--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My influences were Woody Allen and Lenny…" description: "\"My influences were Woody Allen and Lenny Bruce.\" — David Steinberg" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/662/david-steinberg-22189_allen_my-influences-were-woody-allen-and-lenny_1374857.jpg" --- # My influences were Woody Allen and Lenny Bruce. ![“My influences were Woody Allen and Lenny Bruce.” quote by David Steinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/662/david-steinberg-22189_allen_my-influences-were-woody-allen-and-lenny_1374857.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/662/david-steinberg-22189_allen_my-influences-were-woody-allen-and-lenny_1374857.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/662/david-steinberg-22189_allen_my-influences-were-woody-allen-and-lenny_1374857.jpg) > “My influences were Woody Allen and Lenny Bruce.” [David Steinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steinberg/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. His comedic style was shaped by Woody Allen’s wit and Lenny Bruce’s edginess. **In simple terms:** He blends wit with edginess. Key Takeaway Mix humor with bold honesty. Themes comedy influence style Mood playful provocative Type creative entertaining When to use this quote - writing jokes - public speaking - social commentary Key Concepts stand‑up theory cultural critique Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance influence and originality? - What risks do you take in comedy? A Different Perspective Mimicking may hinder original voice. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Lenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lenny/) ## Related quotes > [When I was 16 or 17, I saw Lenny Bruce being taken to jail. They took him off stage because he talked about race.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mooney/when-i-was-16-or-17-i-saw-lenny-bruce-being-taken-to-jail-they-took/) [Paul Mooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mooney/) > [When I was younger, I listened to the greats: Winters, Mel and Carl, Nichols and May, Pryor, Carlin, Klein, Berman and lots of Lenny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lewis/when-i-was-younger-i-listened-to-the-greats-winters-mel-and-carl/) [Richard Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lewis/) > [In my opinion, Lenny Bruce was more of an influence on Zappa's satirical lyric's than anyone that I know of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carl-black/in-my-opinion-lenny-bruce-was-more-of-an-influence-on-zappa-s/) [Jimmy Carl Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carl-black/) > [When I first started out, 'Time' magazine did an article on what it called 'the sick comics,' and they were myself, Shelley Berman, Nichols…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/when-i-first-started-out-time-magazine-did-an-article-on-what-it/) [Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/) > [But the only comparison that I want to Lenny Bruce is that I'm funny. I'm Freddie Prinze, Puerto Rican all the way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-prinze/but-the-only-comparison-that-i-want-to-lenny-bruce-is-that-i-m-funny/) [Freddie Prinze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-prinze/) > [One of my greatest inspirations for stand-up was Jonathan Winters. He was a genius. One thing about him, and also Lenny Bruce, is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-klein/one-of-my-greatest-inspirations-for-stand-up-was-jonathan-winters-he/) [Robert Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-klein/) > [On the comedy side of what I love as a filmmaker are Richard Pryor, Lenny Bruce, and Eddie Murphy; those are my favorites.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-dobkin/on-the-comedy-side-of-what-i-love-as-a-filmmaker-are-richard-pryor/) [David Dobkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-dobkin/) > [Any comic like myself owes everything he has to Lenny Bruce. He was the originator. The godfather of uncensored American stand-up is clearly Lenny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-rogan/any-comic-like-myself-owes-everything-he-has-to-lenny-bruce-he-was/) [Joe Rogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-rogan/) > [My influences as a comedian and filmmaker are Albert Brooks, Lenny Bruce, Woody Allen, Andy Kaufman and John Cassevettes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-seder/my-influences-as-a-comedian-and-filmmaker-are-albert-brooks-lenny/) [Sam Seder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-seder/) > [I was also a big Woody Allen fan. When I got into college I listened to Lenny Bruce but it's taken me years to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-maron/i-was-also-a-big-woody-allen-fan-when-i-got-into-college-i-listened/) [Marc Maron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-maron/) > [I know that this sounds grand, but I don't try to compete with other people. I like to think there's enough pie for everyone.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-merchant/i-know-that-this-sounds-grand-but-i-don-t-try-to-compete-with-other/) [Stephen Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-merchant/) > [I would like to work with people whose films I really like: Walter Salles, Woody Allen, Julio Medem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-tautou/i-would-like-to-work-with-people-whose-films-i-really-like-walter/) [Audrey Tautou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-tautou/) > [I don't know enough about Woody Allen to be a fan of him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-ritchie/i-don-t-know-enough-about-woody-allen-to-be-a-fan-of-him/) [Guy Ritchie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-ritchie/) > [My older brother took me to Woody Allen double features when I was still teething.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-liman/my-older-brother-took-me-to-woody-allen-double-features-when-i-was/) [Doug Liman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-liman/) > [Being in a Woody Allen film. I cherish it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parker-posey/being-in-a-woody-allen-film-i-cherish-it/) [Parker Posey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parker-posey/) ## More by David Steinberg > [I starred in a Broadway play that was Sidney Poitier's first directing job and the cast was Lou Gossett, Cicely Tyson, Diana Ladd and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steinberg/i-starred-in-a-broadway-play-that-was-sidney-poitier-s-first/) [David Steinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steinberg/) > [Silences are the most underrated part of comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steinberg/silences-are-the-most-underrated-part-of-comedy/) [David Steinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steinberg/) > [In comedy, looking back is more important than looking around at your contemporaries because they are too much influenced by the same time period…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steinberg/in-comedy-looking-back-is-more-important-than-looking-around-at-your/) [David Steinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steinberg/) > [I don't really dissect comedy. Nothing kills off humor more than overanalyzing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steinberg/i-don-t-really-dissect-comedy-nothing-kills-off-humor-more-than/) [David Steinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steinberg/) > [Here's the rule that I set for myself, and I believe it - even on a show like 'Curb Your Enthusiasm': the more personal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steinberg/here-s-the-rule-that-i-set-for-myself-and-i-believe-it-even-on-a-show/) [David Steinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steinberg/) > [I rewrote it and I took all your notes. Read it again, that kind of persistence paid off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steinberg/i-rewrote-it-and-i-took-all-your-notes-read-it-again-that-kind-of/) [David Steinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steinberg/) > [I don't believe any particular ethnic group is smarter than any other group.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steinberg/i-don-t-believe-any-particular-ethnic-group-is-smarter-than-any-other/) [David Steinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steinberg/) > [The one thing an audience always has in common with a comedian is troubles. The Yiddish word for that is tsuris. You're always putting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steinberg/the-one-thing-an-audience-always-has-in-common-with-a-comedian-is/) [David Steinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steinberg/) > [You don't need to be stable to be a stand-up comedian.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steinberg/you-don-t-need-to-be-stable-to-be-a-stand-up-comedian/) [David Steinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steinberg/) > [The odd thing about comedy is that the more personal you are, the larger the audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steinberg/the-odd-thing-about-comedy-is-that-the-more-personal-you-are-the/) [David Steinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steinberg/) > [My father was a rabbi and had a little synagogue in Canada, so I'm from Canada. I left there at 16.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steinberg/my-father-was-a-rabbi-and-had-a-little-synagogue-in-canada-so-i-m/) [David Steinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steinberg/) > [And it was a huge emotional thing to leave the law and become unemployed - to be a student again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steinberg/and-it-was-a-huge-emotional-thing-to-leave-the-law-and-become/) [David Steinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steinberg/) > [The interesting thing about improvisation is you're making something up in front of the audience. Now music helps you out a little bit because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steinberg/the-interesting-thing-about-improvisation-is-you-re-making-something/) [David Steinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steinberg/) > [I used to have a theory actually that, if you've had a good childhood, a good marriage and a little bit of money in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steinberg/i-used-to-have-a-theory-actually-that-if-you-ve-had-a-good-childhood/) [David Steinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steinberg/) > [The worst thing that can happen to a comedian is to do a documentary on your life and you're watching it with an audience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steinberg/the-worst-thing-that-can-happen-to-a-comedian-is-to-do-a-documentary/) [David Steinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steinberg/) [Explore all 28 David Steinberg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steinberg/) ## More Allen quotes > [Being in a Woody Allen film. I cherish it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parker-posey/being-in-a-woody-allen-film-i-cherish-it/) [Parker Posey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parker-posey/) > [My older brother took me to Woody Allen double features when I was still teething.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-liman/my-older-brother-took-me-to-woody-allen-double-features-when-i-was/) [Doug Liman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-liman/) > [I don't know enough about Woody Allen to be a fan of him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-ritchie/i-don-t-know-enough-about-woody-allen-to-be-a-fan-of-him/) [Guy Ritchie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-ritchie/) > [I would like to work with people whose films I really like: Walter Salles, Woody Allen, Julio Medem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-tautou/i-would-like-to-work-with-people-whose-films-i-really-like-walter/) [Audrey Tautou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-tautou/) > [I know that this sounds grand, but I don't try to compete with other people. I like to think there's enough pie for everyone.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-merchant/i-know-that-this-sounds-grand-but-i-don-t-try-to-compete-with-other/) [Stephen Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-merchant/) > [When you win, everything is everything. But when you lose, it's all about Allen Iverson and Larry Brown. When we win, I know that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-iverson/when-you-win-everything-is-everything-but-when-you-lose-it-s-all/) [Allen Iverson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-iverson/) > [Obviously, if Woody Allen calls and says he wants you to read a script, of course you read it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cate-blanchett/obviously-if-woody-allen-calls-and-says-he-wants-you-to-read-a-script/) [Cate Blanchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cate-blanchett/) > [Some people said my acting was a cross between Euell Gibbons, Rodney Allen Rippy and Sheena, Queen of the Jungle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfman-jack/some-people-said-my-acting-was-a-cross-between-euell-gibbons-rodney/) [Wolfman Jack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfman-jack/) > [While filming 'Annie Hall,' I never really hung out with Woody Allen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-kane/while-filming-annie-hall-i-never-really-hung-out-with-woody-allen/) [Carol Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-kane/) > [First off, I love Woody Allen. His early movies, like 'Hannah and Her Sisters,' are incredible. I also love anything by Billy Wilder, Ron…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-story/first-off-i-love-woody-allen-his-early-movies-like-hannah-and-her/) [Tim Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-story/) > [I'm so from the Woody Allen/Spike Lee school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-night-shyamalan/i-m-so-from-the-woody-allen-spike-lee-school/) [M. Night Shyamalan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-night-shyamalan/) > [When I worked with anybody like Woody Allen, there's the name, and your understanding of who they are before you meet them, that stays…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alden-ehrenreich/when-i-worked-with-anybody-like-woody-allen-there-s-the-name-and-your/) [Alden Ehrenreich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alden-ehrenreich/) > [I'm very physical. I'm extremely active, and I would love to do something a little more sexy and dangerous, a la Sophia Loren, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/azita-ghanizada/i-m-very-physical-i-m-extremely-active-and-i-would-love-to-do/) [Azita Ghanizada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/azita-ghanizada/) > [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/) > [Woody Allen's movies are so much a part of me. I grew up watching them over and over and would read all his comic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-baumbach/woody-allen-s-movies-are-so-much-a-part-of-me-i-grew-up-watching-them/) [Noah Baumbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-baumbach/) Browse all 105 Allen quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My influences were Woody Allen and Lenny Bruce.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "David Steinberg" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steinberg/my-influences-were-woody-allen-and-lenny-bruce/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Allen" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steinberg/my-influences-were-woody-allen-and-lenny-bruce/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/662/david-steinberg-22189_allen_my-influences-were-woody-allen-and-lenny_1374857.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/662/david-steinberg-22189_allen_my-influences-were-woody-allen-and-lenny_1374857.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/662/david-steinberg-22189_allen_my-influences-were-woody-allen-and-lenny_1374857.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“My influences were Woody Allen and Lenny Bruce.” — David Steinberg", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "David Steinberg", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steinberg/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "My influences were Woody Allen and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steinberg/my-influences-were-woody-allen-and-lenny-bruce/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steinberg/my-influences-were-woody-allen-and-lenny-bruce/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```