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Comedy Quotes

On laughter, dark times, and comedy as survival.

This collection treats comedy as something closer to coping than entertainment, with one entry stating plainly that its real purpose is to hide pain. See Comedian quotes for related themes.

The majority of my work in games, outside of 'Depression Quest,' has been experimental pushes into comedy games. I think there are a lot of intersections there.

Quotes by Zoe Quinn

If I'm doing comedy, I try to improvise a lot. Even if they don't use it, it helps me loosen up and figure out the character.

Quotes by Zach Woods

I've done comedy, and I've done drama. I've sort of been a journeyman in my career so far.

Quotes by Zachary Knighton

That's one of the great things about comedy: we can - and should - say the things that other people aren't supposed to say. If we didn't do that, if we didn't push against those limits, we'd just be standing...

Quotes by Zach Galifianakis

'Community' is a comedy show, and one of the characters happens to be a Christian. I do think they have been very careful to make sure everyone is the butt of the joke for various reasons.

Quotes by Yvette Nicole Brown

I found I had the ability to do comedy. My timing was really inborn.

Quotes by Yvonne De Carlo

All the jokes in my films, the comedy, they're not me, I just try to hold a big mirror up to us.

Quotes by Yahoo Serious

There's depth in my comedy.

Quotes by Yakov Smirnoff

Comedy just pokes at problems, rarely confronts them squarely. Drama is like a plate of meat and potatoes, comedy is rather the dessert, a bit like meringue.

Quotes by Woody Allen

'Natural Born Killers' is really a misunderstood romantic comedy.

Quotes by Woody Harrelson

In every tragedy, an element of comedy is preserved. Comedy is just tragedy reversed.

Quotes by Wislawa Szymborska

I didn't set out to be a villain in film. I'm a character actor, and if my first movie was a comedy, I could have played a geek just as well.

Quotes by William Zabka

A lot of people have gotten into comedy because of certain influences in their lives or events that were painful, and I really have wracked my brain to figure it out. I pretty much have had a normal childhood. Maybe...

Quotes by Will Ferrell

I love mustaches with all my heart. There's just something about sketch comedy and mustaches.

Quotes by Will Forte

Paranormal reality shows are some of the best unintentional comedy in the history of recorded entertainment.

Quotes by Wil Wheaton

An old-codger comedy - that's what I want to do.

Quotes by Wes Studi

I've been pitching a show of five female stand-up comedians through the generations, from Phyllis Diller to Amy Schumer, so when I got an e-mail asking me if I would participate in the Women in Comedy Festival, I was thrilled.

Quotes by Wendy Liebman

The real reason for comedy is to hide the pain.

Quotes by Wendy Wasserstein

Comedy comes from conflict, from hatred.

Quotes by Warren Mitchell

And then also I think it's harder for women because comedy is so opposite of being ladylike.

Quotes by Wanda Sykes

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Frequently Asked Questions

What's the deeper reason behind comedy, according to these quotes?
A surprisingly emotional one. One quote puts it simply: "The real reason for comedy is to hide the pain." It suggests humor often works as a cover for something harder underneath.
Do these quotes connect comedy to dark or difficult topics?
Yes — one speaker explains, "Comedy arises out of necessity, because some things are so dark that you have to laugh about it." It's about using humor as a coping tool, not just entertainment.
Is there a quote about the history of stand-up comedy?
Yes — one speaker mentions pitching a show spanning generations of "five female stand-up comedians," naming a range "from Phyllis Diller to Amy Schumer." For more on the people behind the punchlines, see our Comedians quotes.
What kind of comedy does one speaker say they want to pursue?
Something old-fashioned and character-driven: "An old-codger comedy - that's what I want to do." It's a specific, playful vision for a comedic project. For more on comedic performers, browse our Comedian collection.
Where can I find more comedy content beyond quotes?
Our Comedic page has more in this same reflective tone, and if you enjoy wordplay in a different language tradition, our Shayari collection offers a fun alternative.

Others celebrate generations of women in stand-up, from earlier decades through to more recent comedians, and the idea that comedy grows out of necessity when things get dark enough. Browse Comedians and Comedic quotes for more.