40 Most Hilarious Comedian Quotes You Should Read

Best grin-worthy lines—from sharp one-liners to vintage zingers—that prove laughter can teach, comfort, and inspire all at once.

Comedians compress truth into punchy sentences that land faster than any lecture. Whether they’re poking fun at everyday hassles, offering sly life advice, or spinning timeless observations, their words stick because they ride on laughter.

Comedians use their wit to share views on life’s relatable issues while making us laugh. Witty quotes by famous comedians will open up minds, entertain, encourage and inspire you, bring about social awareness and change your perspectives. Keep one handy for your next presentation, group chat, or self-pep-talk and let humor carry the message deeper than straight seriousness ever could.

Short Quotes By Comedians

  • “I’m not insane. My mother had me tested.” – Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons), The Big Bang Theory
  • “I have a lot of growing up to do. I realized that the other day inside my fort.” – Zach Galifianakis
  • “You can’t have everything. Where would you put it?” – Steven Wright
  • “I’m not superstitious, but I am a little stitious.” – Michael Scott (Steve Carell), The Office
  • “There is nothing stronger than a broken woman who has rebuilt herself.” – Hannah Gadsby, Nanette
  • “Do your thing and don’t care if they like it.” – Tina Fey

Famous Quotes By Comedians

  • “I’m not afraid of death; I just don’t want to be there when it happens.” – Woody Allen
  • “Behind every great man is a woman rolling her eyes.” – Jim Carrey
  • “You’re only given a little spark of madness and if you lose that, you’re nothing.” – Robin Williams, A Night at the Roxy
  • “Every generation is defined by a great struggle or tragedy. And it’s wild that our kids will never know there was a period of time, in this country, where you had to make a choice between being online or being on the phone.” – Hasan Minhaj, Homecoming King
  • “I wear my mistakes like badges of honor, and I celebrate them.” – Amy Schumer

Stand-Up Comedians Quotes

  • “I used to sell furniture for a living. The trouble was, it was my own.” – Les Dawson
  • “I told my wife the truth. I told her I was seeing a psychiatrist. Then she told me the truth: that she was seeing a psychiatrist, two plumbers, and a bartender.” – Rodney Dangerfield
  • “My fake plants died because I did not pretend to water them.” – Mitch Hedberg
  • “I know very little about anything, but what I do know is that if you can live your life without an audience, you should do it.” – Bo Burnham, Make Happy
  • “It’s a great gift, being alive … And I’m sober and that I’m not doing drugs, that’s a damn good accomplishment … I’m ahead.” – Richard Pryor
  • “Inside every cynical person, there is a disappointed idealist.” – George Carlin

Comedian Quotes About Life

  • “Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.” – Forrest Gump (Tom Hanks), Forrest Gump
  • “The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up.” – Mark Twain
  • “Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way when you criticize them, you are a mile away from them and you have their shoes.” – Jack Handey
  • “Do not take life too seriously. You will never get out of it alive.” – Elbert Hubbard
  • “I cannot express how important it is to believe that taking one tiny — and possibly very uncomfortable — step at a time can ultimately add up to a great distance.” – Tig Notaro
  • “The only way we will survive is by being kind. The only way we can get by in this world is through the help we receive from others. No one can do it alone, no matter how great the machines are.” – Amy Poehler
  • “I will always try to be happy. I don’t think people really understand the value of happiness until they know what it’s like to be in that very, very dark place. It’s not romantic. Not even a little.” – Sarah Silverman

Funny Comedian Quotes

  • “I’m on a whiskey diet. I’ve lost three days already.” — Tommy Cooper
  • “My therapist says I have a preoccupation with vengeance. We’ll see about that.” — Stewart Francis
  • “I used to sell furniture for a living. The trouble was, it was my own.” — Les Dawson
  • “I’m not lazy; I’m on energy-saving mode.” — Demetri Martin
  • “I told my wife the truth. I told her I was seeing a psychiatrist. Then she told me the truth: that she was seeing a psychiatrist, two plumbers, and a bartender.” — Rodney Dangerfield

Inspirational Comedian Quotes

  • “You can fail at what you don’t want, so you might as well take a chance on doing what you love.” — Jim Carrey
  • “The moment you own your weirdness, it becomes your strength.” — Ali Wong
  • “Comedy is acting out optimism.” — Robin Williams
  • “You can’t be brave if you’ve only had wonderful things happen to you.” — Mary Tyler Moore
  • “Find your voice, shout it from the rooftops, and keep doing it until people get tired of you—then do it some more.” — Amy Poehler

Old Comedian Quotes

  • “Get your facts first, then you can distort them as you please.” — Mark Twain
  • “I refuse to join any club that would have me as a member.” — Groucho Marx
  • “A day without laughter is a day wasted.” — Charlie Chaplin
  • “Everything is funny, as long as it’s happening to somebody else.” — Will Rogers
  • “Too many people miss the silver lining because they’re expecting gold.” — Maurice Chevalier

Putting Comedian Quotes to Work

  1. Ice-Breakers That Stick
    Open meetings or classes with a short quote; humor relaxes listeners and primes their attention for heavier content.
  2. Caption Crafting
    Pair a witty line with a candid photo for social posts—humor boosts shareability and keeps your feed relatable.
  3. Self-Coaching
    Tape a motivational quip by your workspace; a grin mid-deadline often resets focus better than scrolling aimlessly.
  4. Storytelling Spice
    When giving a personal anecdote, drop a relevant comedian quote to frame your point and keep the tone light yet memorable.
  5. Gift & Card Messages
    Swap generic greetings for a vintage zinger or inspirational one-liner—instant personality without extra effort.

Final Note

Great comedians reveal that wit and wisdom can share the same stage. Let these quotes remind you to look for humor in difficulty, courage in oddity, and insight behind every laugh. Use them generously—because a well-timed joke doesn’t just entertain; it connects hearts and opens minds.

Comedians have a gift for making us laugh while also making us think. Their witty observations on life, love, and everything in between offer a unique perspective that can lighten our hearts and challenge our minds simultaneously.

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