Beauty makes idiots sad and wise men merry.
George Jean NathanRead
The test of a real comedian is whether you laugh at him before he opens his mouth.
Interpretation
What this quote means
A true comedian's ability to evoke laughter lies in their presence and persona, not just in their words.
This quote suggests that the true essence of a comedian is found not only in their material but in the energy and charisma they bring to the stage. It emphasizes that a great comedian can invoke laughter with their mere presence, indicating their skill in connecting with the audience even before delivering a punchline.
Themes
ComedianLaughterHumorPresenceCharisma
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a comedy workshop to explain the importance of stage presence.
More from George Jean Nathan
All quotes βIt may be said that artist and censor differ in this wise: that the first is a decent mind in an indecent body and that the second is an indecent mind in a decent body.
George Jean NathanRead
Bad officials are the ones elected by good citizens who do not vote.
George Jean NathanRead
It is the mark of a superior person that, left to themselves they are able endlessly to amuse, interest and entertain themselves out of their personal stock of meditations, ideas, criticisms, memories, philosophy, humor and what not.
George Jean NathanRead
Politics is the diversion of trivial men who, when they succeed at it, become important in the eyes of more trivial men.
George Jean NathanRead
All that is necessary to raise imbecility into what the mob regards as profundity is to lift it off the floor and put it on a platform.
George Jean NathanRead
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