--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I just made the decision that I was going…" description: "\"I just made the decision that I was going to try comedy, and if didn't work, then I knew it didn't work. Then I would go back and do whatever. But at l..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff2/bob-newhart-2419_back_i-just-made-the-decision-that-i-was-goin_89719.jpg" --- # I just made the decision that I was going to try comedy… ![“I just made the decision that I was going to try comedy, and if didn't work, then I knew it didn't work. Then I would go back and do whatever. But at least I wouldn't torture myself the rest of my life, wondering whatever would have happened.” quote by Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff2/bob-newhart-2419_back_i-just-made-the-decision-that-i-was-goin_89719.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff2/bob-newhart-2419_back_i-just-made-the-decision-that-i-was-goin_89719.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff2/bob-newhart-2419_back_i-just-made-the-decision-that-i-was-goin_89719.jpg) > “I just made the decision that I was going to try comedy, and if didn't work, then I knew it didn't work. Then I would go back and do whatever. But at least I wouldn't torture myself the rest of my life, wondering whatever would have happened.” [Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker decided to experiment with comedy, accepting failure as a possible outcome, thereby avoiding lifelong regret and the mental torment of untried ambitions. **In simple terms:** Try comedy; if it fails, you won’t regret not trying. Key Takeaway Action prevents future self‑condemnation. Themes Risk‑taking Career change Self‑fulfillment Regret Comedy Mood Encouraging Optimistic Type Personal anecdote Motivational advice When to use this quote - Leaving a stable job for a creative pursuit - Pursuing a hobby after retirement - Testing a new business idea Key Concepts Decision theory Existential psychology Practical Applications - Set a trial period for new ventures - Embrace failure as data Questions to Reflect On - What would you attempt if fear of failure were removed? - How does a short‑term experiment shape long‑term identity? A Different Perspective Success in comedy often requires years of practice; a single trial may not reflect true potential. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/back/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Comedy Didn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy-didn-1033147/) [Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Go](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/go/) [Going](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going/) [Going Try](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going-try/) [Happened](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happened/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just/) [Just Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just-decision-277742/) [Knew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knew/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made/) [My life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-life/) [Myself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myself/) [Rest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rest/) [Then](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/then/) [Torture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/torture/) [Try](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/try/) [Try Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/try-comedy-1119448/) [Whatever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whatever/) [Wondering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wondering/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [Work Wouldn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-wouldn-710973/) [Would](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would/) ## Related quotes > [That's just a decision that I made and some friends of mine thought was a good idea and some people within the band thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-wentz/that-s-just-a-decision-that-i-made-and-some-friends-of-mine-thought/) [Pete Wentz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-wentz/) > [For me, it's just a decision I made at home with my wife that I'm not eating meat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/for-me-it-s-just-a-decision-i-made-at-home-with-my-wife-that-i-m-not/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [This new day that God has created for Himself and is sharing with us will bring many decisions for us to make, some for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-kreger/this-new-day-that-god-has-created-for-himself-and-is-sharing-with-us/) [David Kreger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-kreger/) > [Life is too short to make just one decision, music is too loud for just one station, love is too big for just one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-franti/life-is-too-short-to-make-just-one-decision-music-is-too-loud-for/) [Michael Franti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-franti/) > [I just made a decision a long time ago: I'm not going to be defined by a scoreboard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dabo-swinney/i-just-made-a-decision-a-long-time-ago-i-m-not-going-to-be-defined-by/) [Dabo Swinney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dabo-swinney/) > [Ultimately, I just made the decision to move to L.A. sight unseen. 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It's never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/got-a-proper-job-at-28-gave-it-up-to-try-comedy-at-38-decided-to-get/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [I kind of knew inside that I wanted to try comedy, but it was a mystery. How do you start? So when I hit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-lampanelli/i-kind-of-knew-inside-that-i-wanted-to-try-comedy-but-it-was-a/) [Lisa Lampanelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-lampanelli/) > [In my house I'm the boss, my wife is just the decision maker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/in-my-house-i-m-the-boss-my-wife-is-just-the-decision-maker/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [“You only get one life. I've just made a decision to change things a bit and spend what's left of mine looking after me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-fielding/you-only-get-one-life-i-ve-just-made-a-decision-to-change-things-a/) [Helen Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-fielding/) > [My decision to start a new one is just that, a decision, since I never get inspirations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-tyler/my-decision-to-start-a-new-one-is-just-that-a-decision-since-i-never/) [Anne Tyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-tyler/) > [I did six Broadway shows, and I noticed there weren't many female comedians. 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There's room for bears and bulls but no room for pigs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/television-series-are-like-the-stock-market-there-s-room-for-bears/) [Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/) > [I didn't need the elf outfit to play an elf; I could just play an elf.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/i-didn-t-need-the-elf-outfit-to-play-an-elf-i-could-just-play-an-elf/) [Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/) > [When I was off TV, people would ask me to please come back, which I think was their way of saying, 'There's nothing out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/when-i-was-off-tv-people-would-ask-me-to-please-come-back-which-i/) [Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/) > [Don't be silly and don't waste your time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/don-t-be-silly-and-don-t-waste-your-time/) [Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/) > [I'm most proud of the longevity of my marriage, my kids, and my grandchildren. If you don't have that, you really don't have very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/i-m-most-proud-of-the-longevity-of-my-marriage-my-kids-and-my/) [Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/) > [The best advice I could give someone trying to get into the comedy field is to take advantage of every opportunity you have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/the-best-advice-i-could-give-someone-trying-to-get-into-the-comedy/) [Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/) > [As an actor, you generally want to see the other actor's face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/as-an-actor-you-generally-want-to-see-the-other-actor-s-face/) [Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/) > [You shouldn't get too close to the truth, because then maybe you stop being funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/you-shouldn-t-get-too-close-to-the-truth-because-then-maybe-you-stop/) [Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/) > [But I really believe that if you have the ability, there is an obligation to make people laugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/but-i-really-believe-that-if-you-have-the-ability-there-is-an/) [Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/) > [The reason I'm a psychologist is based in part on my telephone routines. Much of my humor comes out of reaction to what other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/the-reason-i-m-a-psychologist-is-based-in-part-on-my-telephone/) [Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/) > [I think that what comes through in Chicago humor is the affection. Even though you're poking fun at someone or something, there's still an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/i-think-that-what-comes-through-in-chicago-humor-is-the-affection/) [Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/) > [I feel more comfortable in comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/i-feel-more-comfortable-in-comedy/) [Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/) > [I really don't know what makes a comedian. I think it's a family background and environment. 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This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [I honestly would like to get that Frankie fight back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-mendes/i-honestly-would-like-to-get-that-frankie-fight-back/) [Chad Mendes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-mendes/) > [Drumming's pretty physical. We sit at the back of the stage getting beat up like a workhorse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-lee/drumming-s-pretty-physical-we-sit-at-the-back-of-the-stage-getting/) [Tommy Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-lee/) > [I never want to look back on any moment and say I could have done more. So I go all in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-haze/i-never-want-to-look-back-on-any-moment-and-say-i-could-have-done/) [Scott Haze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-haze/) > [I wish that I had known back then that a mastery of process would lead to a product. Then I probably wouldn't have found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-george/i-wish-that-i-had-known-back-then-that-a-mastery-of-process-would/) [Elizabeth George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-george/) > [It's what the people wanted at the time, but the country could not be half-segregated and half-integrated, just as it could not be half-slave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-wallace/it-s-what-the-people-wanted-at-the-time-but-the-country-could-not-be/) [George Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-wallace/) > [I've always stuck my arms behind my back anyway when trying to block a shot in the penalty area.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millie-bright/i-ve-always-stuck-my-arms-behind-my-back-anyway-when-trying-to-block/) [Millie Bright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millie-bright/) > [I'm sure at some point I will get back into coaching, but right now I need to focus completely on my kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ewing/i-m-sure-at-some-point-i-will-get-back-into-coaching-but-right-now-i/) [Patrick Ewing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ewing/) > [Any time someone achieves success before they've earned it, it always comes back to haunt them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-white/any-time-someone-achieves-success-before-they-ve-earned-it-it-always/) [Ron White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-white/) > [In Congress, Florida Republicans worked with the Trump administration to secure funding for coastal restoration projects following the devastating impacts of Hurricanes Irma and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-waltz/in-congress-florida-republicans-worked-with-the-trump-administration/) [Michael Waltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-waltz/) > [Back in the really olden days, dinner was seldom a ceremonial event for U.S. families. 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