.
Bill MurrayRead
We've got a bunch of new writers now who tell me they grew up watching The Simpsons. It's bizarre, and they're writing some very funny stuff.
Matt GroeningRead
Satire is a composition of salt and mercury; and it depends upon the different mixture and preparation of those ingredients, that it comes out a noble medicine, or a rank poison.
Francis Jeffrey, Lord JeffreyRead
President Bush has embarked on an eight-day tour of the continent. He hopes this one goes better than the other ones he's made recently. Obviously he's not doing that well in North America [on screen: '36% Approval'], his South American trip had a few bumps [on screen: 'Angry mobs of torch-carrying bumps'], Europe seems to think the president doesn't care what they think, but hey, who cares what they think? They could at least thank him for what he's done for their burning effigy industry.
Stephen ColbertRead

A little wisdom, now and then

Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.