You see people who are still there doing things but their souls have disappeared so there's no joy in it anymore, so I'm scared of not listening to the part of me that knows when it's time to stop something and start something new.
Simon AmstellRead
I don't see the point of doing comedy unless it comes from pain.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Comedy often stems from personal suffering and experiences.
Simon Amstell's quote emphasizes that the essence of comedy is closely tied to pain and personal struggle. It suggests that humor can be a therapeutic outlet for addressing and processing difficult emotions, and that authentic laughter often emerges from the depths of hardship and vulnerability.
Themes
ComedyPainHumorStruggleAuthenticity
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be shared in a comedy workshop to inspire comedians to explore their deeper emotions.
More from Simon Amstell
All quotes βI felt like there was something wrong with me in my twenties but, when I started doing stand up comedy, I learnt that if you tell the truth it's really funny and people connect to it. So I think if I keep doing that then I'll be happy.
Simon AmstellRead
I think as much as I talk about humour being a defence mechanism, I'm also really grateful that I developed it, because I now have it as a choice, rather than a panic button. I feel like it's there if I want to use it. It's fun.
Simon AmstellRead
By saying the thing that I'm most embarrassed about on stage, I end up witnessing the fact that it isn't a problem. People don't usually walk out, when I say the thing that I'm deeply ashamed of.
Simon AmstellRead
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