--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Look, you know, you can't please…" description: "\"Look, you know, you can't please everybody. I'm a stand-up comic. I know that. It doesn't matter how funny you are and how well you do, there's two peo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c21/billy-gardell-26178_comedy_look-you-know-you-can-t-please-everybody_1045932.jpg" --- # Look, you know, you can't please everybody. I'm a stand-up… ![“Look, you know, you can't please everybody. I'm a stand-up comic. I know that. It doesn't matter how funny you are and how well you do, there's two people that are going to walk out of there hating you.” quote by Billy Gardell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c21/billy-gardell-26178_comedy_look-you-know-you-can-t-please-everybody_1045932.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c21/billy-gardell-26178_comedy_look-you-know-you-can-t-please-everybody_1045932.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c21/billy-gardell-26178_comedy_look-you-know-you-can-t-please-everybody_1045932.jpg) > “Look, you know, you can't please everybody. I'm a stand-up comic. I know that. It doesn't matter how funny you are and how well you do, there's two people that are going to walk out of there hating you.” [Billy Gardell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-gardell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The comedian acknowledges that no matter how skilled a performer is, some audience members will always be dissatisfied, reflecting the impossibility of universal approval. **In simple terms:** You can’t please everyone, especially in comedy. Key Takeaway Accept that some criticism is inevitable. Themes performance audience reaction humor acceptance Mood humorous realistic Type motivational reflective When to use this quote - live shows - online videos - tour stops - media interviews Key Concepts expectation management resilience public perception Questions to Reflect On - How do you handle negative feedback? - What strategies help maintain confidence? A Different Perspective Striving for universal approval can lead to burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Comic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comic/) [Funny people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny-people/) [Hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hate/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [“Now that we know who you are, I know who I am. I'm not a mistake! It all makes sense! In a comic, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-night-shyamalan/now-that-we-know-who-you-are-i-know-who-i-am-i-m-not-a-mistake-it-all/) [M. Night Shyamalan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-night-shyamalan/) > [You need to be, like, turning down high-paying illustration work because you want to work on your comic. That's when you know you're doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-clowes/you-need-to-be-like-turning-down-high-paying-illustration-work/) [Daniel Clowes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-clowes/) > [It just means that if someone hates you, they still have feelings for you. If they really didn't care about you, they'd just forget…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-lyga/it-just-means-that-if-someone-hates-you-they-still-have-feelings-for/) [Barry Lyga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-lyga/) > [There's only one thing that will make them stop hating you. And that's being so good at what you do that they can't ignore…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/there-s-only-one-thing-that-will-make-them-stop-hating-you-and-that-s/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [When you love yourself, you'll feel sorry for those that hate you instead of hating them back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gaskins/when-you-love-yourself-you-ll-feel-sorry-for-those-that-hate-you/) [Tony Gaskins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gaskins/) > [You do have to love your kids enough to let them hate you. But it's the disease that's hating you, not them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-burnett/you-do-have-to-love-your-kids-enough-to-let-them-hate-you-but-it-s/) [Carol Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-burnett/) > [When I think of the energy I wasted hating you ...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-taylforth/when-i-think-of-the-energy-i-wasted-hating-you/) Gillian Taylforth > [Thanks to the Internet, I think, a lot of hate has moved to more anonymous venues. A lot of people get their aggression out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/negin-farsad/thanks-to-the-internet-i-think-a-lot-of-hate-has-moved-to-more/) [Negin Farsad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/negin-farsad/) > [People hate you for 1 of 3 reasons. 1) They hate themselves 2) They want to be you 3) They see you as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gaskins/people-hate-you-for-1-of-3-reasons-1-they-hate-themselves-2-they-want/) [Tony Gaskins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gaskins/) > [America is a hot chick with a bad personality. Take her seriously and you'll end up hating yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dov-davidoff/america-is-a-hot-chick-with-a-bad-personality-take-her-seriously-and/) [Dov Davidoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dov-davidoff/) > [There comes a point where certain things are becoming my Achilles heel; you know when you start repeating yourself and saying the same anecdotes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-elson/there-comes-a-point-where-certain-things-are-becoming-my-achilles/) [Karen Elson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-elson/) > [To be honest, I wasn't the best stand-up comic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-walsh/to-be-honest-i-wasn-t-the-best-stand-up-comic/) [Bradley Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-walsh/) > [I had no desire to be a stand-up comic until I decided to do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-rudner/i-had-no-desire-to-be-a-stand-up-comic-until-i-decided-to-do-it/) [Rita Rudner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-rudner/) > [I always had one goal, and that was to be a real funny stand-up comic, and that's pretty much what I'm doing. And everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wanda-sykes/i-always-had-one-goal-and-that-was-to-be-a-real-funny-stand-up-comic/) [Wanda Sykes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wanda-sykes/) > [When you're a stand-up comic, you live and die by what you say on stage. There's no director or writer or producer who can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maz-jobrani/when-you-re-a-stand-up-comic-you-live-and-die-by-what-you-say-on/) [Maz Jobrani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maz-jobrani/) ## More by Billy Gardell > [Stand-up will always come first. I've been doing it for 22 years, and nothing compares to that connection you have with the audience. It's euphoric.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-gardell/stand-up-will-always-come-first-i-ve-been-doing-it-for-22-years-and/) [Billy Gardell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-gardell/) > [Whenever I realize I'm being a goofball, I write it down. When I release the joke onstage, I love watching the effect it has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-gardell/whenever-i-realize-i-m-being-a-goofball-i-write-it-down-when-i/) [Billy Gardell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-gardell/) > [You start realizing that maybe you're the one night a month that people have out, and they don't need to hear your political views…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-gardell/you-start-realizing-that-maybe-you-re-the-one-night-a-month-that/) [Billy Gardell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-gardell/) > [And what's great is, you know, while 'Mike and Molly' are working on their health, that's their flaw, the people that surround them are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-gardell/and-what-s-great-is-you-know-while-mike-and-molly-are-working-on/) [Billy Gardell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-gardell/) > [I'm from Minnesota! I used to work Knuckleheads at the Mall of America as a stand-up. I spent New Year's there once. I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-gardell/i-m-from-minnesota-i-used-to-work-knuckleheads-at-the-mall-of-america/) [Billy Gardell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-gardell/) > [Sometimes WRONG is worth the FUNNY!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-gardell/sometimes-wrong-is-worth-the-funny/) [Billy Gardell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-gardell/) > ['Mike & Molly' exists in a world where we don't just say a snarky line, make a crazy face, and walk out of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-gardell/mike-molly-exists-in-a-world-where-we-don-t-just-say-a-snarky-line/) [Billy Gardell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-gardell/) > [I mean, yeah, I want to lose some weight! I'm doing the best I can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-gardell/i-mean-yeah-i-want-to-lose-some-weight-i-m-doing-the-best-i-can/) [Billy Gardell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-gardell/) > [I've been trying to watch my weight a bit, but when I come to Las Vegas, all bets are off. I get enough healthy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-gardell/i-ve-been-trying-to-watch-my-weight-a-bit-but-when-i-come-to-las/) [Billy Gardell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-gardell/) > [You know, I'm playing the Mirage in Vegas, the main room... About 5 percent of all comics end up as the main headliner on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-gardell/you-know-i-m-playing-the-mirage-in-vegas-the-main-room-about-5/) [Billy Gardell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-gardell/) > [I have been a big guy all my life, I am not going to lose a bunch of weight, because then you're like that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-gardell/i-have-been-a-big-guy-all-my-life-i-am-not-going-to-lose-a-bunch-of/) [Billy Gardell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-gardell/) > [As a comic, I've heard gunshots while I'm trying to get to sleep. I've performed where people wanted to do you harm after the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-gardell/as-a-comic-i-ve-heard-gunshots-while-i-m-trying-to-get-to-sleep-i-ve/) [Billy Gardell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-gardell/) > [You need a wisecracking buddy standing next to you? That's the role for me. You got the guys who are knock-down, drag-out handsome. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-gardell/you-need-a-wisecracking-buddy-standing-next-to-you-that-s-the-role/) [Billy Gardell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-gardell/) > [Yeah, I've done Jim Breuer's radio show a couple times, and I heard from Larry the Cable Guy when I got 'Mike & Molly,'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-gardell/yeah-i-ve-done-jim-breuer-s-radio-show-a-couple-times-and-i-heard/) [Billy Gardell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-gardell/) > [I always like to find those little mom-and-pop sandwich places, or diners. Those are my favorite kind of places.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-gardell/i-always-like-to-find-those-little-mom-and-pop-sandwich-places-or/) [Billy Gardell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-gardell/) [Explore all 22 Billy Gardell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-gardell/) ## More Comedy quotes > ['Mad TV' is one of my most favorite shows of all time and is a huge part of my obsession with sketch comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-dawson/mad-tv-is-one-of-my-most-favorite-shows-of-all-time-and-is-a-huge/) [Shane Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-dawson/) > [You can laugh at me, but I understand show business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ksenia-sobchak/you-can-laugh-at-me-but-i-understand-show-business/) [Ksenia Sobchak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ksenia-sobchak/) > [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/) [Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/) > [I wouldn't want people to laugh at me. That's why I have to give all that I can, and at least produce something that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhao-wei/i-wouldn-t-want-people-to-laugh-at-me-that-s-why-i-have-to-give-all/) [Zhao Wei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhao-wei/) > [“Our world will not die as a result of the bomb, as the papers say, it will die of laughter, of banality, of making a joke…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/our-world-will-not-die-as-a-result-of-the-bomb-as-the-papers-say-it/) [Carlos Ruiz Zafon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/) > [I've been funny my whole life. This is a gift God gave me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-morgan/i-ve-been-funny-my-whole-life-this-is-a-gift-god-gave-me/) [Tracy Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-morgan/) > [“Laugh and grow strong”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ignatius-of-loyola/laugh-and-grow-strong/) [Ignatius of Loyola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ignatius-of-loyola/) > [In the future, I would like to do more films with contemporary themes. Perhaps comedy, which is something I have done in theater but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/in-the-future-i-would-like-to-do-more-films-with-contemporary-themes/) [Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/) > [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/) [Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [There's a difference between delivering real funny and just silly funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-rel-howery/there-s-a-difference-between-delivering-real-funny-and-just-silly/) [Lil Rel Howery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-rel-howery/) > [Oh to that corkscrew, the useful tool to unlock the treasure of wit, the treasury of laughter, the front door of fellowship, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-guzaldo/oh-to-that-corkscrew-the-useful-tool-to-unlock-the-treasure-of-wit/) [Andrew Guzaldo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-guzaldo/) > [“Men circle like bees around honey, buzzing to communicate their sexual despair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carla-h-krueger/men-circle-like-bees-around-honey-buzzing-to-communicate-their-sexual/) [Carla H Krueger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carla-h-krueger/) > [I do love to laugh!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-giudice/i-do-love-to-laugh/) [Teresa Giudice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-giudice/) > [I really enjoy making people laugh; I've discovered that's a great technique. That's as powerful as stirring their sorrow, stirring their compassion, because that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/i-really-enjoy-making-people-laugh-i-ve-discovered-that-s-a-great/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) [Browse all 19,795 Comedy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Look, you know, you can't please everybody. I'm a stand-up comic. I know that. It doesn't matter how funny you are and how well you do, there's two people that are going to walk out of there hating you.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Billy Gardell" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-gardell/look-you-know-you-can-t-please-everybody-i-m-a-stand-up-comic-i-know/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Comedy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-gardell/look-you-know-you-can-t-please-everybody-i-m-a-stand-up-comic-i-know/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c21/billy-gardell-26178_comedy_look-you-know-you-can-t-please-everybody_1045932.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c21/billy-gardell-26178_comedy_look-you-know-you-can-t-please-everybody_1045932.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c21/billy-gardell-26178_comedy_look-you-know-you-can-t-please-everybody_1045932.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Look, you know, you can't please everybody. I'm a stand-up comic. I know that. It doesn't matter how funny…” — Billy Gardell", "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 Gardell", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-gardell/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Look, you know, you can't please...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-gardell/look-you-know-you-can-t-please-everybody-i-m-a-stand-up-comic-i-know/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-gardell/look-you-know-you-can-t-please-everybody-i-m-a-stand-up-comic-i-know/#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 } } ] } ```