--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I try to please people, to give them a…" description: "\"I try to please people, to give them a good time, but I refuse to make my act conform to traditional show-biz standards of entertainment. There's a lit..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ce/andy-kaufman-19052_breaking-rules_i-try-to-please-people-to-give-them-a-go_2428754.jpg" --- # I try to please people, to give them a good time, but I… ![“I try to please people, to give them a good time, but I refuse to make my act conform to traditional show-biz standards of entertainment. There's a little voice that says, 'Oh, no, you can't do that, that's breaking all the rules.' That's the voice of show business. Then this other little voice…” quote by Andy Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ce/andy-kaufman-19052_breaking-rules_i-try-to-please-people-to-give-them-a-go_2428754.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ce/andy-kaufman-19052_breaking-rules_i-try-to-please-people-to-give-them-a-go_2428754.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ce/andy-kaufman-19052_breaking-rules_i-try-to-please-people-to-give-them-a-go_2428754.jpg) > “I try to please people, to give them a good time, but I refuse to make my act conform to traditional show-biz standards of entertainment. There's a little voice that says, 'Oh, no, you can't do that, that's breaking all the rules.' That's the voice of show business. Then this other little voice says, 'Try it.' And most of the time, when the voice comes on and says, 'No,' that's the time it works.” [Andy Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-kaufman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Creative tension arises from opposing inner voices—one warns against breaking norms, the other urges daring. **In simple terms:** Fear vs. daring. Key Takeaway Listen to the daring voice. Themes creativity rebellion self‑expression Mood anxious hopeful Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - performing arts - personal decisions - innovation Key Concepts risk authenticity Questions to Reflect On - When will you take the risk? - How does fear shape your art? A Different Perspective The cautionary voice can stifle growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Breaking rules](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breaking-rules/) [Entertainment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/entertainment/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Good times](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-times/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Show biz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/show-biz/) [Show business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/show-business/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Voice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voice/) ## Related quotes > [I went through a period of pulling away from everything - acting, people - not sure if I would ever have a voice in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/selma-blair/i-went-through-a-period-of-pulling-away-from-everything-acting-people/) [Selma Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/selma-blair/) > [“In just a few more years, the current homogenized ‘voice’ of business—the sound of mission statements and brochures—will seem as contrived and artificial as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-sullivan/in-just-a-few-more-years-the-current-homogenized-voice-of-business/) Luke Sullivan > [“You know, every time someone says that they’ll try, I think of that scene in The Empire Strikes Back with Luke Skywalker and Yoda.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-brockmann/you-know-every-time-someone-says-that-they-ll-try-i-think-of-that/) [Suzanne Brockmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-brockmann/) > [Saying “I'll try” means our soul isn't really in it. We tell ourselves “I'll try” when our inflated egos won't come clean and admit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-powell/saying-i-ll-try-means-our-soul-isn-t-really-in-it-we-tell-ourselves-i/) [Chris Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-powell/) > [When my soul says; Enough pain, give-up, don't take it anymore, walk away. My heart says; give it another try.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hayssus/when-my-soul-says-enough-pain-give-up-don-t-take-it-anymore-walk-away/) [Michael Hayssus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hayssus/) > [Anywhere attacking, I will go. Where the manager says to go, I will try and do the job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/anywhere-attacking-i-will-go-where-the-manager-says-to-go-i-will-try/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [Failure is a signboard which says, try again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/apoorve-dubey/failure-is-a-signboard-which-says-try-again/) [Apoorve Dubey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/apoorve-dubey/) > [My father when walked into a room, you could tell that everybody loved him. They really did. He was quite a man. My mother…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-rickles/my-father-when-walked-into-a-room-you-could-tell-that-everybody-loved/) [Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rickles/) > [We're gonna have to sweeten some of these jokes for the CD. You know what sweeten means, right? Sweeten is a show-biz term for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/we-re-gonna-have-to-sweeten-some-of-these-jokes-for-the-cd-you-know/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [Peak oil is already upon us. It is destroying our banking system, that is, our system for marshalling capital, and that is about to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-howard-kunstler/peak-oil-is-already-upon-us-it-is-destroying-our-banking-system-that/) [James Howard Kunstler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-howard-kunstler/) > [I grew up in a show biz family and, if you wanted to talk at the dinner table, you'd better be prepared to talk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-orloff/i-grew-up-in-a-show-biz-family-and-if-you-wanted-to-talk-at-the/) John Orloff > [I just wanted to be in show biz. I wanted to make music and sing and dance, tell jokes and stories, make ya smile,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lee-roth/i-just-wanted-to-be-in-show-biz-i-wanted-to-make-music-and-sing-and/) [David Lee Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lee-roth/) > [Occasionally I play the music for my mother when she demands to hear it and she always just says, 'Who is that singing? I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-greenwood/occasionally-i-play-the-music-for-my-mother-when-she-demands-to-hear/) [Colin Greenwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-greenwood/) > [You might be a redneck if your sophisticated show-biz cousin is a rodeo clown.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-foxworthy/you-might-be-a-redneck-if-your-sophisticated-show-biz-cousin-is-a/) [Jeff Foxworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-foxworthy/) > [Of course, the toxic bullshit of incessant advertising and show biz for nearly a century has stripped us of cognitive abilities for dealing with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-howard-kunstler/of-course-the-toxic-bullshit-of-incessant-advertising-and-show-biz/) [James Howard Kunstler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-howard-kunstler/) ## More by Andy Kaufman > [While all the other kids were out playing ball and stuff, I used to stay in my room and imagine that there was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-kaufman/while-all-the-other-kids-were-out-playing-ball-and-stuff-i-used-to/) [Andy Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-kaufman/) > [Clifton and I don't even look alike. He smokes and drinks, and I do neither. He's a big fat guy, and if it weren't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-kaufman/clifton-and-i-don-t-even-look-alike-he-smokes-and-drinks-and-i-do/) [Andy Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-kaufman/) > [If I was going to be a little boy about it, I'd go into hiding for one or two years. But if I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-kaufman/if-i-was-going-to-be-a-little-boy-about-it-i-d-go-into-hiding-for-one/) [Andy Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-kaufman/) > [The more they hate you, the better you're doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-kaufman/the-more-they-hate-you-the-better-you-re-doing/) [Andy Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-kaufman/) > [Pure entertainment is not an egotistical lady singing boring songs onstage for two hours and people in tuxes clapping whether they like it or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-kaufman/pure-entertainment-is-not-an-egotistical-lady-singing-boring-songs/) [Andy Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-kaufman/) > [Theres no drama like wrestling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-kaufman/theres-no-drama-like-wrestling/) [Andy Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-kaufman/) > [Whenever I play a role, whether it's good or bad, an evil person or nice person, I believe in being a purist and going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-kaufman/whenever-i-play-a-role-whether-it-s-good-or-bad-an-evil-person-or/) [Andy Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-kaufman/) > [Every time my manager approached big network executives or even cable, they told him I was too dangerous. They couldn't trust me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-kaufman/every-time-my-manager-approached-big-network-executives-or-even-cable/) [Andy Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-kaufman/) > [My mother sent me to psychiatrists since the age of four because she didnt think little boys should be sad. When my brother was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-kaufman/my-mother-sent-me-to-psychiatrists-since-the-age-of-four-because-she/) [Andy Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-kaufman/) > [I just want the audience to have a wonderful, happy feeling inside them and leave with big smiles on their faces.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-kaufman/i-just-want-the-audience-to-have-a-wonderful-happy-feeling-inside/) [Andy Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-kaufman/) > [Any wrestler who will piledrive Lawler and injure him like he did me gets five thousand dollars from me!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-kaufman/any-wrestler-who-will-piledrive-lawler-and-injure-him-like-he-did-me/) [Andy Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-kaufman/) > [As they say in my country, the only thing that separates us from the animals is mindless superstition and pointless ritual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-kaufman/as-they-say-in-my-country-the-only-thing-that-separates-us-from-the/) [Andy Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-kaufman/) > [I see the world as an illusion, and we shouldn't take ourselves so seriously](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-kaufman/i-see-the-world-as-an-illusion-and-we-shouldn-t-take-ourselves-so/) [Andy Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-kaufman/) > [I'm from Hollywood. That's where we make movies and TV shows... I'm not from down here in men-fus ten-uh-see, okay?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-kaufman/i-m-from-hollywood-that-s-where-we-make-movies-and-tv-shows-i-m-not/) [Andy Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-kaufman/) > [We're hoping that this will also be the key to starting community events in a place where the whole community can come together. We've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-kaufman/we-re-hoping-that-this-will-also-be-the-key-to-starting-community/) [Andy Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-kaufman/) [Explore all 33 Andy Kaufman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-kaufman/) ## More Breaking rules quotes > [“A man's life is about keeping rules, breaking them, and making new ones.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ogwo-david-emenike/a-man-s-life-is-about-keeping-rules-breaking-them-and-making-new-ones/) [Ogwo David Emenike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ogwo-david-emenike/) > [I want to remind people of a different kind of glamour, a different look, and breaking the rules of fashion. I wanna break the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dita-von-teese/i-want-to-remind-people-of-a-different-kind-of-glamour-a-different/) [Dita Von Teese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dita-von-teese/) > [Art is all about doing what you shouldn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nobuyoshi-araki/art-is-all-about-doing-what-you-shouldn-t/) [Nobuyoshi Araki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nobuyoshi-araki/) > [“Bend the rules only if you have learned them; break the rules only if you have mastered them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/bend-the-rules-only-if-you-have-learned-them-break-the-rules-only-if/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [It is impossible to be a maverick or a true original if you're too well behaved and don't want to break the rules. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-schwarzenegger/it-is-impossible-to-be-a-maverick-or-a-true-original-if-you-re-too/) [Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/) > [I am not breaking my rules,' I snapped, hating that I'd ended up on the advice-recieving end of things, jumping from Dear Remy to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/i-am-not-breaking-my-rules-i-snapped-hating-that-i-d-ended-up-on-the/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [Creativity comes by breaking the rules, by saying that you're in love with the anarchist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-roddick/creativity-comes-by-breaking-the-rules-by-saying-that-you-re-in-love/) [Anita Roddick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-roddick/) > [In effect we are, bending and breaking the rules of the language. And if someone were to ask why we do it, the answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-crystal/in-effect-we-are-bending-and-breaking-the-rules-of-the-language-and/) [David Crystal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-crystal/) > [“The greatest crimes in the world are not committed by people breaking the rules, but by people following the rules.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-greatest-crimes-in-the-world-are-not-committed-by-people-breaking/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I believe in breaking rules. You can succeed even without breaking rules. But only if you look beyond preset notions, you can get to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devi-sri-prasad/i-believe-in-breaking-rules-you-can-succeed-even-without-breaking/) [Devi Sri Prasad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devi-sri-prasad/) > [Sometimes breaking the rules is extending the rules.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-oliver/sometimes-breaking-the-rules-is-extending-the-rules/) [Mary Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-oliver/) > [“I had artistic classical training, and when you learn the classics for so many years, you might gain audacity, power and confidence to subvert…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nuno-roque/i-had-artistic-classical-training-and-when-you-learn-the-classics-for/) Nuno Roque > [The trading rules I live by are: 1. Cut losses. 2. Ride winners. 3. Keep bets small. 4. Follow the rules without question. 5.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-seykota/the-trading-rules-i-live-by-are-1-cut-losses-2-ride-winners-3-keep/) [Ed Seykota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-seykota/) > [“Life is a game with breaking the rules.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamerlan-kuzgov/life-is-a-game-with-breaking-the-rules/) [Tamerlan Kuzgov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamerlan-kuzgov/) > [Cats are autocrats of naked self-interest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/cats-are-autocrats-of-naked-self-interest/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) [Browse all 126 Breaking rules quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breaking-rules/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I try to please people, to give them a good time, but I refuse to make my act conform to traditional show-biz standards of entertainment. 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