The most terrible fear that anybody should have is not war, is not a disease, not cancer or heart problems or food poisoning - it's a man or a woman without a sense of humor.
Jonathan WintersRead
I don't do jokes. The characters are my jokes.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Jonathan Winters emphasizes that his comedic style is embedded in his characters rather than traditional jokes.
In this quote, Jonathan Winters expresses his unique approach to humor, highlighting that he does not rely on conventional jokes but instead finds comedy through the depth and personality of the characters he portrays. This perspective underscores the idea that humor can manifest in various forms and that rich character development can be a powerful source of laughter.
Themes
HumorComedyCharactersPerformanceJokes
In practice
Example use cases
During a comedy workshop to illustrate the importance of character development in stand-up.
More from Jonathan Winters
All quotes βWell, the most terrible fear that anybody should have is not war, is not a disease, not cancer or heart problems or food poisoning - it's a man or a woman without a sense of humor.
Jonathan WintersRead
If your ship doesn't come in, swim out to it.
Jonathan WintersRead
Similar quotes
Madame Lily Devalier always asked "Where are you?" in a way that insinuated that there were only two places on earth one could be: New Orleans and somewhere ridiculous.
Tom RobbinsRead
They do what they do for money - that's all. I don't even know why you're listening to me. I've done commercials for both Coke and Pepsi. Truth is, I can't even taste the difference, but Pepsi paid me last, so there it is.
Dave ChappelleRead
Agnes was the worst prophet that's ever existed. Because she was always right. That's why the book never sold.
Neil GaimanRead
Mom claimed that I could carry a tune at 2 or 3 years of age. Maybe she was a little prejudiced.
Ethel MermanRead
The world is filled with unmarried marriage counselors.
Charles M. SchulzRead
In the process of looking for comedy, you have to be deeply honest. And in doing that, you'll find out here's the other side. You'll be looking under the rock occasionally for the laughter.
Robin WilliamsRead