--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My idol was Jack Benny and he was the…" description: "\"My idol was Jack Benny and he was the master of subtlety and timing.\" — Don Knotts" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0c/don-knotts-39385_benny_my-idol-was-jack-benny-and-he-was-the-ma_2474405.png" --- # My idol was Jack Benny and he was the master of subtlety… ![“My idol was Jack Benny and he was the master of subtlety and timing.” quote by Don Knotts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0c/don-knotts-39385_benny_my-idol-was-jack-benny-and-he-was-the-ma_2474405.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0c/don-knotts-39385_benny_my-idol-was-jack-benny-and-he-was-the-ma_2474405.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0c/don-knotts-39385_benny_my-idol-was-jack-benny-and-he-was-the-ma_2474405.png) > “My idol was Jack Benny and he was the master of subtlety and timing.” [Don Knotts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-knotts/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Jack Benny exemplified mastery of subtle humor and precise timing in performance. **In simple terms:** Jack Benny was a master of subtlety and timing. Key Takeaway Study timing and subtlety for effective humor. Themes humor timing subtlety Mood reflective insightful Type comedic educational When to use this quote - stand‑up comedy - acting - public speaking - writing - teaching Key Concepts comedy theory performance art Questions to Reflect On - What makes timing crucial in comedy? - How can subtlety enhance a performance? A Different Perspective Subtle humor may be missed by some audiences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Benny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/benny/) [Benny Master](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/benny-master-794609/) [Idol Jack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idol-jack-794611/) [Idols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idols/) [Jack Benny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jack-benny/) [Master Subtlety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/master-subtlety-794610/) [Masters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/masters/) [Subtlety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subtlety/) [Timing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/timing/) ## Related quotes > [“Kid, you may be the smartest person alive, but a master of subtlety you are not.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-j-klune/kid-you-may-be-the-smartest-person-alive-but-a-master-of-subtlety-you/) [T.J. Klune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-j-klune/) > [Bookish people, who are often maladroit people, persist in thinking they can master any subtlety so long as it's been shaped into acceptable expository…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-shields/bookish-people-who-are-often-maladroit-people-persist-in-thinking/) [Carol Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-shields/) > [I always used to sit next to Mel Blanc when we'd do the shows. When you have Jack Benny on one side and Mel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-shearer/i-always-used-to-sit-next-to-mel-blanc-when-we-d-do-the-shows-when/) [Harry Shearer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-shearer/) > [I'd make Jack Benny look like a philanthropist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-gottfried/i-d-make-jack-benny-look-like-a-philanthropist/) [Gilbert Gottfried](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-gottfried/) > [Jack Benny was, without a doubt, the bravest comedian I have ever seen work. He wasn't afraid of silence. He would take as long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/jack-benny-was-without-a-doubt-the-bravest-comedian-i-have-ever-seen/) [Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/) > [The greatest comedian I've ever seen is Jack Benny. He wasn't afraid of the silences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/the-greatest-comedian-i-ve-ever-seen-is-jack-benny-he-wasn-t-afraid/) [Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/) > [I play trumpet. And I took all the music courses in college, so I can also play the string instruments, keyboard, the brass and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-tester/i-play-trumpet-and-i-took-all-the-music-courses-in-college-so-i-can/) [Jon Tester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-tester/) > [It's very, very corrupting to the spirit, doing comedy. And you have to be almost a saint, like Jack Benny was, like Steve Martin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-nichols/it-s-very-very-corrupting-to-the-spirit-doing-comedy-and-you-have-to/) [Mike Nichols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-nichols/) > [If you look at Jack Benny, George Burns, or Don Rickles, they've all had long, successful marriages. So, I think there's something about laughter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/if-you-look-at-jack-benny-george-burns-or-don-rickles-they-ve-all-had/) [Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/) > [When I was young kid, I used to watch Jack Benny, and I thought the minimal aspect of what he did was revelatory. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-tambor/when-i-was-young-kid-i-used-to-watch-jack-benny-and-i-thought-the/) [Jeffrey Tambor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-tambor/) > [Jack Benny really liked my book. I know because he called me up from the library and told me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-hope/jack-benny-really-liked-my-book-i-know-because-he-called-me-up-from/) [Bob Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-hope/) > [Jack Benny had style from the beginning. He stood straight and walked kind of sideways as if he were being gently shoved by a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-saroyan/jack-benny-had-style-from-the-beginning-he-stood-straight-and-walked/) [William Saroyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-saroyan/) > [Jack Benny was a very warm person and a very appreciative person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thurl-ravenscroft/jack-benny-was-a-very-warm-person-and-a-very-appreciative-person/) [Thurl Ravenscroft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thurl-ravenscroft/) > [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/) > [Stand-up comedy is a very hard thing on the spirit. There are people who transcend it, like Jack Benny and Steve Martin, but in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-nichols/stand-up-comedy-is-a-very-hard-thing-on-the-spirit-there-are-people/) [Mike Nichols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-nichols/) ## More by Don Knotts > [I don't think just funny is enough on Broadway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-knotts/i-don-t-think-just-funny-is-enough-on-broadway/) [Don Knotts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-knotts/) > [When you work with words, words are your work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-knotts/when-you-work-with-words-words-are-your-work/) [Don Knotts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-knotts/) > [I don't think actors get good training today. I put my training to use in everything I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-knotts/i-don-t-think-actors-get-good-training-today-i-put-my-training-to-use/) [Don Knotts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-knotts/) > [We began to do little things, have little scenes where we just talked about things that had nothing to do with the plot. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-knotts/we-began-to-do-little-things-have-little-scenes-where-we-just-talked/) [Don Knotts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-knotts/) > [That's right, karate... made my whole body a weapon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-knotts/that-s-right-karate-made-my-whole-body-a-weapon/) [Don Knotts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-knotts/) > [Mainly, I thought of Barney as a kid. You can always look into the faces of kids and see what they're thinking, if they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-knotts/mainly-i-thought-of-barney-as-a-kid-you-can-always-look-into-the/) [Don Knotts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-knotts/) > [I felt like a loser. I was unhappy as a child most of the time. We were terribly poor and I hated my size.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-knotts/i-felt-like-a-loser-i-was-unhappy-as-a-child-most-of-the-time-we-were/) [Don Knotts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-knotts/) > [I don't know what to say. I've always been a prepared loser.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-knotts/i-don-t-know-what-to-say-i-ve-always-been-a-prepared-loser/) [Don Knotts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-knotts/) > [Well, they put me in a booth and then did some nice things to the speaker to make it come out sounding ok.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-knotts/well-they-put-me-in-a-booth-and-then-did-some-nice-things-to-the/) [Don Knotts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-knotts/) > [“Nip it, Nip it in the bud.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-knotts/nip-it-nip-it-in-the-bud/) [Don Knotts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-knotts/) [Explore all 11 Don Knotts quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-knotts/) ## More Benny quotes > [Stand-up comedy is a very hard thing on the spirit. There are people who transcend it, like Jack Benny and Steve Martin, but in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-nichols/stand-up-comedy-is-a-very-hard-thing-on-the-spirit-there-are-people/) [Mike Nichols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-nichols/) > [My first triumph was turning Elton John's 'Benny and the Jets' into a gospel tune.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-franklin/my-first-triumph-was-turning-elton-john-s-benny-and-the-jets-into-a/) [Kirk Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-franklin/) > [“... she threw herself in his arms and laid a hot, wet one on him. They went at it to catcalls, shouts of encouragement,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-ashley/she-threw-herself-in-his-arms-and-laid-a-hot-wet-one-on-him-they-went/) [Kristen Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-ashley/) > [People call me Benny. And as long as they put Benedict on my paycheck, I don't care.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-wong/people-call-me-benny-and-as-long-as-they-put-benedict-on-my-paycheck/) [Benedict Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-wong/) > [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/) > [Benny was awake again. Happened every morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/benny-was-awake-again-happened-every-morning/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [Jack Benny was a very warm person and a very appreciative person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thurl-ravenscroft/jack-benny-was-a-very-warm-person-and-a-very-appreciative-person/) [Thurl Ravenscroft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thurl-ravenscroft/) > [When I was a kid, we didn't eat in restaurants much, but a good report card meant my sister or I could choose anyplace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosecrans-baldwin/when-i-was-a-kid-we-didn-t-eat-in-restaurants-much-but-a-good-report/) [Rosecrans Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosecrans-baldwin/) > [Jack Benny had style from the beginning. He stood straight and walked kind of sideways as if he were being gently shoved by a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-saroyan/jack-benny-had-style-from-the-beginning-he-stood-straight-and-walked/) [William Saroyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-saroyan/) > [Jack Benny really liked my book. I know because he called me up from the library and told me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-hope/jack-benny-really-liked-my-book-i-know-because-he-called-me-up-from/) [Bob Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-hope/) > [“Now go to sleep with the promise of me, and tomorrow I'll make certain I do somethin' to fulfill it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-ashley/now-go-to-sleep-with-the-promise-of-me-and-tomorrow-i-ll-make-certain/) [Kristen Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-ashley/) > [I love Glenn Gould. Max Steiner. John Williams. Louis Prima. Benny Goodman. Miles Davis. John Philip Sousa.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-giacchino/i-love-glenn-gould-max-steiner-john-williams-louis-prima-benny/) [Michael Giacchino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-giacchino/) > [I love Benny Hill. He one of my favourites of aaall time. Like, the way Benny did it, he was just amazing. Just seeing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/i-love-benny-hill-he-one-of-my-favourites-of-aaall-time-like-the-way/) [Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/) > [Hip-hop means everything to Benny The Butcher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benny-the-butcher/hip-hop-means-everything-to-benny-the-butcher/) [Benny the Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benny-the-butcher/) > [Sounded like girls. Mixed feelings on that score. He didn't despise them with the same passion he used to. In fact, Benny suspected that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/sounded-like-girls-mixed-feelings-on-that-score-he-didn-t-despise/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) [Browse all 57 Benny quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/benny/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My idol was Jack Benny and he was the master of subtlety and timing.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Don Knotts" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-knotts/my-idol-was-jack-benny-and-he-was-the-master-of-subtlety-and-timing/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Benny" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-knotts/my-idol-was-jack-benny-and-he-was-the-master-of-subtlety-and-timing/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0c/don-knotts-39385_benny_my-idol-was-jack-benny-and-he-was-the-ma_2474405.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0c/don-knotts-39385_benny_my-idol-was-jack-benny-and-he-was-the-ma_2474405.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0c/don-knotts-39385_benny_my-idol-was-jack-benny-and-he-was-the-ma_2474405.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“My idol was Jack Benny and he was the master of subtlety and timing.” — Don Knotts", "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": "Don Knotts", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-knotts/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "My idol was Jack Benny and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-knotts/my-idol-was-jack-benny-and-he-was-the-master-of-subtlety-and-timing/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-knotts/my-idol-was-jack-benny-and-he-was-the-master-of-subtlety-and-timing/#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 } } ] } ```