--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Jerry Seinfeld, he was doing Letterman…" description: "\"Jerry Seinfeld, he was doing Letterman show all the time, so he kind of had an excuse, that people know the jokes already. He didn't have time to do st..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f00/dave-chappelle-2477_excuse_jerry-seinfeld-he-was-doing-letterman-sh_736846.png" --- # Jerry Seinfeld, he was doing Letterman show all the time… ![“Jerry Seinfeld, he was doing Letterman show all the time, so he kind of had an excuse, that people know the jokes already. He didn't have time to do stand-up. A guy like me, I have no excuses.” quote by Dave Chappelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f00/dave-chappelle-2477_excuse_jerry-seinfeld-he-was-doing-letterman-sh_736846.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f00/dave-chappelle-2477_excuse_jerry-seinfeld-he-was-doing-letterman-sh_736846.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f00/dave-chappelle-2477_excuse_jerry-seinfeld-he-was-doing-letterman-sh_736846.png) > “Jerry Seinfeld, he was doing Letterman show all the time, so he kind of had an excuse, that people know the jokes already. He didn't have time to do stand-up. A guy like me, I have no excuses.” [Dave Chappelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-chappelle/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Excuses are a shield; true creators own responsibility for their work. **In simple terms:** No excuses, just effort. Key Takeaway Take responsibility for your craft. Themes creativity accountability discipline Mood determined serious Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - writing - comedy - entrepreneurship Key Concepts self‑discipline authenticity performance Questions to Reflect On - What excuses hold you back? - How can you turn excuses into motivation? A Different Perspective Excuses can sometimes protect mental health. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Doing Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-letterman-1934043/) [Excuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excuse/) [Guy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guy/) [Jerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jerry/) [Jerry Seinfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jerry-seinfeld/) [Jokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jokes/) [Jokes Didn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jokes-didn-2068134/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/letterman/) [No excuses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/no-excuses/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Seinfeld Doing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seinfeld-doing-4834814/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [I can watch an episode of Jerry Seinfeld, and by the end, I'm just walking around my house, you know, talking like Jerry Seinfeld.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-fallon/i-can-watch-an-episode-of-jerry-seinfeld-and-by-the-end-i-m-just/) [Jimmy Fallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-fallon/) > [I started doing stand-up when I was 15 and doing Letterman when I was 20. So I've been doing stand-up comedy and clubs for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobcat-goldthwait/i-started-doing-stand-up-when-i-was-15-and-doing-letterman-when-i-was/) [Bobcat Goldthwait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobcat-goldthwait/) > [I wouldn't totally rule out doing Letterman or the Tonight Show if I had a set that I just happened to write that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-rogan/i-wouldn-t-totally-rule-out-doing-letterman-or-the-tonight-show-if-i/) [Joe Rogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-rogan/) > [I was a big TV kid.When I was a kid, I would go home at 3:00 and watch TV straight through to the end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judd-apatow/i-was-a-big-tv-kid-when-i-was-a-kid-i-would-go-home-at-3-00-and-watch/) [Judd Apatow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judd-apatow/) > [I grew up loving David Letterman and Pee-wee Herman, but as far as live performance comedy, all I knew were the Jerry Seinfeld-type comedians…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-aukerman/i-grew-up-loving-david-letterman-and-pee-wee-herman-but-as-far-as/) [Scott Aukerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-aukerman/) > [I can see you copying my test... Sincerely, jokes on you, I didn't study either](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-can-see-you-copying-my-test-sincerely-jokes-on-you-i-didn-t-study/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There are certain things that I wrote jokes about that didn't make various specials because I was like, you know what? I don't want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-tomlinson/there-are-certain-things-that-i-wrote-jokes-about-that-didn-t-make/) [Taylor Tomlinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-tomlinson/) > [“I never cared so much about making perfect sense. I wanted to make perfect nonsense. I wanted to tell jokes, but I didn't give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harmony-korine/i-never-cared-so-much-about-making-perfect-sense-i-wanted-to-make/) [Harmony Korine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harmony-korine/) > [I can't find someone funny whom I don't like. Hitler told great jokes. I didn't find it funny at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/i-can-t-find-someone-funny-whom-i-don-t-like-hitler-told-great-jokes/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [Our show was - it remained - you know, kids could watch it and laugh at it. And they wouldn't know - they wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rue-mcclanahan/our-show-was-it-remained-you-know-kids-could-watch-it-and-laugh-at-it/) [Rue McClanahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rue-mcclanahan/) > [I was a guest on Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee with Jerry Seinfeld, and I interviewed him when I was 15 years old-those moments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judd-apatow/i-was-a-guest-on-comedians-in-cars-getting-coffee-with-jerry-seinfeld/) [Judd Apatow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judd-apatow/) > [I sold my house to Jerry Seinfeld.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/i-sold-my-house-to-jerry-seinfeld/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [When we developed the 'Seinfeld' show, we took a bet on Jerry Seinfeld, who was not a household name. But Jerry had a voice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-littlefield/when-we-developed-the-seinfeld-show-we-took-a-bet-on-jerry-seinfeld/) [Warren Littlefield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-littlefield/) > [“when i think 'dave eggers' in my head it's in the same tone of voice jerry seinfeld uses to say 'hello newman' at work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-boyle/when-i-think-dave-eggers-in-my-head-it-s-in-the-same-tone-of-voice/) [Megan Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-boyle/) > [I wouldn't call myself a standup in the presence of Jerry Seinfeld or Chris Rock, but I do my share of it and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-thicke/i-wouldn-t-call-myself-a-standup-in-the-presence-of-jerry-seinfeld-or/) [Alan Thicke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-thicke/) ## More by Dave Chappelle > [You can become famous but you can't become unfamous. You can become infamous but not unfamous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-chappelle/you-can-become-famous-but-you-can-t-become-unfamous-you-can-become/) [Dave Chappelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-chappelle/) > [Comedy is a very approval-oriented field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-chappelle/comedy-is-a-very-approval-oriented-field/) [Dave Chappelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-chappelle/) > [If someone sits and stares at you while you eat, you won't even eat the way you normally do, because it'll make you so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-chappelle/if-someone-sits-and-stares-at-you-while-you-eat-you-won-t-even-eat/) [Dave Chappelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-chappelle/) > [The kid is the best thing that ever happened to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-chappelle/the-kid-is-the-best-thing-that-ever-happened-to-me/) [Dave Chappelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-chappelle/) > [I love being famous - it's phenomenal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-chappelle/i-love-being-famous-it-s-phenomenal/) [Dave Chappelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-chappelle/) > [Skeet Skeet Skeet!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-chappelle/skeet-skeet-skeet/) [Dave Chappelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-chappelle/) > [I think every group of black guys should have at least one white guy in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-chappelle/i-think-every-group-of-black-guys-should-have-at-least-one-white-guy/) [Dave Chappelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-chappelle/) > [The language you are about to hear... is disturbing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-chappelle/the-language-you-are-about-to-hear-is-disturbing/) [Dave Chappelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-chappelle/) > [The biggest enemy of an artist is apathy... A kid gets killed by the police and I buy a T-shirt and before I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-chappelle/the-biggest-enemy-of-an-artist-is-apathy-a-kid-gets-killed-by-the/) [Dave Chappelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-chappelle/) > [You got to be careful of the company you keep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-chappelle/you-got-to-be-careful-of-the-company-you-keep/) [Dave Chappelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-chappelle/) > [Man! Fuck that frog!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-chappelle/man-fuck-that-frog/) [Dave Chappelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-chappelle/) > [I'm happier in the way a guy gets happier when he starts to mature. It doesn't make things easier, but I'm so much better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-chappelle/i-m-happier-in-the-way-a-guy-gets-happier-when-he-starts-to-mature-it/) [Dave Chappelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-chappelle/) > [Cause my life is dope, and I do dope sh\*t](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-chappelle/cause-my-life-is-dope-and-i-do-dope-sh-t/) [Dave Chappelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-chappelle/) > [Bitches! Come over here and show Charlie Murphy yo titties!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-chappelle/bitches-come-over-here-and-show-charlie-murphy-yo-titties/) [Dave Chappelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-chappelle/) > [Whether it means having a show, or a movie, or just being on a stage, I need an avenue to say what I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-chappelle/whether-it-means-having-a-show-or-a-movie-or-just-being-on-a-stage-i/) [Dave Chappelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-chappelle/) [Explore all 164 Dave Chappelle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-chappelle/) ## More Excuse quotes > [The greatest act of courage is to be and to ownall of who you are—without apology, without excuses, without masks to cover the truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-ford/the-greatest-act-of-courage-is-to-be-and-to-ownall-of-who-you-are/) [Debbie Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-ford/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [My non-career. My excuse for a career? Honestly, I never think about the word 'career.' I've had managers, the minute they say it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-verlaine/my-non-career-my-excuse-for-a-career-honestly-i-never-think-about-the/) [Tom Verlaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-verlaine/) > [The number of poor, and poorly prepared, students who succeed in college and beyond undercuts the simplistic notion that economic or educational disadvantage is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-merullo/the-number-of-poor-and-poorly-prepared-students-who-succeed-in/) [Roland Merullo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-merullo/) > [International friendly games are not worth the lives of the silk worms who perish to make the pennants. They do not even have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-baker/international-friendly-games-are-not-worth-the-lives-of-the-silk/) [Danny Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-baker/) > [Win without boasting. Lose without excuse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-payson-terhune/win-without-boasting-lose-without-excuse/) [Albert Payson Terhune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-payson-terhune/) > [And the commitment that I've been giving to the Australian people is that there'll be no surprises and no excuses under a Coalition government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-abbott/and-the-commitment-that-i-ve-been-giving-to-the-australian-people-is/) [Tony Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-abbott/) > [Dont leave without a reason, and then try to come back with an excuse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dont-leave-without-a-reason-and-then-try-to-come-back-with-an-excuse/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Using, as an excuse, others' failure of common sense is in itself a failure of common sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nassim-nicholas-taleb/using-as-an-excuse-others-failure-of-common-sense-is-in-itself-a/) [Nassim Nicholas Taleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nassim-nicholas-taleb/) > [I resolutely believe that respect for diversity is a fundamental pillar in the eradication of racism, xenophobia and intolerance. There is no excuse for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rigoberta-menchu/i-resolutely-believe-that-respect-for-diversity-is-a-fundamental/) [Rigoberta Menchu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rigoberta-menchu/) > [I'm not the guy who will sit in a room with somebody who's using a bunch of big words and just act like I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-wahlberg/i-m-not-the-guy-who-will-sit-in-a-room-with-somebody-who-s-using-a/) [Mark Wahlberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-wahlberg/) > [Worst Break Up Excuse; 'You deserve so much better.' Translation: They've already moved on whether you like it or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/worst-break-up-excuse-you-deserve-so-much-better-translation-they-ve/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A lie is an excuse guarded](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/a-lie-is-an-excuse-guarded/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [Live with No Excuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gyanendra/live-with-no-excuse/) [Gyanendra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gyanendra/) [Browse all 2,435 Excuse quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excuse/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Jerry Seinfeld, he was doing Letterman show all the time, so he kind of had an excuse, that people know the jokes already. He didn't have time to do stand-up. 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