--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Before I was known, I would go on stage…" description: "\"Before I was known, I would go on stage and pretend I was other people. Once I pretended I was mentally handicapped. It was really wrong. One time I wa..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a3/andy-dick-15461_christian_before-i-was-known-i-would-go-on-stage-a_2925579.png" --- # Before I was known, I would go on stage and pretend I was… ![“Before I was known, I would go on stage and pretend I was other people. Once I pretended I was mentally handicapped. It was really wrong. One time I was a bad magician. And one time I pretended I was a Christian comic.” quote by Andy Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a3/andy-dick-15461_christian_before-i-was-known-i-would-go-on-stage-a_2925579.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a3/andy-dick-15461_christian_before-i-was-known-i-would-go-on-stage-a_2925579.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a3/andy-dick-15461_christian_before-i-was-known-i-would-go-on-stage-a_2925579.png) > “Before I was known, I would go on stage and pretend I was other people. Once I pretended I was mentally handicapped. It was really wrong. One time I was a bad magician. And one time I pretended I was a Christian comic.” [Andy Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-dick/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Impersonating others, especially vulnerable groups, is ethically wrong and harmful despite comedic intent. **In simple terms:** Pretending to be others, especially disabled, is harmful. Key Takeaway Avoid humor that exploits marginalized groups. Themes ethics comedy identity Mood critical ethical Type comedic social When to use this quote - stand‑up routines - improv workshops - diversity training Key Concepts social responsibility cultural sensitivity Questions to Reflect On - What boundaries should comedians respect? - How can humor promote empathy? A Different Perspective Comedy can be a platform for critique, not mockery. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Comic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comic/) [Magician](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/magician/) [Mentally Handicapped](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mentally-handicapped/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Stage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stage/) ## Related quotes > [...you have no idea how mentally handicapped I could be if push comes to shove.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-have-no-idea-how-mentally-handicapped-i-could-be-if-push-comes-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“You see what I am driving at. The mentally handicapped do not have a consciousness of power. Because of this perhaps their capacity for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-vanier/you-see-what-i-am-driving-at-the-mentally-handicapped-do-not-have-a/) [Jean Vanier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-vanier/) > [After I got married, the first child born to us was mentally handicapped.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenzaburo-oe/after-i-got-married-the-first-child-born-to-us-was-mentally/) [Kenzaburo Oe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenzaburo-oe/) > [I believe that if you are elderly, physically or mentally handicapped we have an obligation too you, but if you are able-bodied, you should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alphonso-jackson/i-believe-that-if-you-are-elderly-physically-or-mentally-handicapped/) [Alphonso Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alphonso-jackson/) > [The members - mentally handicapped people who are marginal in society and not useful in an economic sense - welcomed me into their lives.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/the-members-mentally-handicapped-people-who-are-marginal-in-society/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [One of my sisters is physically and mentally handicapped. She took a lot of my parents' attention, so I grew up in my own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-kingston/one-of-my-sisters-is-physically-and-mentally-handicapped-she-took-a/) [Alex Kingston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-kingston/) > [Women are treated differently by society for exactly the same reason that children and the mentally handicapped are treated differently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/women-are-treated-differently-by-society-for-exactly-the-same-reason/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [“The first thing you need to know about me is I’m not retarded. Or mentally handicapped I guess is the polite term these days.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-dee/the-first-thing-you-need-to-know-about-me-is-i-m-not-retarded-or/) [Bonnie Dee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-dee/) > [In their poverty, the mentally handicapped reveal God to us and hold us close to the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/in-their-poverty-the-mentally-handicapped-reveal-god-to-us-and-hold/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [You don't argue with a four-year old about why he shouldn't eat candy for dinner. You don't punch a mentally handicapped guy even if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/you-don-t-argue-with-a-four-year-old-about-why-he-shouldn-t-eat-candy/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [It is not every man who can be a Christian, even in a very moderate sense, whatever education you give him. It is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/it-is-not-every-man-who-can-be-a-christian-even-in-a-very-moderate/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Before I go on stage I pretend that everyone loves me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-levine/before-i-go-on-stage-i-pretend-that-everyone-loves-me/) [Adam Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-levine/) > [Listen, I would love to win an Emmy at some stage or another. I can't pretend not to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-deeley/listen-i-would-love-to-win-an-emmy-at-some-stage-or-another-i-can-t/) [Cat Deeley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-deeley/) > [I trained as a theater actor and you had a bare stage and you had to pretend, one prop and you are in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benicio-del-toro/i-trained-as-a-theater-actor-and-you-had-a-bare-stage-and-you-had-to/) [Benicio Del Toro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benicio-del-toro/) > [When I perform on stage, I often pretend to be someone other than myself to bring a certain emotion or intent to a song.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyndi-lauper/when-i-perform-on-stage-i-often-pretend-to-be-someone-other-than/) [Cyndi Lauper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyndi-lauper/) ## More by Andy Dick > [Now I try to make efforts, you know, I'm just, the best effort I can do is just stay sober myself. I can at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-dick/now-i-try-to-make-efforts-you-know-i-m-just-the-best-effort-i-can-do/) [Andy Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-dick/) > [I say, 'I'm bi, my love knows no gender,' and the straight community says, 'Oh right, that's just a cover-up - you're gay!' And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-dick/i-say-i-m-bi-my-love-knows-no-gender-and-the-straight-community-says/) [Andy Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-dick/) > [There are atheists and Christians, and there are people in both groups who are a little too heavy-handed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-dick/there-are-atheists-and-christians-and-there-are-people-in-both-groups/) [Andy Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-dick/) > [I used to steal a lot. But I don't do that anymore, because I believe in karma.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-dick/i-used-to-steal-a-lot-but-i-don-t-do-that-anymore-because-i-believe/) [Andy Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-dick/) > [I've always been with God, even in my darkest hour. That is why I say I am alive. I mean, I should have died…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-dick/i-ve-always-been-with-god-even-in-my-darkest-hour-that-is-why-i-say-i/) [Andy Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-dick/) > [I laugh when I see people in pain. Sometimes I think it is a defense mechanism from childhood, where you're in so much pain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-dick/i-laugh-when-i-see-people-in-pain-sometimes-i-think-it-is-a-defense/) [Andy Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-dick/) > [The best advice he ever gave me was to keep it real, keep it simple. He was a big believer in not having to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-dick/the-best-advice-he-ever-gave-me-was-to-keep-it-real-keep-it-simple-he/) [Andy Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-dick/) > [The new movie I'm working on right now is very autobiographical. It's about a television actor who drinks too much and gets blackballed from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-dick/the-new-movie-i-m-working-on-right-now-is-very-autobiographical-it-s/) [Andy Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-dick/) > [People love to hate. I have a love-hate relationship with the world. The world loves to hate me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-dick/people-love-to-hate-i-have-a-love-hate-relationship-with-the-world/) [Andy Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-dick/) > [You cannot be this successful without having God on your side.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-dick/you-cannot-be-this-successful-without-having-god-on-your-side/) [Andy Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-dick/) > [I believed in God my whole life, and then strayed away from it in my teen-age years, until recently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-dick/i-believed-in-god-my-whole-life-and-then-strayed-away-from-it-in-my/) [Andy Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-dick/) > [I know its corny, but laughter is a two-way gift, and hearing people laugh just warms me through and through.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-dick/i-know-its-corny-but-laughter-is-a-two-way-gift-and-hearing-people/) [Andy Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-dick/) > [He very nearly stole a scene in my movie, and I didn't call him on it because I was just like, Hey, I saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-dick/he-very-nearly-stole-a-scene-in-my-movie-and-i-didn-t-call-him-on-it/) [Andy Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-dick/) > [I wish over the years I had kept my private life private and my professional life a little more professional.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-dick/i-wish-over-the-years-i-had-kept-my-private-life-private-and-my/) [Andy Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-dick/) > [It's kind of hard to believe that people love me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-dick/it-s-kind-of-hard-to-believe-that-people-love-me/) [Andy Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-dick/) [Explore all 43 Andy Dick quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-dick/) ## More Christian quotes > [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. "Jameson, open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/i-need-a-bath-he-chuckled-you-smell-of-smoke-as-do-i-the-duke-turned/) [Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/) > [I think, here's what I've realized from interviewing people, and I've been very open about my Catholicism and my love of Christ and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-think-here-s-what-i-ve-realized-from-interviewing-people-and-i-ve/) [Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/) > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Why do Christians sing when they are together? The reason is, quite simply, because in singing together it is possible for them to speak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/why-do-christians-sing-when-they-are-together-the-reason-is-quite/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [I'm very used to working with first time actors - you can just look back at 'E.T.' with Drew Barrymore, and Christian Bale from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-m-very-used-to-working-with-first-time-actors-you-can-just-look/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [“A question for Christians who accept evolution: When did we gain a "soul"? Did Homo habilis have a soul? Homo ergaster? Did God only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-g-mcafee/a-question-for-christians-who-accept-evolution-when-did-we-gain-a/) [David G. McAfee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-g-mcafee/) > [Always have the fear of God in your heart, and remember that God is always with you, everywhere, whether you are walking or sitting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennadius-of-constantinople/always-have-the-fear-of-god-in-your-heart-and-remember-that-god-is/) [Gennadius of Constantinople](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennadius-of-constantinople/) > [For many, the call to be a Christian can seem demanding, even overwhelming. But we need not be afraid or feel inadequate. The Savior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-d-hales/for-many-the-call-to-be-a-christian-can-seem-demanding-even/) [Robert D. Hales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-d-hales/) > [A real Christian in an odd number anyway. He feels supreme love for One whom he has never seen, talks familiarly every day to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-real-christian-in-an-odd-number-anyway-he-feels-supreme-love-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When the Lord Jesus Christ became my surety . . . He went to Calvary's cross, and all my guilt was charged against Him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-allen-ironside/when-the-lord-jesus-christ-became-my-surety-he-went-to-calvary-s/) [Henry Allen Ironside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-allen-ironside/) > [The world's history is a divine poem, of which the history of every nation is a canto, and every man a word. Its strains…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/the-world-s-history-is-a-divine-poem-of-which-the-history-of-every/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [Poor David Hume is dying fast, but with more real cheerfulness and good humor and with more real resignation to the necessary course of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/poor-david-hume-is-dying-fast-but-with-more-real-cheerfulness-and/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [“Is there any holy beings like human beings?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/is-there-any-holy-beings-like-human-beings/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/) [Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/) > [We need to discover all over again that worship is natural to the Christian, as it was to the godly Israelites who wrote the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer/we-need-to-discover-all-over-again-that-worship-is-natural-to-the/) [J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/) [Browse all 14,306 Christian quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Before I was known, I would go on stage and pretend I was other people. Once I pretended I was mentally handicapped. It was really wrong. One time I was a bad magician. 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