--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have no desire to get on a soapbox or…" description: "\"I have no desire to get on a soapbox or be preachy. I don't think comedy needs to be 'brave' or 'important.'\" — Chris Gethard" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fca/chris-gethard-2655_brave_i-have-no-desire-to-get-on-a-soapbox-or_1068316.jpg" --- # I have no desire to get on a soapbox or be preachy. I… ![“I have no desire to get on a soapbox or be preachy. I don't think comedy needs to be 'brave' or 'important.'” quote by Chris Gethard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fca/chris-gethard-2655_brave_i-have-no-desire-to-get-on-a-soapbox-or_1068316.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fca/chris-gethard-2655_brave_i-have-no-desire-to-get-on-a-soapbox-or_1068316.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fca/chris-gethard-2655_brave_i-have-no-desire-to-get-on-a-soapbox-or_1068316.jpg) > “I have no desire to get on a soapbox or be preachy. I don't think comedy needs to be 'brave' or 'important.'” [Chris Gethard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gethard/) ## 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 rejects self‑promotion and argues comedy shouldn't be forced to carry moral weight. **In simple terms:** Comedy should be free, not preachy. Key Takeaway Focus on humor, not agenda. Themes humor authenticity creative freedom Mood lighthearted reflective Type observational commentary When to use this quote - stand‑up performance - online sketches - podcast episodes - creative workshops Key Concepts self‑expression artistic integrity Questions to Reflect On - Do you enjoy comedy that challenges you? - How does humor change when it carries a message? A Different Perspective Audience expectations may pressure comedians to be didactic. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brave/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) ## Related quotes > [I do think comedy needs to be a living thing, but I think without a great script and fully realized characters, you cannot keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-mccarthy/i-do-think-comedy-needs-to-be-a-living-thing-but-i-think-without-a/) [Melissa McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-mccarthy/) > [I think shows that have more of a narrative and are about what's going to happen next, those need to wrap up as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-aukerman/i-think-shows-that-have-more-of-a-narrative-and-are-about-what-s/) [Scott Aukerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-aukerman/) > [If you're gonna tell a story from beginning to end, I always think you have to have a great structure in a script. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-bullock/if-you-re-gonna-tell-a-story-from-beginning-to-end-i-always-think-you/) [Sandra Bullock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-bullock/) > [You can't hold comedy back, because it needs to be exposed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-lewis/you-can-t-hold-comedy-back-because-it-needs-to-be-exposed/) [Jerry Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-lewis/) > [I'm very observational in my comedy and what I create with the characters that I'm blessed to play. I don't believe comedy needs to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-dapaah/i-m-very-observational-in-my-comedy-and-what-i-create-with-the/) [Michael Dapaah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-dapaah/) > [Comedy needs to happen naturally and be in touch with the character. When you see that guy in your office that everybody laughs at,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-crews/comedy-needs-to-happen-naturally-and-be-in-touch-with-the-character/) [Terry Crews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-crews/) > [Comedy - and I say this with humility - comedy needs me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/comedy-and-i-say-this-with-humility-comedy-needs-me/) [Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/) > [There's something inherently British about siding with the underdog. While comedy needs victims, it doesn't need to treat them in a brutal way -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-dennis/there-s-something-inherently-british-about-siding-with-the-underdog/) [Hugh Dennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-dennis/) > [I'm not comfortable being preachy, but more people need to start spending as much time in the library as they do on the basketball…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kareem-abdul-jabbar/i-m-not-comfortable-being-preachy-but-more-people-need-to-start/) [Kareem Abdul-Jabbar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kareem-abdul-jabbar/) > [I try not to be preachy, I just try to deal with people on their own level, not to try to talk down or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chali-2na/i-try-not-to-be-preachy-i-just-try-to-deal-with-people-on-their-own/) [Chali 2na](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chali-2na/) > [I'm not a political comic at all, so it would be weird if I just turned into a preachy, sort-of political commentator.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-lampanelli/i-m-not-a-political-comic-at-all-so-it-would-be-weird-if-i-just/) [Lisa Lampanelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-lampanelli/) > [I try my best not to be preachy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-fender/i-try-my-best-not-to-be-preachy/) [Sam Fender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-fender/) > [For kind of sophisticated art I'm interested in, the larger structural rebuke has to be so subtle that it has to be distributed at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/for-kind-of-sophisticated-art-i-m-interested-in-the-larger-structural/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) > [Our stuff is more about being positive, but not in a preachy way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/apl-de-ap/our-stuff-is-more-about-being-positive-but-not-in-a-preachy-way/) [apl.de.ap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/apl-de-ap/) > [Conversations about piracy don't have to be condemning. They don't have to be preachy, self serving or reactionary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ti-west/conversations-about-piracy-don-t-have-to-be-condemning-they-don-t/) [Ti West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ti-west/) ## More by Chris Gethard > [My medications make me easier to deal with. They don't interfere with my creativity or turn me into a zombie or dull my real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gethard/my-medications-make-me-easier-to-deal-with-they-don-t-interfere-with/) [Chris Gethard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gethard/) > [I didn't like who I was. I spent a lot of my life regretting who I was, which is a sad thing to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gethard/i-didn-t-like-who-i-was-i-spent-a-lot-of-my-life-regretting-who-i-was/) [Chris Gethard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gethard/) > [We don't judge people for dying in car crashes. But we do judge people when they die of suicide.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gethard/we-don-t-judge-people-for-dying-in-car-crashes-but-we-do-judge-people/) [Chris Gethard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gethard/) > [If you are dating someone in New York City, and they invite you over to watch a movie, they don't really want to watch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gethard/if-you-are-dating-someone-in-new-york-city-and-they-invite-you-over/) [Chris Gethard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gethard/) > [I think, in my own life, I'm pretty political. I think I have some very strong ideals, and I struggle a lot with it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gethard/i-think-in-my-own-life-i-m-pretty-political-i-think-i-have-some-very/) [Chris Gethard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gethard/) > [The street I lived on for the first handful of years of my life was lined with modest, lower-middle-class houses with small front yards…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gethard/the-street-i-lived-on-for-the-first-handful-of-years-of-my-life-was/) [Chris Gethard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gethard/) > [I'm not exactly Don Draper when it comes to physical attractiveness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gethard/i-m-not-exactly-don-draper-when-it-comes-to-physical-attractiveness/) [Chris Gethard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gethard/) > [I am scared of horror movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gethard/i-am-scared-of-horror-movies/) [Chris Gethard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gethard/) > [I am a stereotypical northeasterner. I'm always in a rush. I've attracted stares from out-of-towners when I've shoved past someone blocking the subway door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gethard/i-am-a-stereotypical-northeasterner-i-m-always-in-a-rush-i-ve/) [Chris Gethard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gethard/) > [There are many hundreds of millions of people who have jobs harder than (mine), and I also remind myself of that every day. No…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gethard/there-are-many-hundreds-of-millions-of-people-who-have-jobs-harder/) [Chris Gethard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gethard/) > [If I could have enough money that I know I could buy a house someday, and if I want to have kids, I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gethard/if-i-could-have-enough-money-that-i-know-i-could-buy-a-house-someday/) [Chris Gethard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gethard/) > [Northern New Jersey looks like a cluster of idyllic suburbs, but each of those seemingly normal towns has a dark side that's constantly gossiped…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gethard/northern-new-jersey-looks-like-a-cluster-of-idyllic-suburbs-but-each/) [Chris Gethard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gethard/) > [Many comedians - both male and female - do have an "I will never date another comedian" rule.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gethard/many-comedians-both-male-and-female-do-have-an-i-will-never-date/) [Chris Gethard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gethard/) > [West Orange, where I grew up, is the hometown of Ian Ziering from 'Beverly Hills, 90210,' Scott Wolf from 'Party of Five,' David Cassidy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gethard/west-orange-where-i-grew-up-is-the-hometown-of-ian-ziering-from/) [Chris Gethard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gethard/) > [Cops in New York City don't have the best reputation. It's a fast-paced city, and they deal with a lot, and many people have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gethard/cops-in-new-york-city-don-t-have-the-best-reputation-it-s-a-fast/) [Chris Gethard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gethard/) [Explore all 156 Chris Gethard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gethard/) ## More Brave quotes > [In the current climate, things that are true, brave human stories become political.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cate-blanchett/in-the-current-climate-things-that-are-true-brave-human-stories/) [Cate Blanchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cate-blanchett/) > [If You Love Someone, Be Brave Enough To Tell Them., Otherwise Be Brave Enough To Watch Them To Be Loved By Someone Else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bilal-zahoor/if-you-love-someone-be-brave-enough-to-tell-them-otherwise-be-brave/) [Bilal Zahoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bilal-zahoor/) > [Be convinced that to be happy means to be free and that to be free means to be brave. Therefore do not take lightly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/be-convinced-that-to-be-happy-means-to-be-free-and-that-to-be-free/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) > [It's always brave to be yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liu-yifei/it-s-always-brave-to-be-yourself/) [Liu Yifei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liu-yifei/) > [“Victory is for the fucking brave, not the timid and excuse-riddled weak.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zakk-wylde/victory-is-for-the-fucking-brave-not-the-timid-and-excuse-riddled-weak/) [Zakk Wylde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zakk-wylde/) > [I'm very proud of 'Every Girl's a Super Girl.' I want all girls to know that no matter what size, color, or shape, whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jojo-siwa/i-m-very-proud-of-every-girl-s-a-super-girl-i-want-all-girls-to-know/) [JoJo Siwa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jojo-siwa/) > [And I read the moral--A brave endeavour To do thy duty, whate'er its worth, Is better than life with love forever, And love is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-jeffrey-roche/and-i-read-the-moral-a-brave-endeavour-to-do-thy-duty-whate-er-its/) James Jeffrey Roche > [I admire machinery as much is any man, and am as thankful to it as any man can be for what it does for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-admire-machinery-as-much-is-any-man-and-am-as-thankful-to-it-as-any/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [You know what really made me sick? I was in Washington, D.C. at another time reading in a paper where the U.S. gives Byron…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fannie-lou-hamer/you-know-what-really-made-me-sick-i-was-in-washington-d-c-at-another/) [Fannie Lou Hamer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fannie-lou-hamer/) > [To be able to live and train in Iraq under these circumstances you need to be brave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-be-able-to-live-and-train-in-iraq-under-these-circumstances-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There's a fallacy with stand up comedy, which is, people come up to comedians, and they go, 'You say what I think but I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-jefferies/there-s-a-fallacy-with-stand-up-comedy-which-is-people-come-up-to/) [Jim Jefferies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-jefferies/) > [Fortune helps the brave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence/fortune-helps-the-brave/) [Terence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence/) > [“A ‘good’ father will tenderly cultivate his children. But a ‘good’ father who is also a ‘brave’ father will let the children without cultivate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/a-good-father-will-tenderly-cultivate-his-children-but-a-good-father/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [And is it selfish of me to crave victory, or is it brave?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/and-is-it-selfish-of-me-to-crave-victory-or-is-it-brave/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [THE British are brave people. They can face anything, except reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mikes/the-british-are-brave-people-they-can-face-anything-except-reality/) [George Mikes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mikes/) [Browse all 3,314 Brave quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brave/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I have no desire to get on a soapbox or be preachy. 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