---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There's a certain truism that you can't…"
description: "\"There's a certain truism that you can't be self-conscious in comedy.\" — Ari Graynor"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/687/ari-graynor-3380_certain_there-s-a-certain-truism-that-you-can-t_3145624.jpg"
---

#  There's a certain truism that you can't be self-conscious…

![“There's a certain truism that you can't be self-conscious in comedy.” quote by Ari Graynor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/687/ari-graynor-3380_certain_there-s-a-certain-truism-that-you-can-t_3145624.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/687/ari-graynor-3380_certain_there-s-a-certain-truism-that-you-can-t_3145624.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/687/ari-graynor-3380_certain_there-s-a-certain-truism-that-you-can-t_3145624.jpg)

> “There's a certain truism that you can't be self-conscious in comedy.”

[Ari Graynor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-graynor/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Self-consciousness hinders comedic performance; confidence is essential for humor.

**In simple terms:** Being self-aware blocks comedy.

Key Takeaway

Embrace confidence on stage.

Themes

confidence humor performance

Mood

nervous reflective

Type

motivational insightful

When to use this quote

- stand‑up comedy
- improv classes
- public speaking
- social events

Key Concepts

self-consciousness authenticity

Questions to Reflect On

- How does self‑consciousness affect your humor?
- What steps build confidence?

A Different Perspective

Overconfidence can lead to reckless jokes.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Certain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certain/) [Certain Truism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certain-truism-5624348/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Conscious Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscious-comedy-2923280/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self conscious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-conscious/) [Truism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truism/) [Truism Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truism-self-5099443/)

## Related quotes

> [There's a certain truism that you can't be self-conscious in comedy. If I'm in it and if there's a scene that has a great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-graynor/there-s-a-certain-truism-that-you-can-t-be-self-conscious-in-comedy/)

[Ari Graynor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-graynor/)

> [Doug Motel makes 'conscious comedy'. He makes me laugh, and he makes me think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/doug-motel-makes-conscious-comedy-he-makes-me-laugh-and-he-makes-me/)

[Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/)

> [A really good stand-up comic is a poet; it's about the use of language. It can be really poetic. And I like politically conscious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherman-alexie/a-really-good-stand-up-comic-is-a-poet-it-s-about-the-use-of-language/)

[Sherman Alexie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherman-alexie/)

> [It ain't over 'til it's over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yogi-berra/it-ain-t-over-til-it-s-over/)

[Yogi Berra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yogi-berra/)

> [It is a profoundly erroneous truism, repeated by all copy books and by eminent people when they are making speeches, that we should cultivate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/it-is-a-profoundly-erroneous-truism-repeated-by-all-copy-books-and-by/)

[Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/)

> [It is, of course, the merest truism to say a party is of use only so far as it serves the nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/it-is-of-course-the-merest-truism-to-say-a-party-is-of-use-only-so/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

> [Ever since Richard Nixon walloped George McGovern in the presidential election of 1972, political pundits have treated as a truism the proposition that liberals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-alterman/ever-since-richard-nixon-walloped-george-mcgovern-in-the-presidential/)

[Eric Alterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-alterman/)

> [Men grind and grind in the mill of a truism, and nothing comes out but what was put in. But the moment they desert…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/men-grind-and-grind-in-the-mill-of-a-truism-and-nothing-comes-out-but/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [Every Day Is for the Thief is a vivid, episodic evocation of the truism that you can't go home again; but that doesn't mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-collins/every-day-is-for-the-thief-is-a-vivid-episodic-evocation-of-the/)

[Billy Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-collins/)

> [... Tarrasch's 'dogmas' are not eternal truisms, but merely instructional material presented in an accessible and witty form, those necessary rudiments from which one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-kasparov/tarrasch-s-dogmas-are-not-eternal-truisms-but-merely-instructional/)

[Garry Kasparov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-kasparov/)

> [“There is the natural liar...Always says the thing that sounds best.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/there-is-the-natural-liar-always-says-the-thing-that-sounds-best/)

[Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/)

> [“Verily, knowledge is a lock and its key is the question.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/verily-knowledge-is-a-lock-and-its-key-is-the-question/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Decide on some imperfect Somebody and you will win, because the truest truism in politics is: You can't beat Somebody with Nobody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-safire/decide-on-some-imperfect-somebody-and-you-will-win-because-the-truest/)

[William Safire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-safire/)

> [The triangle of truisms, of father, mother and child, cannot be destroyed; it can only destroy those civilizations which disregard it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/the-triangle-of-truisms-of-father-mother-and-child-cannot-be/)

[Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/)

> [“Life is difficult.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-scott-peck/life-is-difficult/)

[M. Scott Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-scott-peck/)

## More by Ari Graynor

> [Acting was the place where I could be free and feel confident.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-graynor/acting-was-the-place-where-i-could-be-free-and-feel-confident/)

[Ari Graynor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-graynor/)

> [When you're an actor, people talk a lot about how, at some point, you really have to take control of your career and what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-graynor/when-you-re-an-actor-people-talk-a-lot-about-how-at-some-point-you/)

[Ari Graynor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-graynor/)

> [Life is hard enough, so when you can get any joy out of it, whether it's something you do on a day-to-day basis, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-graynor/life-is-hard-enough-so-when-you-can-get-any-joy-out-of-it-whether-it/)

[Ari Graynor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-graynor/)

> [Not one person has ever sent me a drink because I was Caroline in 'Nick and Norah.' People reference it; people say really nice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-graynor/not-one-person-has-ever-sent-me-a-drink-because-i-was-caroline-in/)

[Ari Graynor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-graynor/)

> [There's pressure to come up with something genius every time. I feel like I keep letting myself down with my Twitter posts. I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-graynor/there-s-pressure-to-come-up-with-something-genius-every-time-i-feel/)

[Ari Graynor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-graynor/)

> [I think casting a show is an art form in and of itself. We're all so different - the cast is made up partly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-graynor/i-think-casting-a-show-is-an-art-form-in-and-of-itself-we-re-all-so/)

[Ari Graynor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-graynor/)

> [Henry Winkler is the most lovable man. He is like everybody's favorite grandfather.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-graynor/henry-winkler-is-the-most-lovable-man-he-is-like-everybody-s-favorite/)

[Ari Graynor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-graynor/)

> [At 21, my career took a comedic turn when I was cast in a new Broadway play called 'Brooklyn Boy,' by Donald Margulies, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-graynor/at-21-my-career-took-a-comedic-turn-when-i-was-cast-in-a-new-broadway/)

[Ari Graynor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-graynor/)

> [While I appreciate horror movies, I'd love the opportunity to do something transformative, especially because people see me as contemporary. There's a lot to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-graynor/while-i-appreciate-horror-movies-i-d-love-the-opportunity-to-do/)

[Ari Graynor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-graynor/)

> [The worst thing you can have as an actor is too big an ego. It just kills creativity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-graynor/the-worst-thing-you-can-have-as-an-actor-is-too-big-an-ego-it-just/)

[Ari Graynor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-graynor/)

> [When you look at all of the male characters on television and in film, it's not like every one of them are the people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-graynor/when-you-look-at-all-of-the-male-characters-on-television-and-in-film/)

[Ari Graynor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-graynor/)

> [I prefer situational or character-based humor to gross-out gags and comedic set pieces.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-graynor/i-prefer-situational-or-character-based-humor-to-gross-out-gags-and/)

[Ari Graynor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-graynor/)

> [Twitter's a lot of work! That's the first thing I would say. There's so much pressure to be funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-graynor/twitter-s-a-lot-of-work-that-s-the-first-thing-i-would-say-there-s-so/)

[Ari Graynor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-graynor/)

> [As I've grown as a person and gotten to know myself more - the question of how someone becomes who they become has gotten…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-graynor/as-i-ve-grown-as-a-person-and-gotten-to-know-myself-more-the-question/)

[Ari Graynor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-graynor/)

> [Onstage was where I felt the most confident and in control and free, and as I've gotten older, it's gotten more and more daunting.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-graynor/onstage-was-where-i-felt-the-most-confident-and-in-control-and-free/)

[Ari Graynor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-graynor/)

[Explore all 132 Ari Graynor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-graynor/)

## More Certain quotes

> [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/)

[Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/)

> [One can put some trust in the gratitude of a sovereign, and also in that of his family; under certain conditions, one can even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-von-bismarck/one-can-put-some-trust-in-the-gratitude-of-a-sovereign-and-also-in/)

[Otto von Bismarck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-von-bismarck/)

> [For successful education there must always be a certain freshness in the knowledge dealt with. It must be either new in itself or invested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/for-successful-education-there-must-always-be-a-certain-freshness-in/)

[Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/)

> [People don't always realize that a record is forever. It'll always be there under your name. You've got to be certain that it's right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-iero/people-don-t-always-realize-that-a-record-is-forever-it-ll-always-be/)

[Frank Iero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-iero/)

> [Faith gives you a certain structure and meaning to your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riffat-hassan/faith-gives-you-a-certain-structure-and-meaning-to-your-life/)

[Riffat Hassan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/riffat-hassan/)

> [I started out dancing on a reality TV show, but always with the intention of making my way over to film. I transitioned into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-hough/i-started-out-dancing-on-a-reality-tv-show-but-always-with-the/)

[Julianne Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-hough/)

> [One of the deepest and strangest of all human moods is the mood which will suddenly strike us perhaps in a garden at night,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-of-the-deepest-and-strangest-of-all-human-moods-is-the-mood-which/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [A dialogue is very important. It is a form of communication in which question and answer continue till a question is left without an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/a-dialogue-is-very-important-it-is-a-form-of-communication-in-which/)

[Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/)

> [I mean those people who are interested in good government will certainly contribute in order to make certain there's some counter-balance to those whose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-breyer/i-mean-those-people-who-are-interested-in-good-government-will/)

[Stephen Breyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-breyer/)

> [Why do we love certain homes, and why do they seem to love us? It is the warmth of our individual hearts reflected in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-h-robsjohn-gibbings/why-do-we-love-certain-homes-and-why-do-they-seem-to-love-us-it-is/)

[T. H. Robsjohn-Gibbings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-h-robsjohn-gibbings/)

> [Human life consists of doing certain things ... to take part in the life of the community; to be able to talk about subjects…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amartya-sen/human-life-consists-of-doing-certain-things-to-take-part-in-the-life/)

[Amartya Sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amartya-sen/)

> [We've all seen talented young players who get to a certain level but there comes a point where that talent will only take you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-gatland/we-ve-all-seen-talented-young-players-who-get-to-a-certain-level-but/)

[Warren Gatland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-gatland/)

> [The concept of humanity is an especially useful ideological instrument of imperialist expansion, and in its ethical-humanitarian form it is a specific vehicle of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-schmitt/the-concept-of-humanity-is-an-especially-useful-ideological/)

[Carl Schmitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-schmitt/)

> [I think that at a certain age, say fifteen or sixteen, poetry is like masturbation. But later in life good poets burn their early…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/i-think-that-at-a-certain-age-say-fifteen-or-sixteen-poetry-is-like/)

[Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/)

> [If a person does not listen to the demands of their own spiritual and heart life and insists on a certain program, you're going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/if-a-person-does-not-listen-to-the-demands-of-their-own-spiritual-and/)

[Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/)

[Browse all 13,673 Certain quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certain/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "There's a certain truism that you can't be self-conscious in comedy.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Ari Graynor"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-graynor/there-s-a-certain-truism-that-you-can-t-be-self-conscious-in-comedy-2/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Certain"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-graynor/there-s-a-certain-truism-that-you-can-t-be-self-conscious-in-comedy-2/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/687/ari-graynor-3380_certain_there-s-a-certain-truism-that-you-can-t_3145624.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/687/ari-graynor-3380_certain_there-s-a-certain-truism-that-you-can-t_3145624.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/687/ari-graynor-3380_certain_there-s-a-certain-truism-that-you-can-t_3145624.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“There's a certain truism that you can't be self-conscious in comedy.” — Ari Graynor",
                "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": "Ari Graynor",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-graynor/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "There's a certain truism that you...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-graynor/there-s-a-certain-truism-that-you-can-t-be-self-conscious-in-comedy-2/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-graynor/there-s-a-certain-truism-that-you-can-t-be-self-conscious-in-comedy-2/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
