The best advice I was probably given and the best advice I could give someone who is trying to get into the comedy field is to take advantage of every opportunity you have to work to hone your skills.
Bob NewhartRead
I found the most difficult thing when you became successful - when I had the record album, it won Album of the Year - that you were cut off from the source of your material. Your material was everyday people, and you were kind of cut off from that, and you had to work at it.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Success can isolate an artist from their inspiration.
This quote highlights the paradox of success, especially in the creative fields, where achieving recognition can lead to a disconnect from the real-life experiences and emotions that once fueled the artist's work. Bob Newhart reflects on how the achievement of winning an award can create a gap between the artist and the everyday people who inspired their art, suggesting that continuous inspiration requires effort and awareness even after attaining success.
Themes
SuccessInspirationCreativityIsolationArt
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used during a motivational speech about the challenges of maintaining creativity after achieving success.
More from Bob Newhart
All quotes →I've always said people say on a dramatic show, 'I was crying. It was so emotional when he went and grabbed that little girl from a burning building and handed her over to her mother.' In comedy, the best thing you can say is, 'I think it's funny.'
Bob NewhartRead
Jack Benny was, without a doubt, the bravest comedian I have ever seen work. He wasn't afraid of silence. He would take as long as it took to tell the story.
Bob NewhartRead
I've been told to speed up my delivery when I perform. But if I lose the stammer, I'm just another slightly amusing accountant.
Bob NewhartRead
I certainly don't delude myself that there aren't certainly more important things to do in life than make people laugh, but I can't imagine anything that would bring me more joy.
Bob NewhartRead
I'm most proud of the longevity of my marriage, my kids, and my grandchildren. If you don't have that, you really don't have very much.
Bob NewhartRead
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