So when you spot violence, or bigotry, or intolerance or fear or just garden-variety misogyny, hatred or ignorance, just look it in the eye and think, 'The good outnumber you, and we always will.'
Patton OswaltRead
All the truly great stand-ups say, 'I go onstage, and I work on jokes. The inspiration will happen while I'm doing my work.' To me, in the end, the surest thing is work.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Hard work leads to inspiration and creativity.
In this quote, Patton Oswalt emphasizes that true inspiration does not come from waiting or hoping for it but is a product of diligent effort. By focusing on the process of creating and working on their craft, artists and performers can find the inspiration they seek.
Themes
Hard WorkInspirationCreativityProcessDedication
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about pursuing your passions.
More from Patton Oswalt
All quotes →As you get older as a comedian and keep doing it, what you actually start to cherish on stage is not the build-up to the jokes, but how comfortable you can be in the silence and the non-laughing parts, and how long you can take the audience without a laugh to then get a huge reaction.
Patton OswaltRead
Meal isn't over when I'm full. Meal's over when I hate myself.
Patton OswaltRead
Wars are usually really popular with people that aren't gonna be affected by them. 'Cause it's just entertainment, and it's just weird, like, 'Well, we've got to show the world that we're strong.' No we don't. And by the way, that has nothing to do with you. Why are you equating yourself with that... you know what I mean?
Patton OswaltRead
A lot of nerds aren't aware they're nerds. A geek has thrown his hands up to the universe and gone, 'I speak Klingon - who am I fooling? You win! I'm just gonna openly like what I like.' Geeks tend to be a little happier with themselves.
Patton OswaltRead
I really had to imagine the kind of person that I would have been if I had never left my hometown. I don't think I would have been a very pleasant person.
Patton OswaltRead
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