--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have always felt comedy and tragedy are…" description: "\"I have always felt comedy and tragedy are roommates. If you look up comedy and tragedy, you will find a very old picture of two masks. One mask is trag..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c62/gilbert-gottfried-7822_always_i-have-always-felt-comedy-and-tragedy-ar_1335779.jpg" --- # I have always felt comedy and tragedy are roommates. If… ![“I have always felt comedy and tragedy are roommates. If you look up comedy and tragedy, you will find a very old picture of two masks. One mask is tragedy. It looks like it's crying. The other mask is comedy. It looks like it's laughing. Nowadays, we would say, 'How tasteless and insensitive. A…” quote by Gilbert Gottfried](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c62/gilbert-gottfried-7822_always_i-have-always-felt-comedy-and-tragedy-ar_1335779.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c62/gilbert-gottfried-7822_always_i-have-always-felt-comedy-and-tragedy-ar_1335779.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c62/gilbert-gottfried-7822_always_i-have-always-felt-comedy-and-tragedy-ar_1335779.jpg) > “I have always felt comedy and tragedy are roommates. If you look up comedy and tragedy, you will find a very old picture of two masks. One mask is tragedy. It looks like it's crying. The other mask is comedy. It looks like it's laughing. Nowadays, we would say, 'How tasteless and insensitive. A comedy mask is laughing at a tragedy mask.'” [Gilbert Gottfried](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-gottfried/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Comedy and tragedy are intertwined; humor can both mask and highlight suffering, but may be perceived as insensitive. **In simple terms:** Comedy and tragedy coexist. Key Takeaway Recognize the fine line between humor and offense. Themes humor tragedy culture Mood witty critical Type observational philosophical When to use this quote - stand‑up - media analysis - public discourse Key Concepts satire empathy social commentary Questions to Reflect On - When is it appropriate to joke about tragedy? - How does audience perception shape comedic boundaries? A Different Perspective Humor can trivialize real pain. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Cry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cry/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Insensitive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insensitive/) [Mask](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mask/) [Masks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/masks/) [Old picture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-picture/) [Picture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/picture/) [Roommate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roommate/) [Roommates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roommates/) [Tragedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tragedy/) ## Related quotes > [Tragedy looks to me like man in love with his own defeat. Which is only a sloppy way of being in love with yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-h-lawrence/tragedy-looks-to-me-like-man-in-love-with-his-own-defeat-which-is/) [D. H. Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-h-lawrence/) > [The way that I live is in between the dual experiences of the tragedy mask and the comedy mask. I feel that I write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-o-malley/the-way-that-i-live-is-in-between-the-dual-experiences-of-the-tragedy/) [Mike O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-o-malley/) > [“In some ways grief anonymizes as powerfully as a Greek tragedy mask.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tana-french/in-some-ways-grief-anonymizes-as-powerfully-as-a-greek-tragedy-mask/) [Tana French](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tana-french/) > [Bink knew the dolphin only from old pictures; it was a kind of magic fish that breathed air instead of water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piers-anthony/bink-knew-the-dolphin-only-from-old-pictures-it-was-a-kind-of-magic/) [Piers Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piers-anthony/) > [Peter Hinwood found all these old pictures - Polaroids - and when I saw them, I just didn't believe that the person in them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manolo-blahnik/peter-hinwood-found-all-these-old-pictures-polaroids-and-when-i-saw/) [Manolo Blahnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manolo-blahnik/) > [“It’s an old picture,” said Stephen. “She’s in her thirties now. I don’t think she’s pretty anymore.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-b-cooney/it-s-an-old-picture-said-stephen-she-s-in-her-thirties-now-i-don-t/) [Caroline B. Cooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-b-cooney/) > [Dang this is an old picture of me!:)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/im-all-his/dang-this-is-an-old-picture-of-me/) Im\_all\_his > [Who isn't crazy sometimes? Who hasn't driven around a block hoping a certain person will come out; who hasn't haunted a certain coffee shop,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-walter/who-isn-t-crazy-sometimes-who-hasn-t-driven-around-a-block-hoping-a/) [Jess Walter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-walter/) > [“YO MAMA SO OLD... Yo mama so old the back of her head looks like a raisin. Yo mama so old her social security…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-franken/yo-mama-so-old-yo-mama-so-old-the-back-of-her-head-looks-like-a/) [Jess Franken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-franken/) > [I haven't watched 'Half Baked' in 17 years, since I was editing it. It's like looking at an old picture where you have bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-brennan/i-haven-t-watched-half-baked-in-17-years-since-i-was-editing-it-it-s/) [Neal Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-brennan/) > [Sometimes you don't know if your memory is because you really experienced it or because you look at your old pictures. I have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-corbijn/sometimes-you-don-t-know-if-your-memory-is-because-you-really/) [Anton Corbijn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-corbijn/) > [The expectations of theory colour perception to such a degree that new notions seldom arise from facts collected under the influence of old pictures…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niles-eldredge/the-expectations-of-theory-colour-perception-to-such-a-degree-that/) [Niles Eldredge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niles-eldredge/) > [I look really old in this picture! :/](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-look-really-old-in-this-picture/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I hate all the old pictures of me before 2010 - and they are always the first ones to come up. That's why I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/i-hate-all-the-old-pictures-of-me-before-2010-and-they-are-always-the/) [Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/) > [Old picture but I love it !\*(:](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abby-wainwright/old-picture-but-i-love-it/) [Abby Wainwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abby-wainwright/) ## More by Gilbert Gottfried > [I can't even find someone for a platonic relationship, much less the kind where someone wants to see me naked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-gottfried/i-can-t-even-find-someone-for-a-platonic-relationship-much-less-the/) [Gilbert Gottfried](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-gottfried/) > [With Katrina, it's almost like the sequel that doesn't live up to the original. It's certainly a shocking event and a tragedy, but somehow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-gottfried/with-katrina-it-s-almost-like-the-sequel-that-doesn-t-live-up-to-the/) [Gilbert Gottfried](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-gottfried/) > [I've never been one of those who wanted to fill my calendar up 90 percent of the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-gottfried/i-ve-never-been-one-of-those-who-wanted-to-fill-my-calendar-up-90/) [Gilbert Gottfried](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-gottfried/) > [I predict one of these two teams will win the Super Bowl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-gottfried/i-predict-one-of-these-two-teams-will-win-the-super-bowl/) [Gilbert Gottfried](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-gottfried/) > [I think of Alan Thicke as Perry Como without the excitement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-gottfried/i-think-of-alan-thicke-as-perry-como-without-the-excitement/) [Gilbert Gottfried](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-gottfried/) > [I always wish the hotels were like they are in movies and TV shows, where if you're in Paris, right outside your window is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-gottfried/i-always-wish-the-hotels-were-like-they-are-in-movies-and-tv-shows/) [Gilbert Gottfried](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-gottfried/) > [If the police ever try to pick me up, Michael Jackson told me I can hide out at his house.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-gottfried/if-the-police-ever-try-to-pick-me-up-michael-jackson-told-me-i-can/) [Gilbert Gottfried](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-gottfried/) > [I remember being at the premiere of 'Beverly Hills Cop II' and the tremendous reaction from the crowd outside, then going to a party…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-gottfried/i-remember-being-at-the-premiere-of-beverly-hills-cop-ii-and-the/) [Gilbert Gottfried](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-gottfried/) > [Unfortunately, I've never been mistaken as Johnny Depp.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-gottfried/unfortunately-i-ve-never-been-mistaken-as-johnny-depp/) [Gilbert Gottfried](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-gottfried/) > [If someone else is paying for it, food just tastes a lot better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-gottfried/if-someone-else-is-paying-for-it-food-just-tastes-a-lot-better/) [Gilbert Gottfried](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-gottfried/) > [I just don't accept midgets as human beings. There's only so much political correctness I can accept.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-gottfried/i-just-don-t-accept-midgets-as-human-beings-there-s-only-so-much/) [Gilbert Gottfried](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-gottfried/) > [People have many theories about comedy, but being just plain funny is the one most important thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-gottfried/people-have-many-theories-about-comedy-but-being-just-plain-funny-is/) [Gilbert Gottfried](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-gottfried/) > [I found out about Jonathan Winters death a day after it happened. That seems wrong. A talent like his should be more revered. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-gottfried/i-found-out-about-jonathan-winters-death-a-day-after-it-happened-that/) [Gilbert Gottfried](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-gottfried/) > [There are certain things I don't want to joke about. If it's about somebody else, it's fine. If it's about me, I think it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-gottfried/there-are-certain-things-i-don-t-want-to-joke-about-if-it-s-about/) [Gilbert Gottfried](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-gottfried/) > [If you have the Old Testament at home, if you flip the corner pages, you can see Jesus riding a horse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-gottfried/if-you-have-the-old-testament-at-home-if-you-flip-the-corner-pages/) [Gilbert Gottfried](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-gottfried/) [Explore all 87 Gilbert Gottfried quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-gottfried/) ## More Always quotes > [I think performing has pretty much always been a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-briones/i-think-performing-has-pretty-much-always-been-a-part-of-me/) [Isa Briones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-briones/) > [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/) [William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I have really good lateral movement. I've always had quick lateral movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-have-really-good-lateral-movement-i-ve-always-had-quick-lateral/) [Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/) [Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/) > [It's not writing in the traditional sense, but I've always said that the writing process continues on the set and even into the editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-weide/it-s-not-writing-in-the-traditional-sense-but-i-ve-always-said-that/) [Robert B. Weide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-weide/) > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [I've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/) [Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [Bayern is always a team that can win the Champions League title in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/bayern-is-always-a-team-that-can-win-the-champions-league-title-in/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) Browse all 36,048 Always quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I have always felt comedy and tragedy are roommates. 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