--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: An 'insult comic' is the title I was…" description: "\"An 'insult comic' is the title I was given. What I do is exaggeration. I make fun of people, at life, of myself and my surroundings.\" — Don Rickles" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71a/don-rickles-1705_comedy_an-insult-comic-is-the-title-i-was-given_972060.png" --- # An 'insult comic' is the title I was given. What I do is… ![“An 'insult comic' is the title I was given. What I do is exaggeration. I make fun of people, at life, of myself and my surroundings.” quote by Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71a/don-rickles-1705_comedy_an-insult-comic-is-the-title-i-was-given_972060.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71a/don-rickles-1705_comedy_an-insult-comic-is-the-title-i-was-given_972060.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71a/don-rickles-1705_comedy_an-insult-comic-is-the-title-i-was-given_972060.png) > “An 'insult comic' is the title I was given. What I do is exaggeration. I make fun of people, at life, of myself and my surroundings.” [Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rickles/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Comedy uses exaggeration to highlight absurdities in people, life, and self, inviting laughter and critique. **In simple terms:** Comedy exaggerates to reveal truth. Key Takeaway Use humor to expose and cope with life's absurdities. Themes humor self‑deprecation social critique Mood playful critical Type satirical entertaining When to use this quote - stand‑up shows - social commentary - personal coping Key Concepts comedy performance art Questions to Reflect On - When does humor become harmful? - How do you keep satire constructive? A Different Perspective Exaggeration can alienate if not balanced with empathy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Comic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comic/) [Comic Title](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comic-title-1873375/) [Exaggeration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exaggeration/) [Fun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fun/) [Given](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/given/) [Given Exaggeration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/given-exaggeration-1873376/) [Insult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insult/) [Insult Comic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insult-comic-1516678/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Myself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myself/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Surroundings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surroundings/) [Titles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/titles/) ## Related quotes > [I am not given to exaggeration, and when I say a thing I mean it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/i-am-not-given-to-exaggeration-and-when-i-say-a-thing-i-mean-it/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [I used to be an insult comic, and I didn't end up liking the way that I felt about myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-anner/i-used-to-be-an-insult-comic-and-i-didn-t-end-up-liking-the-way-that/) [Zach Anner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-anner/) > [For me, the hardest thing was dropping the whole Latino comic title.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-iglesias/for-me-the-hardest-thing-was-dropping-the-whole-latino-comic-title/) [Gabriel Iglesias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-iglesias/) > [“The rhetorical function of such depictions is, in any case, pretty obvious. If cartoons provide us with examples of a visual mode of insult,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-conley/the-rhetorical-function-of-such-depictions-is-in-any-case-pretty/) [Thomas Conley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-conley/) > [The only reason I was allowed to have a career for a quarter century as an insult comic is because it's all in jest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-lampanelli/the-only-reason-i-was-allowed-to-have-a-career-for-a-quarter-century/) [Lisa Lampanelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-lampanelli/) > [I grew up in an Orthodox family, as I grew older, I became Conservative and that's how it ended up. But I've developed that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-rickles/i-grew-up-in-an-orthodox-family-as-i-grew-older-i-became-conservative/) [Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rickles/) > [If I were to insult people and mean it, that wouldn't be funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-rickles/if-i-were-to-insult-people-and-mean-it-that-wouldn-t-be-funny/) [Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rickles/) > [I never could tell a joke. I just started talking to the audience, and when the drunks would yell, "Hey, when do the broads…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-rickles/i-never-could-tell-a-joke-i-just-started-talking-to-the-audience-and/) [Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rickles/) > [They always use the word 'insult' with me, but I don't hurt anybody. I wouldn't be sitting here if I did. I make fun…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-rickles/they-always-use-the-word-insult-with-me-but-i-don-t-hurt-anybody-i/) [Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rickles/) > [Among all the valuable things of this world, the word is the most precious. For in the word one can find a light which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hazrat-inayat-khan/among-all-the-valuable-things-of-this-world-the-word-is-the-most/) [Hazrat Inayat Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hazrat-inayat-khan/) > [Love is a gross exaggeration of the difference between one person and everybody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/love-is-a-gross-exaggeration-of-the-difference-between-one-person-and/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [“Fuck anybody who’d call a hill a mountain and name it after themselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-d-aliwat/fuck-anybody-who-d-call-a-hill-a-mountain-and-name-it-after-themselves/) [A.D. Aliwat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-d-aliwat/) > [To underestimate oneself is as much an exaggeration of one's powers than the other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/to-underestimate-oneself-is-as-much-an-exaggeration-of-one-s-powers/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [It takes a little more time to get into the role, but not very much more. In making a record you don't have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-callas/it-takes-a-little-more-time-to-get-into-the-role-but-not-very-much/) [Maria Callas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-callas/) > [Drill in exact translation is an excellent way of disposing the mind against that looseness and exaggeration with which the sensationalists have corrupted our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-weaver/drill-in-exact-translation-is-an-excellent-way-of-disposing-the-mind/) [Richard M. Weaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-weaver/) ## More by Don Rickles > [I don't drink much anymore, but when I traveled with Frank Sinatra, God rest his soul, I used to drink like I could do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-rickles/i-don-t-drink-much-anymore-but-when-i-traveled-with-frank-sinatra-god/) [Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rickles/) > [They always use the word 'insult' with me, but I don't hurt anybody. I wouldn't be sitting here if I did. I make fun…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-rickles/they-always-use-the-word-insult-with-me-but-i-don-t-hurt-anybody-i/) [Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rickles/) > [I don't do impressions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-rickles/i-don-t-do-impressions/) [Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rickles/) > [I have a problem, if the light goes on on TV and it blinks midnight, I don't know how to fix it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-rickles/i-have-a-problem-if-the-light-goes-on-on-tv-and-it-blinks-midnight-i/) [Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rickles/) > [To my knowledge, I was the first guy really to do what I do. And then later on different comedians started trying doing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-rickles/to-my-knowledge-i-was-the-first-guy-really-to-do-what-i-do-and-then/) [Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rickles/) > [If something strikes me as funny, I'll put it in my performance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-rickles/if-something-strikes-me-as-funny-i-ll-put-it-in-my-performance/) [Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rickles/) > [Famous people are deceptive. Deep down, they're just regular people. Like Larry King. We've been friends for forty years. He's one of the few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-rickles/famous-people-are-deceptive-deep-down-they-re-just-regular-people/) [Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rickles/) > [It takes many years to be a great comedian.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-rickles/it-takes-many-years-to-be-a-great-comedian/) [Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rickles/) > [I don't like to compare myself with anybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-rickles/i-don-t-like-to-compare-myself-with-anybody/) [Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rickles/) > [Now when I'm not working, I don't really hang out with the young comics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-rickles/now-when-i-m-not-working-i-don-t-really-hang-out-with-the-young-comics/) [Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rickles/) > [To this day, when I say that I went to the American Academy, people are very impressed. The reputation of the school has always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-rickles/to-this-day-when-i-say-that-i-went-to-the-american-academy-people-are/) [Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rickles/) > [In our day we went from - we went into saloons. We couldn't cross over like you can today, get a television series and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-rickles/in-our-day-we-went-from-we-went-into-saloons-we-couldn-t-cross-over/) [Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rickles/) > [ I don't get into politics. I know \[Donald\] Trump, but I don't follow that. That's just an aside for him when he has nothing… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-rickles/i-don-t-get-into-politics-i-know-donald-trump-but-i-don-t-follow-that/) [Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rickles/) > [I was always the guy who made jokes and ribbed people at parties. 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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. 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