--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Jack Benny was, without a doubt, the…" description: "\"Jack Benny was, without a doubt, the bravest comedian I have ever seen work. He wasn't afraid of silence. He would take as long as it took to tell the ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc9/bob-newhart-2419_comedian_jack-benny-was-without-a-doubt-the-brave_1949415.jpg" --- # Jack Benny was, without a doubt, the bravest comedian I… ![“Jack Benny was, without a doubt, the bravest comedian I have ever seen work. He wasn't afraid of silence. He would take as long as it took to tell the story.” quote by Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc9/bob-newhart-2419_comedian_jack-benny-was-without-a-doubt-the-brave_1949415.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc9/bob-newhart-2419_comedian_jack-benny-was-without-a-doubt-the-brave_1949415.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc9/bob-newhart-2419_comedian_jack-benny-was-without-a-doubt-the-brave_1949415.jpg) > “Jack Benny was, without a doubt, the bravest comedian I have ever seen work. He wasn't afraid of silence. He would take as long as it took to tell the story.” [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. Jack Benny’s comedic bravery lay in embracing silence and timing, showing humor can thrive without constant chatter. **In simple terms:** Jack Benny used silence bravely in comedy. Key Takeaway Use pauses to strengthen storytelling. Themes comedy silence timing bravery Mood humorous reflective Type observational inspirational When to use this quote - stand‑up - public speaking - teaching Key Concepts performance art communication theory audience engagement Questions to Reflect On - When does a pause enhance a joke? - How can you incorporate silence effectively? A Different Perspective Silence may be misread as lack of material. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Benny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/benny/) [Benny Doubt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/benny-doubt-3154525/) [Bravest Comedian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bravest-comedian-3154524/) [Comedian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedian/) [Doubt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubt/) [Jack Benny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jack-benny/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Silence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silence/) ## Related quotes > [The greatest comedian I've ever seen is Jack Benny. He wasn't afraid of the silences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/the-greatest-comedian-i-ve-ever-seen-is-jack-benny-he-wasn-t-afraid/) [Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/) > [If you look at Jack Benny, George Burns, or Don Rickles, they've all had long, successful marriages. So, I think there's something about laughter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/if-you-look-at-jack-benny-george-burns-or-don-rickles-they-ve-all-had/) [Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/) > [Stand-up comedy is a very hard thing on the spirit. There are people who transcend it, like Jack Benny and Steve Martin, but in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-nichols/stand-up-comedy-is-a-very-hard-thing-on-the-spirit-there-are-people/) [Mike Nichols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-nichols/) > [I always used to sit next to Mel Blanc when we'd do the shows. When you have Jack Benny on one side and Mel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-shearer/i-always-used-to-sit-next-to-mel-blanc-when-we-d-do-the-shows-when/) [Harry Shearer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-shearer/) > [My idol was Jack Benny and he was the master of subtlety and timing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-knotts/my-idol-was-jack-benny-and-he-was-the-master-of-subtlety-and-timing/) [Don Knotts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-knotts/) > [I'd make Jack Benny look like a philanthropist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-gottfried/i-d-make-jack-benny-look-like-a-philanthropist/) [Gilbert Gottfried](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-gottfried/) > [I play trumpet. And I took all the music courses in college, so I can also play the string instruments, keyboard, the brass and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-tester/i-play-trumpet-and-i-took-all-the-music-courses-in-college-so-i-can/) [Jon Tester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-tester/) > [It's very, very corrupting to the spirit, doing comedy. And you have to be almost a saint, like Jack Benny was, like Steve Martin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-nichols/it-s-very-very-corrupting-to-the-spirit-doing-comedy-and-you-have-to/) [Mike Nichols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-nichols/) > [When I was young kid, I used to watch Jack Benny, and I thought the minimal aspect of what he did was revelatory. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-tambor/when-i-was-young-kid-i-used-to-watch-jack-benny-and-i-thought-the/) [Jeffrey Tambor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-tambor/) > [Jack Benny really liked my book. I know because he called me up from the library and told me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-hope/jack-benny-really-liked-my-book-i-know-because-he-called-me-up-from/) [Bob Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-hope/) > [Jack Benny had style from the beginning. He stood straight and walked kind of sideways as if he were being gently shoved by a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-saroyan/jack-benny-had-style-from-the-beginning-he-stood-straight-and-walked/) [William Saroyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-saroyan/) > [Jack Benny was a very warm person and a very appreciative person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thurl-ravenscroft/jack-benny-was-a-very-warm-person-and-a-very-appreciative-person/) [Thurl Ravenscroft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thurl-ravenscroft/) > [When television began, it modeled itself after radio. Many early television programs were radio programs first. 'My Favorite Wife,' 'The Jack Benny Show,' 'Burns…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gerrold/when-television-began-it-modeled-itself-after-radio-many-early/) [David Gerrold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gerrold/) > [I was in love with a lot of people, because I was a student of the game of comedy - Carol Burnett, Jack Benny,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-mac/i-was-in-love-with-a-lot-of-people-because-i-was-a-student-of-the/) [Bernie Mac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-mac/) > [I was not influenced by Jack Benny, and people have remarked on my timing and Jack's timing, but I don't think you can teach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/i-was-not-influenced-by-jack-benny-and-people-have-remarked-on-my/) [Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/) ## More by Bob Newhart > [Television series are like the stock market. 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/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/i-just-made-the-decision-that-i-was-going-to-try-comedy-and-if-didn-t/) [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. Yet if you put the same ingredients in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/i-really-don-t-know-what-makes-a-comedian-i-think-it-s-a-family/) [Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/) > [I made a record album in 1960 and it exploded, and I got all these offers for TV.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/i-made-a-record-album-in-1960-and-it-exploded-and-i-got-all-these/) [Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/) [Explore all 167 Bob Newhart quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/) ## More Benny quotes > [Stand-up comedy is a very hard thing on the spirit. There are people who transcend it, like Jack Benny and Steve Martin, but in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-nichols/stand-up-comedy-is-a-very-hard-thing-on-the-spirit-there-are-people/) [Mike Nichols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-nichols/) > [My first triumph was turning Elton John's 'Benny and the Jets' into a gospel tune.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-franklin/my-first-triumph-was-turning-elton-john-s-benny-and-the-jets-into-a/) [Kirk Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-franklin/) > [“... she threw herself in his arms and laid a hot, wet one on him. They went at it to catcalls, shouts of encouragement,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-ashley/she-threw-herself-in-his-arms-and-laid-a-hot-wet-one-on-him-they-went/) [Kristen Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-ashley/) > [People call me Benny. And as long as they put Benedict on my paycheck, I don't care.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-wong/people-call-me-benny-and-as-long-as-they-put-benedict-on-my-paycheck/) [Benedict Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-wong/) > [When television began, it modeled itself after radio. Many early television programs were radio programs first. 'My Favorite Wife,' 'The Jack Benny Show,' 'Burns…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gerrold/when-television-began-it-modeled-itself-after-radio-many-early/) [David Gerrold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gerrold/) > [Benny was awake again. Happened every morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/benny-was-awake-again-happened-every-morning/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [Jack Benny was a very warm person and a very appreciative person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thurl-ravenscroft/jack-benny-was-a-very-warm-person-and-a-very-appreciative-person/) [Thurl Ravenscroft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thurl-ravenscroft/) > [When I was a kid, we didn't eat in restaurants much, but a good report card meant my sister or I could choose anyplace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosecrans-baldwin/when-i-was-a-kid-we-didn-t-eat-in-restaurants-much-but-a-good-report/) [Rosecrans Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosecrans-baldwin/) > [Jack Benny had style from the beginning. He stood straight and walked kind of sideways as if he were being gently shoved by a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-saroyan/jack-benny-had-style-from-the-beginning-he-stood-straight-and-walked/) [William Saroyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-saroyan/) > [Jack Benny really liked my book. I know because he called me up from the library and told me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-hope/jack-benny-really-liked-my-book-i-know-because-he-called-me-up-from/) [Bob Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-hope/) > [“Now go to sleep with the promise of me, and tomorrow I'll make certain I do somethin' to fulfill it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-ashley/now-go-to-sleep-with-the-promise-of-me-and-tomorrow-i-ll-make-certain/) [Kristen Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-ashley/) > [I love Glenn Gould. Max Steiner. John Williams. Louis Prima. Benny Goodman. Miles Davis. John Philip Sousa.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-giacchino/i-love-glenn-gould-max-steiner-john-williams-louis-prima-benny/) [Michael Giacchino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-giacchino/) > [I love Benny Hill. He one of my favourites of aaall time. Like, the way Benny did it, he was just amazing. Just seeing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/i-love-benny-hill-he-one-of-my-favourites-of-aaall-time-like-the-way/) [Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/) > [Hip-hop means everything to Benny The Butcher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benny-the-butcher/hip-hop-means-everything-to-benny-the-butcher/) [Benny the Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benny-the-butcher/) > [Sounded like girls. Mixed feelings on that score. He didn't despise them with the same passion he used to. In fact, Benny suspected that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/sounded-like-girls-mixed-feelings-on-that-score-he-didn-t-despise/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) [Browse all 57 Benny quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/benny/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Jack Benny was, without a doubt, the bravest comedian I have ever seen work. He wasn't afraid of silence. 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