--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Growing up, I didn't know anything about…" description: "\"Growing up, I didn't know anything about comedy and didn't know anything about comedians or what standup was. I grew up in the projects with no dream o..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e2/carlos-mencia-2630_comedian_growing-up-i-didn-t-know-anything-about_1462888.jpg" --- # Growing up, I didn't know anything about comedy and didn't… ![“Growing up, I didn't know anything about comedy and didn't know anything about comedians or what standup was. I grew up in the projects with no dream of anything, it was in my formatting when i got older and started talking to my friends about how I felt, they would be like, "dude, that's funny."…” quote by Carlos Mencia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e2/carlos-mencia-2630_comedian_growing-up-i-didn-t-know-anything-about_1462888.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e2/carlos-mencia-2630_comedian_growing-up-i-didn-t-know-anything-about_1462888.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e2/carlos-mencia-2630_comedian_growing-up-i-didn-t-know-anything-about_1462888.jpg) > “Growing up, I didn't know anything about comedy and didn't know anything about comedians or what standup was. I grew up in the projects with no dream of anything, it was in my formatting when i got older and started talking to my friends about how I felt, they would be like, "dude, that's funny." Then one day my friend was like, "Dude, you don't understand how funny you are, you need to do standup"!” [Carlos Mencia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-mencia/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He realized his natural humor was unnoticed until friends encouraged him to pursue comedy, highlighting self‑discovery through external feedback. **In simple terms:** Friends helped him see his own humor. Key Takeaway Embrace feedback and try new paths. Themes self‑discovery humor career growth Mood reflective encouraging Type personal narrative inspirational When to use this quote - stand‑up comedy - personal development - career change - social circles Key Concepts confidence social influence creative expression Questions to Reflect On - What talents have you overlooked? - How can friends inspire new directions? A Different Perspective Self‑awareness may be delayed without external cues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Comedian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedian/) [Comedians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedians/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Comedy Didn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy-didn-1033147/) [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Felt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/felt/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Grew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grew/) [Grew up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grew-up/) [Growing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growing/) [Growing up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growing-up/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Know Comedians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-comedians-2618278/) [Know Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-comedy-436221/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [My friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-friends/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [One day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/one-day/) [Projects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/projects/) [Standup Grew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/standup-grew-5288857/) [Talking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talking/) [Would be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would-be/) ## Related quotes > [They're the darkest people I know, comedians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-gyllenhaal/they-re-the-darkest-people-i-know-comedians/) [Jake Gyllenhaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-gyllenhaal/) > [I know comedians who go on weird day trips in order to have random experiences they can talk about. They'll go on their own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-mack/i-know-comedians-who-go-on-weird-day-trips-in-order-to-have-random/) [Lee Mack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-mack/) > [In all honesty, we don't know what's in the hearts of other men. All I know is that I respect comedy and I know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-mencia/in-all-honesty-we-don-t-know-what-s-in-the-hearts-of-other-men-all-i/) [Carlos Mencia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-mencia/) > [The ones who constantly make us laugh are the hardest of friends to know - for comedians are the caricatures among us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/the-ones-who-constantly-make-us-laugh-are-the-hardest-of-friends-to/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [Talking about the fact that I get depressed or that I've had some suicidal issues in my life is not easy. I don't know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gethard/talking-about-the-fact-that-i-get-depressed-or-that-i-ve-had-some/) [Chris Gethard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gethard/) > [I don't know why comedians moan about touring; you get driven to a town, stay in a hotel, work for an hour and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-davies/i-don-t-know-why-comedians-moan-about-touring-you-get-driven-to-a/) [Greg Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-davies/) > [I was part of 'Piya Ka Ghar'... for two years. It started out as a comedy but didn't work and so it was revamped.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanjeeda-sheikh/i-was-part-of-piya-ka-ghar-for-two-years-it-started-out-as-a-comedy/) [Sanjeeda Sheikh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanjeeda-sheikh/) > [Saturday Night Live was a show that I never thought I would be on, because I didn't do sketch comedy and I didn't do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-nealon/saturday-night-live-was-a-show-that-i-never-thought-i-would-be-on/) [Kevin Nealon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-nealon/) > [When I tried to branch out into comedy, I didn't do very well at it, so I went back to doing what I do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvester-stallone/when-i-tried-to-branch-out-into-comedy-i-didn-t-do-very-well-at-it-so/) [Sylvester Stallone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvester-stallone/) > [ I used to act in college, but always comedy. Didn't do \[William\] Shakespeare - did Ben Jonson. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/i-used-to-act-in-college-but-always-comedy-didn-t-do-william/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [Comedy always pushes some buttons, because it wouldn't be comedy if it didn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-behrs/comedy-always-pushes-some-buttons-because-it-wouldn-t-be-comedy-if-it/) [Beth Behrs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-behrs/) > [Comedy, if it didn't save my life, certainly gave me a very different life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-mortimer/comedy-if-it-didn-t-save-my-life-certainly-gave-me-a-very-different/) [Bob Mortimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-mortimer/) > [I had always wanted to do comedy, but didn't know where to start - all I knew was that Edinburgh was where it happened.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lolly-adefope/i-had-always-wanted-to-do-comedy-but-didn-t-know-where-to-start-all-i/) [Lolly Adefope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lolly-adefope/) > [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/) > [At first I had no skills in writing comedy. I didn't know what a joke was, but, as someone once told me, your emotions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/at-first-i-had-no-skills-in-writing-comedy-i-didn-t-know-what-a-joke/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) ## More by Carlos Mencia > [Nobody calls me a racist when I do redneck jokes. Jeff Foxworthy can do as many 'You might be a redneck jokes' as he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-mencia/nobody-calls-me-a-racist-when-i-do-redneck-jokes-jeff-foxworthy-can/) [Carlos Mencia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-mencia/) > [I am frail like everyone else, and I take that into account when I talk about things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-mencia/i-am-frail-like-everyone-else-and-i-take-that-into-account-when-i/) [Carlos Mencia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-mencia/) > [People live in a place called Tornado Alley - and they're surprised when they get hit by a tornado. I'm sorry when they get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-mencia/people-live-in-a-place-called-tornado-alley-and-they-re-surprised/) [Carlos Mencia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-mencia/) > [When I was younger, I was angry. I was boisterous and loud. I was on top of the mountain, screaming at everybody, 'Look at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-mencia/when-i-was-younger-i-was-angry-i-was-boisterous-and-loud-i-was-on-top/) [Carlos Mencia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-mencia/) > [When you are younger, you pretend to believe, but you are proving it to everyone and to yourself. The change comes when you know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-mencia/when-you-are-younger-you-pretend-to-believe-but-you-are-proving-it-to/) [Carlos Mencia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-mencia/) > [Here's what I know about the business I am in. It's all based on money. It's all based on ratings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-mencia/here-s-what-i-know-about-the-business-i-am-in-it-s-all-based-on-money/) [Carlos Mencia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-mencia/) > [I've gotten in trouble with every race you can imagine. They say, 'I can't believe you talked about this - you're racist.' And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-mencia/i-ve-gotten-in-trouble-with-every-race-you-can-imagine-they-say-i-can/) [Carlos Mencia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-mencia/) > [My choices are made out of love. When I go on stage now, I want to make people happy. I mean, when I get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-mencia/my-choices-are-made-out-of-love-when-i-go-on-stage-now-i-want-to-make/) [Carlos Mencia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-mencia/) > [My comedy is about, lift yourself. See reality. Change the reality if you don't like it. But if you can't, then deal with things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-mencia/my-comedy-is-about-lift-yourself-see-reality-change-the-reality-if/) [Carlos Mencia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-mencia/) > [I can't imagine how unbelievable it would be to go to the Great Barrier Reef.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-mencia/i-can-t-imagine-how-unbelievable-it-would-be-to-go-to-the-great/) [Carlos Mencia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-mencia/) > [The beauty of not growing up middle class is that you don't think like the middle class. You don't have anything to protect, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-mencia/the-beauty-of-not-growing-up-middle-class-is-that-you-don-t-think/) [Carlos Mencia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-mencia/) > [I'm not good looking, but I'm not bad looking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-mencia/i-m-not-good-looking-but-i-m-not-bad-looking/) [Carlos Mencia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-mencia/) > [I choose to live in a positive world and a positive presence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-mencia/i-choose-to-live-in-a-positive-world-and-a-positive-presence/) [Carlos Mencia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-mencia/) > [I'm a spiritual person: I believe that if you read the Bible, you get what you want from it. But, when you actually read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-mencia/i-m-a-spiritual-person-i-believe-that-if-you-read-the-bible-you-get/) [Carlos Mencia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-mencia/) > [At the end of the day, I don't think I am going to be judged by what happened in the 90's and 2000's, at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-mencia/at-the-end-of-the-day-i-don-t-think-i-am-going-to-be-judged-by-what/) [Carlos Mencia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-mencia/) [Explore all 157 Carlos Mencia quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-mencia/) ## More Comedian quotes > [I would say most comedians have a very cynical worldview of the way the world can work. It's almost like if you didn't, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-quinn/i-would-say-most-comedians-have-a-very-cynical-worldview-of-the-way/) [Colin Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-quinn/) > [At one point when I was very young, when I was first starting out, I thought, 'Well, one day I'll be able to put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/at-one-point-when-i-was-very-young-when-i-was-first-starting-out-i/) [Bo Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/) > [I like to turn up my collar when I'm leaving the theatre and feel like I'm some heroic comedian figure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-skinner/i-like-to-turn-up-my-collar-when-i-m-leaving-the-theatre-and-feel/) [Frank Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-skinner/) > [The only difference between a comedian and someone else? We need to make people laugh more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-davies/the-only-difference-between-a-comedian-and-someone-else-we-need-to/) [Greg Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-davies/) > [When a soldier of the night's watch dies they say, "And now his watch is over." That's what they say when a comedian dies.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-williams/when-a-soldier-of-the-night-s-watch-dies-they-say-and-now-his-watch/) [Brad Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-williams/) > [My mom is two people to me. She's my mom number one, and then she's this lady most comedians know as being a legendary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauly-shore/my-mom-is-two-people-to-me-she-s-my-mom-number-one-and-then-she-s/) [Pauly Shore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauly-shore/) > [If I had a choice, I would rather watch a comedian not involve themselves in politics at all but be hilarious than someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-richardson/if-i-had-a-choice-i-would-rather-watch-a-comedian-not-involve/) [Jon Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-richardson/) > [I wouldn't mind gigging around the same era as Jesus, after he gives his speech about the meek and how blessed they are and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-jefferies/i-wouldn-t-mind-gigging-around-the-same-era-as-jesus-after-he-gives/) [Jim Jefferies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-jefferies/) > [If someone doesn't like a comedian that's fine; a lot of people probably don't like my standup, and that's fine. But I think that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-norton/if-someone-doesn-t-like-a-comedian-that-s-fine-a-lot-of-people/) [Jim Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-norton/) > [It's very rare that an older comedian sort of slips into an old-school clunker. You know, you don't hear too much of that anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-ross/it-s-very-rare-that-an-older-comedian-sort-of-slips-into-an-old/) [Jeff Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-ross/) > [I was a kid, and I would watch standup comics do the 'Tonight Show,' and if Johnny Carson liked you, he'd wave you over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-koy/i-was-a-kid-and-i-would-watch-standup-comics-do-the-tonight-show-and/) [Jo Koy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-koy/) > [Gary Greenberg is a thoughtful comedian and a cranky philosopher and a humble pest of a reporter, equal parts Woody Allen, Kierkegaard, and Columbo.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gideon-lewis-kraus/gary-greenberg-is-a-thoughtful-comedian-and-a-cranky-philosopher-and/) [Gideon Lewis-Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gideon-lewis-kraus/) > [For me, comedians are like the epitome for everything great, and they terrify me. I just want to be them. I want to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tatiana-maslany/for-me-comedians-are-like-the-epitome-for-everything-great-and-they/) [Tatiana Maslany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tatiana-maslany/) > [No matter what town we went to, if there was a comedian playing, I'd go watch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-waltrip/no-matter-what-town-we-went-to-if-there-was-a-comedian-playing-i-d-go/) [Michael Waltrip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-waltrip/) > [I'm a comedian who happens to be Latino. What's the difference? The difference is, my special will air on Comedy Central, not Telemundo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-iglesias/i-m-a-comedian-who-happens-to-be-latino-what-s-the-difference-the/) [Gabriel Iglesias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-iglesias/) [Browse all 1,775 Comedian quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedian/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Growing up, I didn't know anything about comedy and didn't know anything about comedians or what standup was. 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