--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I set out to be a cross between Lenny…" description: "\"I set out to be a cross between Lenny Bruce and Robert the Bruce - my main thrust was the body and its functions and malfunctions - the absurdity of th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f3/billy-connolly-2412_absurdity_i-set-out-to-be-a-cross-between-lenny-br_1998993.png" --- # I set out to be a cross between Lenny Bruce and Robert the… ![“I set out to be a cross between Lenny Bruce and Robert the Bruce - my main thrust was the body and its functions and malfunctions - the absurdity of the thing.” quote by Billy Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f3/billy-connolly-2412_absurdity_i-set-out-to-be-a-cross-between-lenny-br_1998993.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f3/billy-connolly-2412_absurdity_i-set-out-to-be-a-cross-between-lenny-br_1998993.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f3/billy-connolly-2412_absurdity_i-set-out-to-be-a-cross-between-lenny-br_1998993.png) > “I set out to be a cross between Lenny Bruce and Robert the Bruce - my main thrust was the body and its functions and malfunctions - the absurdity of the thing.” [Billy Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-connolly/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He humorously compares himself to a comic and a warrior, emphasizing the absurdity of the human body’s imperfections. **In simple terms:** He mixes comedy with warrior imagery to highlight bodily absurdities. Key Takeaway Find humor in bodily flaws. Themes humor absurdity self‑reflection Mood playful self‑deprecating Type comedic observational When to use this quote - stage shows - personal health - self‑acceptance - creative expression Key Concepts Body image performance art identity Questions to Reflect On - What bodily quirks make you laugh? - How does humor change your view of imperfection? A Different Perspective The comparison may trivialize serious health issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Absurdity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absurdity/) [Body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) [Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bruce/) [Bruce Robert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bruce-robert-2690996/) [Cross Lenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cross-lenny-2690994/) [Crosses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crosses/) [Function](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/function/) [Lenny Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lenny-bruce/) [Malfunction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/malfunction/) [Malfunctions Absurdity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/malfunctions-absurdity-3506610/) [Thrust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thrust/) ## Related quotes > [I set out to be a cross between Lenny Bruce and Robert the Bruce.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-connolly/i-set-out-to-be-a-cross-between-lenny-bruce-and-robert-the-bruce/) [Billy Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-connolly/) > [When I was 16 or 17, I saw Lenny Bruce being taken to jail. They took him off stage because he talked about race.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mooney/when-i-was-16-or-17-i-saw-lenny-bruce-being-taken-to-jail-they-took/) [Paul Mooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mooney/) > [When I was younger, I listened to the greats: Winters, Mel and Carl, Nichols and May, Pryor, Carlin, Klein, Berman and lots of Lenny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lewis/when-i-was-younger-i-listened-to-the-greats-winters-mel-and-carl/) [Richard Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lewis/) > [I'm not a comedian. I'm Lenny Bruce.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-bruce/i-m-not-a-comedian-i-m-lenny-bruce/) [Lenny Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-bruce/) > [In my opinion, Lenny Bruce was more of an influence on Zappa's satirical lyric's than anyone that I know of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carl-black/in-my-opinion-lenny-bruce-was-more-of-an-influence-on-zappa-s/) [Jimmy Carl Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carl-black/) > [When I first started out, 'Time' magazine did an article on what it called 'the sick comics,' and they were myself, Shelley Berman, Nichols…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/when-i-first-started-out-time-magazine-did-an-article-on-what-it/) [Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/) > [My influences were Woody Allen and Lenny Bruce.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steinberg/my-influences-were-woody-allen-and-lenny-bruce/) [David Steinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steinberg/) > [On the comedy side of what I love as a filmmaker are Richard Pryor, Lenny Bruce, and Eddie Murphy; those are my favorites.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-dobkin/on-the-comedy-side-of-what-i-love-as-a-filmmaker-are-richard-pryor/) [David Dobkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-dobkin/) > [Any comic like myself owes everything he has to Lenny Bruce. He was the originator. The godfather of uncensored American stand-up is clearly Lenny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-rogan/any-comic-like-myself-owes-everything-he-has-to-lenny-bruce-he-was/) [Joe Rogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-rogan/) > [I was about 12 when I heard my first Lenny Bruce record. He was already dead. But it changed my life and really did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/i-was-about-12-when-i-heard-my-first-lenny-bruce-record-he-was/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [One of my greatest inspirations for stand-up was Jonathan Winters. He was a genius. One thing about him, and also Lenny Bruce, is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-klein/one-of-my-greatest-inspirations-for-stand-up-was-jonathan-winters-he/) [Robert Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-klein/) > [But the only comparison that I want to Lenny Bruce is that I'm funny. I'm Freddie Prinze, Puerto Rican all the way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-prinze/but-the-only-comparison-that-i-want-to-lenny-bruce-is-that-i-m-funny/) [Freddie Prinze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-prinze/) > [Bill Maher fancies himself the reincarnation of Lenny Bruce.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-goldberg/bill-maher-fancies-himself-the-reincarnation-of-lenny-bruce/) [Bernard Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-goldberg/) > [What is your major malfunction?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-lee-ermey/what-is-your-major-malfunction/) [R. Lee Ermey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-lee-ermey/) > [It signified nothing that the raw, male magnetism that emanated from him probably made compasses malfunction in his presence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaelen-foley/it-signified-nothing-that-the-raw-male-magnetism-that-emanated-from/) [Gaelen Foley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaelen-foley/) ## More by Billy Connolly > [Ally MacLeod thinks that tactics are a new kind of mint.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-connolly/ally-macleod-thinks-that-tactics-are-a-new-kind-of-mint/) [Billy Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-connolly/) > [I've been a poser for f--ing years. I say, pose your arse off. You know, have a laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-connolly/i-ve-been-a-poser-for-f-ing-years-i-say-pose-your-arse-off-you-know/) [Billy Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-connolly/) > [Heckling is an act of cowardice. If you want to speak, get up in front of the microphone and speak, don't sit in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-connolly/heckling-is-an-act-of-cowardice-if-you-want-to-speak-get-up-in-front/) [Billy Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-connolly/) > [I don't believe in angels and I have trouble with the whole God thing. I don't want to say I don't believe in God,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-connolly/i-don-t-believe-in-angels-and-i-have-trouble-with-the-whole-god-thing/) [Billy Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-connolly/) > [I think my securities far outweigh my insecurities. I am not nearly as afraid of myself and my imagination as I used to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-connolly/i-think-my-securities-far-outweigh-my-insecurities-i-am-not-nearly-as/) [Billy Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-connolly/) > [People die all the time. It's just that you're not around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-connolly/people-die-all-the-time-it-s-just-that-you-re-not-around/) [Billy Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-connolly/) > [I loved Japan. I used to read a lot about it when I was a child. And I always wanted to go. And it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-connolly/i-loved-japan-i-used-to-read-a-lot-about-it-when-i-was-a-child-and-i/) [Billy Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-connolly/) > [Life is supposed to be fun. It's not a job or occupation. We're here only once and we should have a bit of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-connolly/life-is-supposed-to-be-fun-it-s-not-a-job-or-occupation-we-re-here/) [Billy Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-connolly/) > [I'm famous for my bottom dances, but you'll only see my bum and willy if you raise a million pounds within an hour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-connolly/i-m-famous-for-my-bottom-dances-but-you-ll-only-see-my-bum-and-willy/) [Billy Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-connolly/) > [Don't buy one of those baby intercoms. Babies pretend to be dead. They're bastards, and they do it on purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-connolly/don-t-buy-one-of-those-baby-intercoms-babies-pretend-to-be-dead-they/) [Billy Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-connolly/) > [Politically correct is the language of cowardice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-connolly/politically-correct-is-the-language-of-cowardice/) [Billy Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-connolly/) > [I think of my life as a series of moments and I've found that the great moments often don't have too much to them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-connolly/i-think-of-my-life-as-a-series-of-moments-and-i-ve-found-that-the/) [Billy Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-connolly/) > [And then there was my mate who'd just been fitted with a brand new hearing aid. "It's the best in the world", he said.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-connolly/and-then-there-was-my-mate-who-d-just-been-fitted-with-a-brand-new/) [Billy Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-connolly/) > [So, have you heard about the oyster who went to a disco and pulled a mussel?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-connolly/so-have-you-heard-about-the-oyster-who-went-to-a-disco-and-pulled-a/) [Billy Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-connolly/) > [Chic Murray once told me he fell in the street, and a woman said to him, "Did you fall?" He said, "No, I'm tryin'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-connolly/chic-murray-once-told-me-he-fell-in-the-street-and-a-woman-said-to/) [Billy Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-connolly/) [Explore all 167 Billy Connolly quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-connolly/) ## More Absurdity quotes > [Even though you can't expect to defeat the absurdity of the world, you must make that attempt. That's morality, that's religion. That's art. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-ochs/even-though-you-can-t-expect-to-defeat-the-absurdity-of-the-world-you/) [Phil Ochs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-ochs/) > [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [For it is an absurdity to call a country civilized in which a decent and industrious man, laboriously mastering a trade which is valuble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/for-it-is-an-absurdity-to-call-a-country-civilized-in-which-a-decent/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [Every sensible man, every honorable man, must hold the Christian sect in horror." "Christianity is the most ridiculous, the most absurd and bloody religion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/every-sensible-man-every-honorable-man-must-hold-the-christian-sect/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [One would think that a system loaded with such gross and vulgar absurdities as Scripture religion is could never have obtained credit; yet we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/one-would-think-that-a-system-loaded-with-such-gross-and-vulgar/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Such squeamish youths as cannot bear to be connected with a little absurdity are not worth a regret.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/such-squeamish-youths-as-cannot-bear-to-be-connected-with-a-little/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [Thought of the incomprehensible sequence of changes and chances that make up a life, all the beauties and horrors and absurdities whose conjunctions create…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/thought-of-the-incomprehensible-sequence-of-changes-and-chances-that/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [We all live inside the terrible engine of authority, and it grinds and shrieks and burns so that no one will say: lines on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/we-all-live-inside-the-terrible-engine-of-authority-and-it-grinds-and/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [Desire is this absurdity that holds open the infinity of possibility. Ever optimistic, ever resourceful, desire tells us what it sees as it speeds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-farley/desire-is-this-absurdity-that-holds-open-the-infinity-of-possibility/) [Wendy Farley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-farley/) > [I've always felt that comedy doesn't just come from misery. It comes from an absurdity around that misery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-amstell/i-ve-always-felt-that-comedy-doesn-t-just-come-from-misery-it-comes/) [Simon Amstell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-amstell/) > [Unaware of the absurdity of it, we introduce our own petty household rules into the economy of the universe for which the life of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-herzen/unaware-of-the-absurdity-of-it-we-introduce-our-own-petty-household/) [Alexander Herzen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-herzen/) > [“Christianity would be helpless without the idea of free will and the idea of free will would be helpless without incongruity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kedar-joshi/christianity-would-be-helpless-without-the-idea-of-free-will-and-the/) [Kedar Joshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kedar-joshi/) > [Sensible Catholics have for generations been ignoring the views on contraception held by reactionary old men in the Vatican, but alas, since it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-c-grayling/sensible-catholics-have-for-generations-been-ignoring-the-views-on/) [A.C. Grayling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-c-grayling/) > [The tales of our exploits will survive as long as the human voice itself,' he said. 'And even after that, when the robots recall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/the-tales-of-our-exploits-will-survive-as-long-as-the-human-voice/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [Life packed a clever one-two punch: cruelty and absurdity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/life-packed-a-clever-one-two-punch-cruelty-and-absurdity/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) [Browse all 689 Absurdity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absurdity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I set out to be a cross between Lenny Bruce and Robert the Bruce - my main thrust was the body and its functions and malfunctions - the absurdity of the thing.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Billy Connolly" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-connolly/i-set-out-to-be-a-cross-between-lenny-bruce-and-robert-the-bruce-my/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Absurdity" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-connolly/i-set-out-to-be-a-cross-between-lenny-bruce-and-robert-the-bruce-my/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f3/billy-connolly-2412_absurdity_i-set-out-to-be-a-cross-between-lenny-br_1998993.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f3/billy-connolly-2412_absurdity_i-set-out-to-be-a-cross-between-lenny-br_1998993.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f3/billy-connolly-2412_absurdity_i-set-out-to-be-a-cross-between-lenny-br_1998993.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I set out to be a cross between Lenny Bruce and Robert the Bruce - my main thrust was the body and its…” — Billy Connolly", "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": "Billy Connolly", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-connolly/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I set out to be a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-connolly/i-set-out-to-be-a-cross-between-lenny-bruce-and-robert-the-bruce-my/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-connolly/i-set-out-to-be-a-cross-between-lenny-bruce-and-robert-the-bruce-my/#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 } } ] } ```