--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you talk about George Burns you're…" description: "\"When you talk about George Burns you're talking about a living legend . . . well, a legend, anyhow.\" — Don Rickles" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7c/don-rickles-1705_legend_when-you-talk-about-george-burns-you-re_1408108.png" --- # When you talk about George Burns you're talking about a… ![“When you talk about George Burns you're talking about a living legend . . . well, a legend, anyhow.” quote by Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7c/don-rickles-1705_legend_when-you-talk-about-george-burns-you-re_1408108.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7c/don-rickles-1705_legend_when-you-talk-about-george-burns-you-re_1408108.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7c/don-rickles-1705_legend_when-you-talk-about-george-burns-you-re_1408108.png) > “When you talk about George Burns you're talking about a living legend . . . well, a legend, anyhow.” [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. He emphasizes Burns' status as an iconic, timeless figure in entertainment. **In simple terms:** Burns is a living legend. Key Takeaway Recognize and celebrate cultural icons. Themes celebrity legacy humor Mood admiring playful Type celebrity humorous When to use this quote - entertainment history - public speaking - media analysis Key Concepts iconography cultural impact Questions to Reflect On - How does myth shape our perception of public figures? - What responsibilities come with legendary status? A Different Perspective Legends may be mythologized beyond reality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Burns Talking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/burns-talking-4954330/) [George Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/george-burns/) [Legend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legend/) [Legend Legend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legend-legend-1096679/) [Legends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legends/) [Living Legend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/living-legend-501275/) [Living legends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/living-legends/) [Talking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talking/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) ## Related quotes > [We usually say that you cannot become a legend before death. But I am a living legend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zlatan-ibrahimovic/we-usually-say-that-you-cannot-become-a-legend-before-death-but-i-am/) [Zlatan Ibrahimovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zlatan-ibrahimovic/) > [ We know Manny \[Pacquiao\] is a living legend and a hall of fame for sure. He's one of the greatest fighters that has ever… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-algieri/we-know-manny-pacquiao-is-a-living-legend-and-a-hall-of-fame-for-sure/) [Chris Algieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-algieri/) > [No - Kajol can never go anywhere. Kajol is absolutely hearts and minds and memories and silloys for ever and ever. I think if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shahrukh-khan/no-kajol-can-never-go-anywhere-kajol-is-absolutely-hearts-and-minds/) [Shahrukh Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shahrukh-khan/) > [When people see a legend, they call it a legend. But to be a legend, it's a lot of hard work and patience. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burning-spear/when-people-see-a-legend-they-call-it-a-legend-but-to-be-a-legend-it/) [Burning Spear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burning-spear/) > [Every champion on his way to the top had to take out a legend, and the legend I want to take out is 'Rampage.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-anderson/every-champion-on-his-way-to-the-top-had-to-take-out-a-legend-and-the/) [Corey Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-anderson/) > [And history becomes legend and legend becomes history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-cocteau/and-history-becomes-legend-and-legend-becomes-history/) [Jean Cocteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-cocteau/) > [I'm the legend. I always be the legend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-iron-sheik/i-m-the-legend-i-always-be-the-legend/) [The Iron Sheik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-iron-sheik/) > [“I know what I’ve done for music, but don’t call me “a legend”.(…) A legend is an old man with a cane known for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/i-know-what-i-ve-done-for-music-but-don-t-call-me-a-legend-a-legend/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [I'm a future legend. And you're the legend killer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zack-ryder/i-m-a-future-legend-and-you-re-the-legend-killer/) [Zack Ryder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zack-ryder/) > [Lata Mangeshkar is a living legend. She has enthralled millions of hearts all over the world with her music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/lata-mangeshkar-is-a-living-legend-she-has-enthralled-millions-of/) [Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/) > [Carol Kane is just as warm as you would think she is, and she is so smart and really a living legend and has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tituss-burgess/carol-kane-is-just-as-warm-as-you-would-think-she-is-and-she-is-so/) [Tituss Burgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tituss-burgess/) > [It is a great honor for me to work with Cho Yong Pil, who is a living legend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ok-taec-yeon/it-is-a-great-honor-for-me-to-work-with-cho-yong-pil-who-is-a-living/) [Ok Taec-yeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ok-taec-yeon/) > [“Katy shook her head at me. 'We don't pretend we're from the legend. We are the legend”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-verday/katy-shook-her-head-at-me-we-don-t-pretend-we-re-from-the-legend-we/) [Jessica Verday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-verday/) > [“some things that should not have been forgotten were lost. History became legend. Legend became myth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien/some-things-that-should-not-have-been-forgotten-were-lost-history/) [J.R.R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien/) > [Rev Run is a living legend of Hip-Hop, who's still making great music, but now he's also the dad to an amazing family, ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-disanto/rev-run-is-a-living-legend-of-hip-hop-who-s-still-making-great-music/) [Tony DiSanto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-disanto/) ## 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 Legend quotes > [Love will never separate a man from his personal legend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/love-will-never-separate-a-man-from-his-personal-legend/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [I can't be a legend yet. I'm not dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maynard-james-keenan/i-can-t-be-a-legend-yet-i-m-not-dead/) [Maynard James Keenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maynard-james-keenan/) > [“You will get your father's wealth one day but not his legacy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/you-will-get-your-father-s-wealth-one-day-but-not-his-legacy/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [“My father hasn’t told me about it but he showed me the straight path”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fahmid-hassan-prohor/my-father-hasn-t-told-me-about-it-but-he-showed-me-the-straight-path/) [Fahmid Hassan Prohor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fahmid-hassan-prohor/) > [It's a sport about risk and reward. It's a sport about becoming a legend. You look at guys that have stepped up on last…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyron-woodley/it-s-a-sport-about-risk-and-reward-it-s-a-sport-about-becoming-a/) [Tyron Woodley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyron-woodley/) > [I know there'll be comparisons, but I consider it an honor to be compared to Audrey Hepburn. She's a legend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-oxenberg/i-know-there-ll-be-comparisons-but-i-consider-it-an-honor-to-be/) [Catherine Oxenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-oxenberg/) > [I'm a legend now. But I'll keep my feet on the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-oliveira/i-m-a-legend-now-but-i-ll-keep-my-feet-on-the-ground/) [Charles Oliveira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-oliveira/) > [“George didn't do quiet or subtle. His big paws kicked up rocks as he stretched into his own version of a freight train.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kaniut-cobb/george-didn-t-do-quiet-or-subtle-his-big-paws-kicked-up-rocks-as-he/) [Lisa Kaniut Cobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kaniut-cobb/) > [No, I don't like legend. I mean, I don't like the category. And to begin with, to me, a legend is something that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-bacall/no-i-don-t-like-legend-i-mean-i-don-t-like-the-category-and-to-begin/) [Lauren Bacall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-bacall/) > [Obviously, Fred Astaire was a legend. I've tried to copy some of his movements.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-moir/obviously-fred-astaire-was-a-legend-i-ve-tried-to-copy-some-of-his/) [Scott Moir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-moir/) > [It puts a smile on my face to be compared to a legend. Year by year, as you play basketball, you've got to know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lebron-james/it-puts-a-smile-on-my-face-to-be-compared-to-a-legend-year-by-year-as/) [Lebron James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lebron-james/) > [“love Dora too!” Great, I’m a legend with 5 year olds!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-campbell/love-dora-too-great-i-m-a-legend-with-5-year-olds/) [Bill Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-campbell/) > [I want to build to that mogul, legendary level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-nas-x/i-want-to-build-to-that-mogul-legendary-level/) [Lil Nas X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-nas-x/) > [I am not saying Gary Neville is a nobody. He has accomplished a lot in his life, he is a legend. But as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marko-arnautovic/i-am-not-saying-gary-neville-is-a-nobody-he-has-accomplished-a-lot-in/) [Marko Arnautovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marko-arnautovic/) > [Jackie Robinson is a true legend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-poitier/jackie-robinson-is-a-true-legend/) [Sidney Poitier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-poitier/) [Browse all 531 Legend quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legend/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When you talk about George Burns you're talking about a living legend . . . well, a legend, anyhow.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Don Rickles" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-rickles/when-you-talk-about-george-burns-you-re-talking-about-a-living-legend/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Legend" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-rickles/when-you-talk-about-george-burns-you-re-talking-about-a-living-legend/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7c/don-rickles-1705_legend_when-you-talk-about-george-burns-you-re_1408108.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7c/don-rickles-1705_legend_when-you-talk-about-george-burns-you-re_1408108.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7c/don-rickles-1705_legend_when-you-talk-about-george-burns-you-re_1408108.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When you talk about George Burns you're talking about a living legend . . . well, a legend, anyhow.” — Don Rickles", "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 Rickles", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rickles/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When you talk about George Burns...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-rickles/when-you-talk-about-george-burns-you-re-talking-about-a-living-legend/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-rickles/when-you-talk-about-george-burns-you-re-talking-about-a-living-legend/#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 } } ] } ```