--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Every night when I go out on stage…" description: "\"Every night when I go out on stage, there's always one nagging fear in the back of my mind. I'm always afraid that somewhere out there, there is one pe..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed8/don-rickles-1705_afraid_every-night-when-i-go-out-on-stage-there_2777521.png" --- # Every night when I go out on stage, there's always one… ![“Every night when I go out on stage, there's always one nagging fear in the back of my mind. I'm always afraid that somewhere out there, there is one person in the audience that I'm not going to offend!” quote by Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed8/don-rickles-1705_afraid_every-night-when-i-go-out-on-stage-there_2777521.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed8/don-rickles-1705_afraid_every-night-when-i-go-out-on-stage-there_2777521.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed8/don-rickles-1705_afraid_every-night-when-i-go-out-on-stage-there_2777521.png) > “Every night when I go out on stage, there's always one nagging fear in the back of my mind. I'm always afraid that somewhere out there, there is one person in the audience that I'm not going to offend!” [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. Fear of offending a single audience member haunts performance. **In simple terms:** Worried about offending one person on stage. Key Takeaway Accept imperfection and keep performing. Themes anxiety performance audience Mood nervous humorous Type comedic self‑reflective When to use this quote - theatre - live events - personal growth Key Concepts stand‑up comedy public speaking Questions to Reflect On - What would you say without fear? - How do you handle criticism? A Different Perspective May hinder creative risk‑taking. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) [Every night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every-night/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/night/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Stage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stage/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [Don't let that nagging fear - that feeling that being different automatically qualifies you as being wrong - eat away at you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-minshew/don-t-let-that-nagging-fear-that-feeling-that-being-different/) [Kathryn Minshew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-minshew/) > [I dream of a peaceful world. Music is the best means I have to work on that dream. Each time I have the opportunity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lloyd/i-dream-of-a-peaceful-world-music-is-the-best-means-i-have-to-work-on/) [Charles Lloyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lloyd/) > [I think any actor in their right mind is afraid of getting pigeonholed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zosia-mamet/i-think-any-actor-in-their-right-mind-is-afraid-of-getting-pigeonholed/) [Zosia Mamet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zosia-mamet/) > [My heart has made its mind up And I'm afraid it's you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-cope/my-heart-has-made-its-mind-up-and-i-m-afraid-it-s-you/) [Wendy Cope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-cope/) > [The reason why you don't alter your opinions and have an open mind because you're too afraid of changes, and are too stubborn to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-reason-why-you-don-t-alter-your-opinions-and-have-an-open-mind/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When we go in the ring we know we're going to get hit. We know we're not the ballet people. But if you go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kostya-tszyu/when-we-go-in-the-ring-we-know-we-re-going-to-get-hit-we-know-we-re/) Kostya Tszyu > [“A man who is cowardly at heart and has not emancipated his mind will be afraid of non-existent ghosts and gods.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chi-fang-ho/a-man-who-is-cowardly-at-heart-and-has-not-emancipated-his-mind-will/) Chi-fang Ho > [My heart has made its mind up And I’m afraid it’s you. Whatever you’ve got lined up, My heart has made its mind up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-cope/my-heart-has-made-its-mind-up-and-i-m-afraid-it-s-you-whatever-you-ve/) [Wendy Cope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-cope/) > [A mind that is afraid withers away; it cannot function properly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/a-mind-that-is-afraid-withers-away-it-cannot-function-properly/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [“I don't write for money or for my words to be read. I write because it takes me to dark corners in my mind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-koukol/i-don-t-write-for-money-or-for-my-words-to-be-read-i-write-because-it/) [Zachary Koukol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-koukol/) > [When you sit and meditate and begin to experience expanded states of mind, you will be afraid. The light makes most people very, very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/when-you-sit-and-meditate-and-begin-to-experience-expanded-states-of/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [I always had the impression England never came to competitions with freedom of mind. They are so afraid of mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gianfranco-zola/i-always-had-the-impression-england-never-came-to-competitions-with/) [Gianfranco Zola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gianfranco-zola/) > [“If we put a gun to her head she would sing all day. Try it first with a bird, General Benjamin said gently to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-patchett/if-we-put-a-gun-to-her-head-she-would-sing-all-day-try-it-first-with/) [Ann Patchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-patchett/) > [The mind is afraid of its own dissolution. Life always seeks life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/the-mind-is-afraid-of-its-own-dissolution-life-always-seeks-life/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [In New York the stakes are so high. In urban centers the stakes are so high. You marry the wrong person, you go to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meghan-daum/in-new-york-the-stakes-are-so-high-in-urban-centers-the-stakes-are-so/) [Meghan Daum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meghan-daum/) ## 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. After I went to the American Academy of Dramatic Arts I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-rickles/i-was-always-the-guy-who-made-jokes-and-ribbed-people-at-parties/) [Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rickles/) > [When I walk down the street in New York, I swear to God, the building constructor, the guy pounding cement and what not, will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-rickles/when-i-walk-down-the-street-in-new-york-i-swear-to-god-the-building/) [Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rickles/) [Explore all 214 Don Rickles quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rickles/) ## More Afraid quotes > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. 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I'm afraid of, like, creepy men in white vans and sidewalks with no streetlights. But I'm not afraid to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-totah/i-m-a-pretty-fearless-person-i-m-afraid-of-like-creepy-men-in-white/) [Josie Totah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-totah/) > [I will support my party when they are right on an issue, but am not afraid to stand up to party bosses who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darlene-senger/i-will-support-my-party-when-they-are-right-on-an-issue-but-am-not/) Darlene Senger > [Why am I so afraid to loose you,when you're not even mine?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/why-am-i-so-afraid-to-loose-you-when-you-re-not-even-mine/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I want to tell you, but I cant, becuase I'm afraid if I do you'll never treat me same the again](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristina-orante/i-want-to-tell-you-but-i-cant-becuase-i-m-afraid-if-i-do-you-ll-never/) [Cristina Orante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristina-orante/) > [Mistakes I've made in the past make me afraid to try new things in the future. I want to be perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-altucher/mistakes-i-ve-made-in-the-past-make-me-afraid-to-try-new-things-in/) [James Altucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-altucher/) > [“Humans are naturally scared and confused beings. They not only fear the unknown, as they live fearing themselves... ☥”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-marques/humans-are-naturally-scared-and-confused-beings-they-not-only-fear/) [Luis Marques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-marques/) > [If you are too afraid of failure, you cant possibly do what needs to be done to succeed in living a fulfilling life. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/if-you-are-too-afraid-of-failure-you-cant-possibly-do-what-needs-to/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [We cannot be afraid of the dark that they live in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burnie-burns/we-cannot-be-afraid-of-the-dark-that-they-live-in/) [Burnie Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burnie-burns/) > [“I think the reason we're cruel sometimes is that we're afraid we're going to like something.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/i-think-the-reason-we-re-cruel-sometimes-is-that-we-re-afraid-we-re/) [Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/) > [I'm still with that feeling that I am afraid of doing the wrong thing, because somebody is going to punish me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eartha-kitt/i-m-still-with-that-feeling-that-i-am-afraid-of-doing-the-wrong-thing/) [Eartha Kitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eartha-kitt/) Browse all 5,519 Afraid quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Every night when I go out on stage, there's always one nagging fear in the back of my mind. 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