--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I always knew I could hold people's…" description: "\"I always knew I could hold people's attention and make them laugh every 30 or 40 seconds, and I got approval and attention for that, so the behavior wa..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0a/george-carlin-155_approval_i-always-knew-i-could-hold-people-s-atte_2885415.jpg" --- # I always knew I could hold people's attention and make… ![“I always knew I could hold people's attention and make them laugh every 30 or 40 seconds, and I got approval and attention for that, so the behavior was reinforced. Later, that became an important skill on the street corner.” quote by George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0a/george-carlin-155_approval_i-always-knew-i-could-hold-people-s-atte_2885415.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0a/george-carlin-155_approval_i-always-knew-i-could-hold-people-s-atte_2885415.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0a/george-carlin-155_approval_i-always-knew-i-could-hold-people-s-atte_2885415.jpg) > “I always knew I could hold people's attention and make them laugh every 30 or 40 seconds, and I got approval and attention for that, so the behavior was reinforced. Later, that became an important skill on the street corner.” [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He learned that humor and attention are reinforced, turning a natural talent into a valuable street skill. **In simple terms:** Humor gained him attention and later street credibility. Key Takeaway Use humor to engage and influence. Themes communication performance street life Mood playful confident Type motivational observational When to use this quote - public speaking - street hustling - personal branding Key Concepts reinforcement learning social capital Questions to Reflect On - How can humor be used responsibly? - When does attention become exploitation? A Different Perspective Humor may not translate to all contexts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Approval](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approval/) [Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) [Behavior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behavior/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Skills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skills/) [Street corners](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/street-corners/) [Streets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/streets/) ## Related quotes > [“Pay attention to the behavior of the most successful people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/pay-attention-to-the-behavior-of-the-most-successful-people/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [Don't allow the approval and attention of others to destroy you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/don-t-allow-the-approval-and-attention-of-others-to-destroy-you/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [Comedy, I figured, was the thing that came to me the most easily. Playing the trumpet and piano took practice. I thought that was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/comedy-i-figured-was-the-thing-that-came-to-me-the-most-easily/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [Your ability to set and achieve goals is perhaps the most important skill you can ever develop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/your-ability-to-set-and-achieve-goals-is-perhaps-the-most-important/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [An important skill all leaders must have is a great sense of humor, humor keeps everyone at ease and break the ice between people.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-chan/an-important-skill-all-leaders-must-have-is-a-great-sense-of-humor/) [Christopher Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-chan/) > [The will to win is more important then the skill to win. It is possible to achieve only what you actively pursue. Cogito, ergo…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloy-ball/the-will-to-win-is-more-important-then-the-skill-to-win-it-is/) Lloy Ball > [“Tact is the ability to formulate your thoughts, carefully choose your words and effectively communicate them without offending anyone. This is the most difficult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uzoma-nnadi/tact-is-the-ability-to-formulate-your-thoughts-carefully-choose-your/) [Uzoma Nnadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uzoma-nnadi/) > [“The ability to take data -- to be able to understand it, to process it, to extract value from it, to visualize it, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-reilly-radar-team/the-ability-to-take-data-to-be-able-to-understand-it-to-process-it-to/) [O'Reilly Radar Team](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-reilly-radar-team/) > [The ability to qualify for, receive, and act on personal revelation is the single most important skill that can be acquired in this life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-b-beck/the-ability-to-qualify-for-receive-and-act-on-personal-revelation-is/) [Julie B. Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-b-beck/) > [I think sales is the most important skill set young people can learn. Understanding how to pitch an idea with confidence and secure a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-hyman/i-think-sales-is-the-most-important-skill-set-young-people-can-learn/) [Jennifer Hyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-hyman/) > [“It's an important skill to know when not to say anything. It's not a skill that came naturally to me then, nor does it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lemony-snicket/it-s-an-important-skill-to-know-when-not-to-say-anything-it-s-not-a/) [Lemony Snicket](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lemony-snicket/) > [During his weekly address to the nation, President Obama discussed higher education and said, 'The most important skill you can sell is your knowledge.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-fallon/during-his-weekly-address-to-the-nation-president-obama-discussed/) [Jimmy Fallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-fallon/) > [Influence is the single most important skill you can master in your lifetime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/influence-is-the-single-most-important-skill-you-can-master-in-your/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [Socializing is more positive than being alone, that’s why meetings are so popular. People don’t like being alone. That would be, however, an important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/socializing-is-more-positive-than-being-alone-that-s-why-meetings-are/) [Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/) > [Writing is a skill, not a talent, and this difference is important because a skill can be improved by practice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-stacy-mccain/writing-is-a-skill-not-a-talent-and-this-difference-is-important/) [Robert Stacy McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-stacy-mccain/) ## More by George Carlin > [I never go anywhere or do anything that transports me outside the boundaries of my mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/i-never-go-anywhere-or-do-anything-that-transports-me-outside-the/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [With the proper training, I could've been an evil genius.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/with-the-proper-training-i-could-ve-been-an-evil-genius/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [Comedy, although it is not one of the fine arts - it's a vulgar art, it's one of the people's arts, it's the spoken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/comedy-although-it-is-not-one-of-the-fine-arts-it-s-a-vulgar-art-it-s/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [“I'm completely in favor of the separation of Church and State. ... These two institutions screw us up enough on their own, so both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/i-m-completely-in-favor-of-the-separation-of-church-and-state-these/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [“TOMORROW IS ANOTHER DAY. Not true. Today is another day. We have no idea what tomorrow is going to be. It might turn out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/tomorrow-is-another-day-not-true-today-is-another-day-we-have-no-idea/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [I was a loner as a child. I had an imaginary friend - I didn't bother with him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/i-was-a-loner-as-a-child-i-had-an-imaginary-friend-i-didn-t-bother/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [Kilometers are shorter than miles. Save gas, take your next trip in kilometers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/kilometers-are-shorter-than-miles-save-gas-take-your-next-trip-in/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [“If you guys want to get a MOM tattoo and save a little money, just get two letters done. Get about a one-inch capital…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/if-you-guys-want-to-get-a-mom-tattoo-and-save-a-little-money-just-get/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [You've built up so much speed that you HIT 70! After that it's a day-by-day thing; you HIT Wednesday!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/you-ve-built-up-so-much-speed-that-you-hit-70-after-that-it-s-a-day/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [It ended suddenly for Brenda, more slowly for me. My runs began getting shorter and less pleasurable. I'd feel bad after only one day,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/it-ended-suddenly-for-brenda-more-slowly-for-me-my-runs-began-getting/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [Is there another word for synonym?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/is-there-another-word-for-synonym/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [The whole idea of the pursuit of goods and possessions has completely corrupted the human experience, along with religion, which I think limits the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/the-whole-idea-of-the-pursuit-of-goods-and-possessions-has-completely/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [These days many politicians are demanding change. Just like homeless people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/these-days-many-politicians-are-demanding-change-just-like-homeless/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [You know the good part about all those executions in Texas? Fewer Texans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/you-know-the-good-part-about-all-those-executions-in-texas-fewer/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [What was the best thing before sliced bread?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/what-was-the-best-thing-before-sliced-bread/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) [Explore all 1,098 George Carlin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) ## More Approval quotes > [Anyone who's read my 'Terror in the Skies' series knows that I have not been writing with an eye toward approval from any government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-jacobsen/anyone-who-s-read-my-terror-in-the-skies-series-knows-that-i-have-not/) [Annie Jacobsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-jacobsen/) > [we need not avoid our active lives, but simply bring to them a new vision and shift of gravity. for in the center we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-monk-kidd/we-need-not-avoid-our-active-lives-but-simply-bring-to-them-a-new/) [Sue Monk Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-monk-kidd/) > [Lean too much on the approval of people, and it becomes a bed of thorns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tehyi-hsieh/lean-too-much-on-the-approval-of-people-and-it-becomes-a-bed-of-thorns/) [Tehyi Hsieh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tehyi-hsieh/) > [But I always reassure them that as far as my contractual rights can go, I will protect them and make sure that they have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-roach/but-i-always-reassure-them-that-as-far-as-my-contractual-rights-can/) [Jay Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-roach/) > [Growing up in that fashion is a breeding ground for insecurity and doubt; it also leaves you questioning motives. It took me a long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damon-runyon/growing-up-in-that-fashion-is-a-breeding-ground-for-insecurity-and/) [Damon Runyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damon-runyon/) > [A year ago, my approval rating was in the 30s, my nominee for the supreme court had just withdrawn, and my vice president had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/a-year-ago-my-approval-rating-was-in-the-30s-my-nominee-for-the/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [Approval is a greater motivator than disapproval, but we have to disapprove on occasion when we correct. It’s necessary. I make corrections only after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/approval-is-a-greater-motivator-than-disapproval-but-we-have-to/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [These days people are mean to people just because they don't like the way they look. No-one should be hated because of their flaws.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/these-days-people-are-mean-to-people-just-because-they-don-t-like-the/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [I got this emptiness inside that got me fighting for approval because I missed out on my daddy saying, Way to Go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lecrae/i-got-this-emptiness-inside-that-got-me-fighting-for-approval-because/) [Lecrae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lecrae/) > [My dad taught me swears when I was a toddler, and I saw, at a really early age, that if I shocked people, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roseanne-barr/my-dad-taught-me-swears-when-i-was-a-toddler-and-i-saw-at-a-really/) [Roseanne Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roseanne-barr/) > [If torture is going to be administered as a last resort in the ticking-bomb case, to save enormous numbers of lives, it ought to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dershowitz/if-torture-is-going-to-be-administered-as-a-last-resort-in-the/) [Alan Dershowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dershowitz/) > [Comedy is a very approval-oriented field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-chappelle/comedy-is-a-very-approval-oriented-field/) [Dave Chappelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-chappelle/) > [Whenever you are too worried about someone else's approval, that person loses respect for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-argov/whenever-you-are-too-worried-about-someone-else-s-approval-that/) [Sherry Argov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-argov/) > [Pleasure is Nature's test, her sign of approval.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/pleasure-is-nature-s-test-her-sign-of-approval/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Do you really mean the only reason you try to be good is to gain God's approval and reward? That's not morality, that's just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/do-you-really-mean-the-only-reason-you-try-to-be-good-is-to-gain-god/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) [Browse all 904 Approval quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approval/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I always knew I could hold people's attention and make them laugh every 30 or 40 seconds, and I got approval and attention for that, so the behavior was reinforced. 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