--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I started out in stand-up, so it's very…" description: "\"I started out in stand-up, so it's very satisfying to make people laugh, but it usually means at your own expense.\" — Debra Winger" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a99/debra-winger-8813_comedy_i-started-out-in-stand-up-so-it-s-very-s_553843.png" --- # I started out in stand-up, so it's very satisfying to make… ![“I started out in stand-up, so it's very satisfying to make people laugh, but it usually means at your own expense.” quote by Debra Winger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a99/debra-winger-8813_comedy_i-started-out-in-stand-up-so-it-s-very-s_553843.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a99/debra-winger-8813_comedy_i-started-out-in-stand-up-so-it-s-very-s_553843.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a99/debra-winger-8813_comedy_i-started-out-in-stand-up-so-it-s-very-s_553843.png) > “I started out in stand-up, so it's very satisfying to make people laugh, but it usually means at your own expense.” [Debra Winger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-winger/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Comedy often requires personal sacrifice, turning personal pain into public humor. **In simple terms:** Comedy can cost personal comfort. Key Takeaway Balance humor with self‑care. Themes humor self‑sacrifice artistry Mood reflective cautious Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - stage performances - writing jokes - therapy sessions Key Concepts stand‑up comedy personal boundaries creative process Questions to Reflect On - When does humor become harmful? - How to protect personal well‑being while performing? A Different Perspective Self‑deprecation may harm self‑esteem. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Laugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laugh/) [Making people laugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/making-people-laugh/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Satisfying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/satisfying/) ## Related quotes > [“Why is it you feel like a dope if you laugh alone, but that's usually how you end up crying? How is it you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/why-is-it-you-feel-like-a-dope-if-you-laugh-alone-but-that-s-usually-2/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [Probably I'm more of a fan of the literary references than the pop-culture references. But I do go to the pop-culture well quite frequently…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-reed/probably-i-m-more-of-a-fan-of-the-literary-references-than-the-pop/) [Adam Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-reed/) > [Why is it you feel like a dope if you laugh alone, but that's usually how you end up crying?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/why-is-it-you-feel-like-a-dope-if-you-laugh-alone-but-that-s-usually/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [When I started stand-up, the people I admired most were the people who were the most themselves onstage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-f-tompkins/when-i-started-stand-up-the-people-i-admired-most-were-the-people-who/) [Paul F. Tompkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-f-tompkins/) > [I am a comedian and I started in stand-up when I was 22.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-slate/i-am-a-comedian-and-i-started-in-stand-up-when-i-was-22/) [Jenny Slate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-slate/) > [I laugh in the face of danger.It's a silent laugh and I usually wait until danger turns around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-laugh-in-the-face-of-danger-it-s-a-silent-laugh-and-i-usually-wait/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When I started stand-up, the first thing I did was to take an improv class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-b-smoove/when-i-started-stand-up-the-first-thing-i-did-was-to-take-an-improv/) [J. B. Smoove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-b-smoove/) > [When I started out in stand-up, I was already used to speaking in front of people, how to project, control my voice - a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaboukie-young-white/when-i-started-out-in-stand-up-i-was-already-used-to-speaking-in/) [Jaboukie Young-White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaboukie-young-white/) > [When I started stand-up, it was really just to have a go at alpha males essentially, there was no plan and there never has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-lycett/when-i-started-stand-up-it-was-really-just-to-have-a-go-at-alpha/) [Joe Lycett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-lycett/) > [“In advertising, if you could get clients to laugh, they usually bought your ideas”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gates-gill/in-advertising-if-you-could-get-clients-to-laugh-they-usually-bought/) [Michael Gates Gill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gates-gill/) > [I started out being a stand up and writing my own material. That took me to Talk Soup, where I was writing and performing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aisha-tyler/i-started-out-being-a-stand-up-and-writing-my-own-material-that-took/) [Aisha Tyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aisha-tyler/) > [I love pulling faces at little kids on the London tube to see if I can make them laugh, and I usually do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-herring/i-love-pulling-faces-at-little-kids-on-the-london-tube-to-see-if-i/) [Richard Herring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-herring/) > [The whole thing about working in front of the camera is to make people laugh when they're not supposed to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-galifianakis/the-whole-thing-about-working-in-front-of-the-camera-is-to-make/) [Zach Galifianakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-galifianakis/) > [The funniest people I know were, not necessarily troubled, but had a harder time in school or were shy or picked on or something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaitlin-olson/the-funniest-people-i-know-were-not-necessarily-troubled-but-had-a/) [Kaitlin Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaitlin-olson/) > [I really enjoy making people laugh; I've discovered that's a great technique. That's as powerful as stirring their sorrow, stirring their compassion, because that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/i-really-enjoy-making-people-laugh-i-ve-discovered-that-s-a-great/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) ## More by Debra Winger > [I have enjoyed a wonderful run in films, so far, and I may, at some point, come back. But it will be in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-winger/i-have-enjoyed-a-wonderful-run-in-films-so-far-and-i-may-at-some/) [Debra Winger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-winger/) > [I do admit to being challenging, but it's always for the work, it's never personal. I will walk out on a scene if it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-winger/i-do-admit-to-being-challenging-but-it-s-always-for-the-work-it-s/) [Debra Winger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-winger/) > [Most bad behavior comes from insecurity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-winger/most-bad-behavior-comes-from-insecurity/) [Debra Winger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-winger/) > [But I never worried about having a child in my 40s, which is unusual - normally, I'm the queen of worry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-winger/but-i-never-worried-about-having-a-child-in-my-40s-which-is-unusual/) [Debra Winger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-winger/) > [Writers often have a 'drunk' that is different than anyone else's. That's why it's so insidious and so damning. First of all, because they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-winger/writers-often-have-a-drunk-that-is-different-than-anyone-else-s-that/) [Debra Winger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-winger/) > [Just because we're on schedule is no reason to shoot bad acting. Someone once said to me, 'You're inconsiderate.' And I said, 'Inconsiderate? Bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-winger/just-because-we-re-on-schedule-is-no-reason-to-shoot-bad-acting/) [Debra Winger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-winger/) > [I've been acting all along. I understand that I haven't been in people's viewers, but acting has never not been a part of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-winger/i-ve-been-acting-all-along-i-understand-that-i-haven-t-been-in-people/) [Debra Winger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-winger/) > [The sexiest thing in the world is to be totally naked with your wedding band on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-winger/the-sexiest-thing-in-the-world-is-to-be-totally-naked-with-your/) [Debra Winger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-winger/) > [I have a thing with the camera. The lens is unconditional. It doesn't judge you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-winger/i-have-a-thing-with-the-camera-the-lens-is-unconditional-it-doesn-t/) [Debra Winger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-winger/) > [There's a small club of women who are willing to age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-winger/there-s-a-small-club-of-women-who-are-willing-to-age/) [Debra Winger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-winger/) > [It's no secret that I didn't love 'An Officer And A Gentleman' then, and I certainly don't love it now, so at least no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-winger/it-s-no-secret-that-i-didn-t-love-an-officer-and-a-gentleman-then-and/) [Debra Winger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-winger/) > [I was shooting one day and it struck me that I was the age that Shirley MacLaine was when she played my mother. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-winger/i-was-shooting-one-day-and-it-struck-me-that-i-was-the-age-that/) [Debra Winger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-winger/) > [An actress in a film starts every day with an hour and a half in front of a mirror, with hair and make-up and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-winger/an-actress-in-a-film-starts-every-day-with-an-hour-and-a-half-in/) [Debra Winger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-winger/) > [I need my family to remind me in a loving and nice way to lighten up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-winger/i-need-my-family-to-remind-me-in-a-loving-and-nice-way-to-lighten-up/) [Debra Winger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-winger/) > [The minute we have a pain, we want a diagnosis. So I think the minute we feel love, it's very hard to just let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-winger/the-minute-we-have-a-pain-we-want-a-diagnosis-so-i-think-the-minute/) [Debra Winger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-winger/) [Explore all 77 Debra Winger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-winger/) ## More Comedy quotes > ['Mad TV' is one of my most favorite shows of all time and is a huge part of my obsession with sketch comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-dawson/mad-tv-is-one-of-my-most-favorite-shows-of-all-time-and-is-a-huge/) [Shane Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-dawson/) > [You can laugh at me, but I understand show business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ksenia-sobchak/you-can-laugh-at-me-but-i-understand-show-business/) [Ksenia Sobchak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ksenia-sobchak/) > [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/) [Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/) > [I wouldn't want people to laugh at me. That's why I have to give all that I can, and at least produce something that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhao-wei/i-wouldn-t-want-people-to-laugh-at-me-that-s-why-i-have-to-give-all/) [Zhao Wei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhao-wei/) > [“Our world will not die as a result of the bomb, as the papers say, it will die of laughter, of banality, of making a joke…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/our-world-will-not-die-as-a-result-of-the-bomb-as-the-papers-say-it/) [Carlos Ruiz Zafon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/) > [I've been funny my whole life. This is a gift God gave me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-morgan/i-ve-been-funny-my-whole-life-this-is-a-gift-god-gave-me/) [Tracy Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-morgan/) > [“Laugh and grow strong”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ignatius-of-loyola/laugh-and-grow-strong/) [Ignatius of Loyola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ignatius-of-loyola/) > [In the future, I would like to do more films with contemporary themes. Perhaps comedy, which is something I have done in theater but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/in-the-future-i-would-like-to-do-more-films-with-contemporary-themes/) [Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/) > [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/) [Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [There's a difference between delivering real funny and just silly funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-rel-howery/there-s-a-difference-between-delivering-real-funny-and-just-silly/) [Lil Rel Howery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-rel-howery/) > [Oh to that corkscrew, the useful tool to unlock the treasure of wit, the treasury of laughter, the front door of fellowship, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-guzaldo/oh-to-that-corkscrew-the-useful-tool-to-unlock-the-treasure-of-wit/) [Andrew Guzaldo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-guzaldo/) > [“Men circle like bees around honey, buzzing to communicate their sexual despair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carla-h-krueger/men-circle-like-bees-around-honey-buzzing-to-communicate-their-sexual/) [Carla H Krueger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carla-h-krueger/) > [I do love to laugh!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-giudice/i-do-love-to-laugh/) [Teresa Giudice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-giudice/) > [I really enjoy making people laugh; I've discovered that's a great technique. That's as powerful as stirring their sorrow, stirring their compassion, because that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/i-really-enjoy-making-people-laugh-i-ve-discovered-that-s-a-great/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) [Browse all 19,795 Comedy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I started out in stand-up, so it's very satisfying to make people laugh, but it usually means at your own expense.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Debra Winger" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-winger/i-started-out-in-stand-up-so-it-s-very-satisfying-to-make-people/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Comedy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-winger/i-started-out-in-stand-up-so-it-s-very-satisfying-to-make-people/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a99/debra-winger-8813_comedy_i-started-out-in-stand-up-so-it-s-very-s_553843.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a99/debra-winger-8813_comedy_i-started-out-in-stand-up-so-it-s-very-s_553843.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a99/debra-winger-8813_comedy_i-started-out-in-stand-up-so-it-s-very-s_553843.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I started out in stand-up, so it's very satisfying to make people laugh, but it usually means at your own…” — Debra Winger", "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": "Debra Winger", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-winger/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I started out in stand-up, so...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-winger/i-started-out-in-stand-up-so-it-s-very-satisfying-to-make-people/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-winger/i-started-out-in-stand-up-so-it-s-very-satisfying-to-make-people/#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 } } ] } ```