--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As a comic, you try something and if it…" description: "\"As a comic, you try something and if it works you go with it and grind it to death.\" — Alexei Sayle" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aeb/alexei-sayle-12598_comic_as-a-comic-you-try-something-and-if-it-w_653700.jpg" --- # As a comic, you try something and if it works you go with… ![“As a comic, you try something and if it works you go with it and grind it to death.” quote by Alexei Sayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aeb/alexei-sayle-12598_comic_as-a-comic-you-try-something-and-if-it-w_653700.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aeb/alexei-sayle-12598_comic_as-a-comic-you-try-something-and-if-it-w_653700.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aeb/alexei-sayle-12598_comic_as-a-comic-you-try-something-and-if-it-w_653700.jpg) > “As a comic, you try something and if it works you go with it and grind it to death.” [Alexei Sayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexei-sayle/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A comic must experiment, and if something succeeds, they may overuse it until it loses its impact. **In simple terms:** Success can lead to overuse. Key Takeaway Avoid overusing successful material. Themes creativity repetition entertainment Mood cautious analytical Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - stand‑up routine - writing - media production Key Concepts comedy artistic integrity Questions to Reflect On - When have you over‑relied on a successful idea? - How can you keep material fresh? A Different Perspective Audience fatigue can diminish originality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Comic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comic/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) ## Related quotes > [I've accentuated the look over the years. As a comic, you try something and if it works you go with it and grind it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexei-sayle/i-ve-accentuated-the-look-over-the-years-as-a-comic-you-try-something/) [Alexei Sayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexei-sayle/) > [Getting to prove yourself in a room that's not your typical demo is an experience every comic should try. It makes you better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iliza-shlesinger/getting-to-prove-yourself-in-a-room-that-s-not-your-typical-demo-is/) [Iliza Shlesinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iliza-shlesinger/) > [Every now and then you'll say something that didn't quite work. But the important thing is, as a comic, you try to learn why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-williams/every-now-and-then-you-ll-say-something-that-didn-t-quite-work-but/) [Brad Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-williams/) > [I'm not the kind of comic who would try stuff on Twitter, because I have to work up ideas and I can only do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-not-the-kind-of-comic-who-would-try-stuff-on-twitter-because-i/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [You can sometimes break rules in comics that you can't necessarily break in cinema. It's fun to find something cool in a comic and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-leitch/you-can-sometimes-break-rules-in-comics-that-you-can-t-necessarily/) [David Leitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-leitch/) > [The moment when I try to make my kids line up, which I will try sometimes, it never works out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilaria-baldwin/the-moment-when-i-try-to-make-my-kids-line-up-which-i-will-try/) [Hilaria Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilaria-baldwin/) > [When you try something, it either works, or it does not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mithila-palkar/when-you-try-something-it-either-works-or-it-does-not/) [Mithila Palkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mithila-palkar/) > [I was really inspired by lots of people I came across who were managing various illnesses through diet and lifestyle. I kind of figured,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-woodward/i-was-really-inspired-by-lots-of-people-i-came-across-who-were/) [Ella Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-woodward/) > [Sometimes, you try something, and it works in terms of success. That doesn't mean you like what is a hit. Sometimes you like the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-michel-jarre/sometimes-you-try-something-and-it-works-in-terms-of-success-that/) [Jean-Michel Jarre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-michel-jarre/) > [I'm going to try everything. If it works, it works, if it don't, it don't. But at least I tried it, you know? I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glorilla/i-m-going-to-try-everything-if-it-works-it-works-if-it-don-t-it-don-t/) [GloRilla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glorilla/) > [If everything you try works, you aren't trying hard enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-moore/if-everything-you-try-works-you-aren-t-trying-hard-enough/) [Gordon Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-moore/) > [The only time you don't fail is the last time you try anything -- and it works.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-strong/the-only-time-you-don-t-fail-is-the-last-time-you-try-anything-and-it/) William Strong > [“If you can't get something to work. Make a face and try again. I works!!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-penland/if-you-can-t-get-something-to-work-make-a-face-and-try-again-i-works/) [Amanda Penland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-penland/) > [Acting is a grind, just like music is a grind. Sometimes it takes longer than what you can give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/acting-is-a-grind-just-like-music-is-a-grind-sometimes-it-takes/) [Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/) > [“MIND & GRIND Self-belief and hard work can propel you past more talented peers”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamil-ali/mind-grind-self-belief-and-hard-work-can-propel-you-past-more/) [Kamil Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamil-ali/) ## More by Alexei Sayle > [I am quite girly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexei-sayle/i-am-quite-girly/) [Alexei Sayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexei-sayle/) > [Israel is the Jimmy Saville of nation states,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexei-sayle/israel-is-the-jimmy-saville-of-nation-states/) [Alexei Sayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexei-sayle/) > [The optimum frequency with which comedians should do a series is every year. I do one every three years. My audience is literally dying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexei-sayle/the-optimum-frequency-with-which-comedians-should-do-a-series-is/) [Alexei Sayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexei-sayle/) > [It always seemed to be a constant that my parents were political.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexei-sayle/it-always-seemed-to-be-a-constant-that-my-parents-were-political/) [Alexei Sayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexei-sayle/) > [Recently, my personal advisors have been telling me to go to America. Actually, people have been walking up to me in the street and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexei-sayle/recently-my-personal-advisors-have-been-telling-me-to-go-to-america/) [Alexei Sayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexei-sayle/) > [I exist as an annexe of the BBC. I'm down the road a bit from the main building, in a little hut.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexei-sayle/i-exist-as-an-annexe-of-the-bbc-i-m-down-the-road-a-bit-from-the-main/) [Alexei Sayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexei-sayle/) > [Now, as a comic, if you're vaguely amusing you can go straight into TV, then you play the O2 and then everyone's sick of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexei-sayle/now-as-a-comic-if-you-re-vaguely-amusing-you-can-go-straight-into-tv/) [Alexei Sayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexei-sayle/) > [I don't think people were that interested in what I was doing for the most of the 1990s.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexei-sayle/i-don-t-think-people-were-that-interested-in-what-i-was-doing-for-the/) [Alexei Sayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexei-sayle/) > [I'm fascinated by comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexei-sayle/i-m-fascinated-by-comedy/) [Alexei Sayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexei-sayle/) > [A lot of those comics can't hold down relationships and they've got no other life apart from performing. They sleep in their Jags and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexei-sayle/a-lot-of-those-comics-can-t-hold-down-relationships-and-they-ve-got/) [Alexei Sayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexei-sayle/) > [Americans have different ways of saying things. They say 'elevator', we say 'lift'... they say 'President', we say 'stupid psychopathic git.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexei-sayle/americans-have-different-ways-of-saying-things-they-say-elevator-we/) [Alexei Sayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexei-sayle/) > [I would say I was still a Marxist - which is not to be confused with being a Communist. Despite its flaws, Marxism still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexei-sayle/i-would-say-i-was-still-a-marxist-which-is-not-to-be-confused-with/) [Alexei Sayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexei-sayle/) > [I feel really ambiguous about the psychology of people trying to do good in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexei-sayle/i-feel-really-ambiguous-about-the-psychology-of-people-trying-to-do/) [Alexei Sayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexei-sayle/) > [If I won the lottery I'd start a charity that helped little family hardware stores, cobblers and fruit shops open in city centres.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexei-sayle/if-i-won-the-lottery-i-d-start-a-charity-that-helped-little-family/) [Alexei Sayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexei-sayle/) > [I liked 35 and in both my novels that is the age of the lead characters. I tried making them my age but they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexei-sayle/i-liked-35-and-in-both-my-novels-that-is-the-age-of-the-lead/) [Alexei Sayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexei-sayle/) [Explore all 54 Alexei Sayle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexei-sayle/) ## More Comic quotes > [Any incarnation of 'Batman' I am delighted to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-west/any-incarnation-of-batman-i-am-delighted-to-do/) [Adam West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-west/) > [I always loved as a kid reading 'Spider-Man,' and the 'Fantastic Four' would show up... it was all about that larger universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peyton-reed/i-always-loved-as-a-kid-reading-spider-man-and-the-fantastic-four/) [Peyton Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peyton-reed/) > [One of the key characteristics of the comic book medium is that it is not brought to life by just one voice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-lee/one-of-the-key-characteristics-of-the-comic-book-medium-is-that-it-is/) [Jim Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-lee/) > [I identify with Superman. I am adopted, I am an only child, and I love the idea that he comes from another world, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-singer/i-identify-with-superman-i-am-adopted-i-am-an-only-child-and-i-love/) [Bryan Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-singer/) > [Before World War II, I was living a very cloistered existence, as most cartoonists do. The work I was pouring out did not come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-eisner/before-world-war-ii-i-was-living-a-very-cloistered-existence-as-most/) [Will Eisner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-eisner/) > [If you look at Marvel Comics, there are very few Marvel characters I would like to write.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garth-ennis/if-you-look-at-marvel-comics-there-are-very-few-marvel-characters-i/) [Garth Ennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garth-ennis/) > [The big problem for comic art is you don't want to overwork it. If a drawing is overworked it isn't funny. It's the spontaneity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-sorel/the-big-problem-for-comic-art-is-you-don-t-want-to-overwork-it-if-a/) [Edward Sorel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-sorel/) > [Leslie Stein's comics give readers privileged access to a complete and wholly original world of gently skewed wonders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-woodring/leslie-stein-s-comics-give-readers-privileged-access-to-a-complete/) [Jim Woodring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-woodring/) > [I've certainly seen a lot of my cartoonist friends embrace 'Little Lulu' in a much deeper way because their kids love it so much.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth/i-ve-certainly-seen-a-lot-of-my-cartoonist-friends-embrace-little/) [Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth/) > [Batman doesn't have any superpowers. He's not superhuman. He's not super. So therefore he can't be a superhero.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-silvey/batman-doesn-t-have-any-superpowers-he-s-not-superhuman-he-s-not/) [Craig Silvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-silvey/) > [When I was writing 'Black Panther,' on one level, I was angry because DC would never let me write 'Batman,' so I was doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-priest/when-i-was-writing-black-panther-on-one-level-i-was-angry-because-dc/) [Christopher Priest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-priest/) > [I was really into the first 'Spider-Man' films with Tobey Maguire, so it's pretty cool how it all came full circle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-batalon/i-was-really-into-the-first-spider-man-films-with-tobey-maguire-so-it/) [Jacob Batalon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-batalon/) > [Most men are secretly still mad at their mothers for throwing away their comic books. They would be valuable now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-rudner/most-men-are-secretly-still-mad-at-their-mothers-for-throwing-away/) [Rita Rudner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-rudner/) > [I'll only diet for a Marvel movie. I will give up bacon and waffles to be Storm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-james/i-ll-only-diet-for-a-marvel-movie-i-will-give-up-bacon-and-waffles-to/) [Janelle James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-james/) > [You've seen the first issue and what happened in the last page. Some pretty awful stuff. I don't know why I seem to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declan-shalvey/you-ve-seen-the-first-issue-and-what-happened-in-the-last-page-some/) [Declan Shalvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/declan-shalvey/) [Browse all 5,841 Comic quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comic/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "As a comic, you try something and if it works you go with it and grind it to death.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Alexei Sayle" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexei-sayle/as-a-comic-you-try-something-and-if-it-works-you-go-with-it-and-grind/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Comic" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexei-sayle/as-a-comic-you-try-something-and-if-it-works-you-go-with-it-and-grind/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aeb/alexei-sayle-12598_comic_as-a-comic-you-try-something-and-if-it-w_653700.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aeb/alexei-sayle-12598_comic_as-a-comic-you-try-something-and-if-it-w_653700.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aeb/alexei-sayle-12598_comic_as-a-comic-you-try-something-and-if-it-w_653700.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“As a comic, you try something and if it works you go with it and grind it to death.” — Alexei Sayle", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Alexei Sayle", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexei-sayle/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "As a comic, you try something...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexei-sayle/as-a-comic-you-try-something-and-if-it-works-you-go-with-it-and-grind/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexei-sayle/as-a-comic-you-try-something-and-if-it-works-you-go-with-it-and-grind/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```