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Portrait of Yakov Smirnoff

Yakov Smirnoff

(1951) Comedian United States

50 quotes in 241 categories

Yakov Smirnoff is a comedian from the United States, best known for America on six rubles a day, or, How to become a capitalist pig.

Quick Facts About Yakov Smirnoff

Born: January 24, 1951
Nationality: United States
Profession: Comedian
Notable works: America on six rubles a day, or, How to become a capitalist pig

About Yakov Smirnoff

Yakov Naumovich Pokhis, better known as Yakov Smirnoff, is an American comedian, actor and writer. He began his career as a stand-up comedian in the Soviet Union, then immigrated to the United States in 1977 in order to pursue an American show business career, not yet knowing any English.

Biography source: Wikipedia

Awards & Honors

Great Immigrants Award

Quotes by Yakov Smirnoff · Page 2

People in Tulsa are totally friendly; the crowds are very nice.

Crowds

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We may have forgotten how to feel. Nobody is teaching us how to live happily ever after, as we've heard in fairy…

Ever after

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When you like something, you find time to do it.

Find

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I believe that laughter is a language of God and that we can all live happily ever laughter.

Believe

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Homosexuality in Russia is a crime and the punishment is seven years in prison, locked up with the other men. There is…

Crime

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My father described this tall lady who stands in the middle of the New York harbor, holding high a torch to welcome…

America

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I fed my ego, but not my soul.

Ego

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In America, you drive car. In Soviet Russia, car drive you!

America

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I came to America to make it my home, and I did.

America

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We have been learning since we were children how to make money, buy things, build things. The whole education system is set…

Children

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After the Soviet Union collapsed, people thought I wasn't funny anymore.

Funny

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Everybody laughs the same in every language because laughter is a universal connection.

Humor

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In Russia we only had two TV channels. Channel One was propaganda. Channel Two consisted of a KGB officer telling you: Turn…

Kgb

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Falling in love is a chemical reaction. But it wears off in a year. That's why you need a strong line of…

Chemical

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We have a choice - we can both think and feel, using our heads and our hearts.

Choice

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I believe that love and laughter can only happen when one person takes the time to think about what would cause the…

Believe

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The ad in the paper said 'Big Sale. Last Week.' Why advertise? I already missed it. They're just rubbing it in.

Paper

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I have American in-laws, and I care about the environment. We don't use disposable diapers, which, of course, creates an environmental problem…

About

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In America, you can always find a party. In Soviet Russia, The Party can always find you!

America

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Many people are surprised to hear that we have comedians in Russia, but they are there. They are dead, but they are…

Comedian

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There's depth in my comedy.

Comedy

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I was this non-threatening funny guy who contrasted the image of the Brezhnevs and the Reagans of the world.

Funny

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“In America, you can always find a party. In Soviet Russia, Party always find you!”

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Balance is so important in our lives. In our busy world, we can give ourselves balance between thinking and feeling.

Balance

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Comedians are always hitting the topical notes that are on everybody's minds.

Always

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Yakov Smirnoff by topic

Russia (12) Soviet (8)