--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I can work as a writer, but I wanted to…" description: "\"I can work as a writer, but I wanted to do stand-up.\" — Hannibal Buress" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10f/hannibal-buress-8402_i-can_i-can-work-as-a-writer-but-i-wanted-to-d_3127588.jpg" --- # I can work as a writer, but I wanted to do stand-up. ![“I can work as a writer, but I wanted to do stand-up.” quote by Hannibal Buress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10f/hannibal-buress-8402_i-can_i-can-work-as-a-writer-but-i-wanted-to-d_3127588.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10f/hannibal-buress-8402_i-can_i-can-work-as-a-writer-but-i-wanted-to-d_3127588.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10f/hannibal-buress-8402_i-can_i-can-work-as-a-writer-but-i-wanted-to-d_3127588.jpg) > “I can work as a writer, but I wanted to do stand-up.” [Hannibal Buress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannibal-buress/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He balances writing with a desire to perform live comedy, highlighting a tension between behind‑the‑scenes work and on‑stage expression. **In simple terms:** Wants to write but also perform stand‑up. Key Takeaway Pursue both writing and performing. Themes career aspirations creative tension performance Mood ambitious reflective Type motivational career When to use this quote - writing gigs - open‑mic nights - comedy workshops - networking events Key Concepts identity artistic fulfillment risk taking Questions to Reflect On - Do you feel writing supports your stand‑up, or vice versa? - How can you integrate both without burnout? A Different Perspective Balancing two creative paths can dilute focus and delay mastery. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [I can](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-can/) [Stand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stand/) [Stand up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stand-up/) [Wanted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [Work Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-writer-4416230/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writer Wanted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer-wanted-711401/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I can work as a writer, but I wanted to do stand-up. And I knew I could, at worst, work as a stand-up. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannibal-buress/i-can-work-as-a-writer-but-i-wanted-to-do-stand-up-and-i-knew-i-could/) [Hannibal Buress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannibal-buress/) > [I always was a writer, but then I wanted to do stand-up because I thought that was a way that I could perform what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roseanne-barr/i-always-was-a-writer-but-then-i-wanted-to-do-stand-up-because-i/) [Roseanne Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roseanne-barr/) > [As an actor, you are always waiting for someone else to be able to tell you when it's okay to work, and as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-letscher/as-an-actor-you-are-always-waiting-for-someone-else-to-be-able-to/) [Matt Letscher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-letscher/) > [It's good to work with a writer-director.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raashi-khanna/it-s-good-to-work-with-a-writer-director/) [Raashi Khanna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raashi-khanna/) > [It wasn't a decision to become a writer. I wanted to become a writer of crime fiction. I was very specific.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-connelly/it-wasn-t-a-decision-to-become-a-writer-i-wanted-to-become-a-writer/) [Michael Connelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-connelly/) > [I longed to be a writer, always wanted to be a writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fannie-flagg/i-longed-to-be-a-writer-always-wanted-to-be-a-writer/) [Fannie Flagg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fannie-flagg/) > [I wanted to be a writer. I wanted experiences from Cape Town to right up in northern Mozambique.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/princess-michael-of-kent/i-wanted-to-be-a-writer-i-wanted-experiences-from-cape-town-to-right/) [Princess Michael of Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/princess-michael-of-kent/) > [I wanted to be a writer. I wanted to say something about home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-gaines/i-wanted-to-be-a-writer-i-wanted-to-say-something-about-home/) [Ernest Gaines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-gaines/) > [Of course I wanted to know. I was a writer. I wanted to know everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-david-roberts/of-course-i-wanted-to-know-i-was-a-writer-i-wanted-to-know-everything/) [Gregory David Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-david-roberts/) > [My first time on TV doing stand-up, I actually did this show in Holland called 'The Comedy Factory' hosted by Jorgen Raymann. It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannibal-buress/my-first-time-on-tv-doing-stand-up-i-actually-did-this-show-in/) [Hannibal Buress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannibal-buress/) > [I did a 'Last Comic Standing' audition in 2006, where you're just performing for three people in a comedy club, in a big comedy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannibal-buress/i-did-a-last-comic-standing-audition-in-2006-where-you-re-just/) [Hannibal Buress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannibal-buress/) > [I certainly want campaign finance reform. I just wish this would do it in a way that would stand up to a constitutional challenge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-nelson/i-certainly-want-campaign-finance-reform-i-just-wish-this-would-do-it/) [Ben Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-nelson/) > [Doing stand up helps - thinking on your feet definitely comes in handy when it's a live show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-carr/doing-stand-up-helps-thinking-on-your-feet-definitely-comes-in-handy/) [Alan Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-carr/) > [“Stand up for yourself. Never give any one permission to abuse you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/stand-up-for-yourself-never-give-any-one-permission-to-abuse-you/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darlene-senger/) ## More by Hannibal Buress > [ Acting is fun; it's easier than writing, and if you get on a \[TV\] show, it draws people to your stand-up. That's ultimately what… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannibal-buress/acting-is-fun-it-s-easier-than-writing-and-if-you-get-on-a-tv-show-it/) [Hannibal Buress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannibal-buress/) > [There's been times where I sold the place out, and I walked in and the guy's like, 'Uh, ID?' 'No, you can't ID me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannibal-buress/there-s-been-times-where-i-sold-the-place-out-and-i-walked-in-and-the/) [Hannibal Buress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannibal-buress/) > [I'm not like a super duper sneaker head. I got a couple pairs, but I'm not a "stand in line for sneakers" type of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannibal-buress/i-m-not-like-a-super-duper-sneaker-head-i-got-a-couple-pairs-but-i-m/) [Hannibal Buress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannibal-buress/) > [God sounds kinda like a shitty father to me. If God was so powerful why'd he have to give his son up? 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And they're real.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannibal-buress/i-like-burritos-more-than-jesus-because-steak-burritos-are-delicious/) [Hannibal Buress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannibal-buress/) > [If you want to do anything, you got to go do it. Perform a lot, write a lot, make yourself better. Use the Internet,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannibal-buress/if-you-want-to-do-anything-you-got-to-go-do-it-perform-a-lot-write-a/) [Hannibal Buress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannibal-buress/) > [I never use a napkin on my lap at a restaurant...because I believe in myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannibal-buress/i-never-use-a-napkin-on-my-lap-at-a-restaurant-because-i-believe-in/) [Hannibal Buress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannibal-buress/) > [Gibberish rap is - I freestyle all the time, just hangin' out with friends. And sometimes when I'm freestyling, I'll lose my flow, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannibal-buress/gibberish-rap-is-i-freestyle-all-the-time-just-hangin-out-with/) [Hannibal Buress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannibal-buress/) > [I'd like to be remembered as good person and as one of the best comedians of my generation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannibal-buress/i-d-like-to-be-remembered-as-good-person-and-as-one-of-the-best/) [Hannibal Buress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannibal-buress/) > [I like showing different types of comedy - showing that I could tell a story, or showing that I could do a one-liner, showing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannibal-buress/i-like-showing-different-types-of-comedy-showing-that-i-could-tell-a/) [Hannibal Buress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannibal-buress/) > [I can work as a writer, but I wanted to do stand-up. And I knew I could, at worst, work as a stand-up. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannibal-buress/i-can-work-as-a-writer-but-i-wanted-to-do-stand-up-and-i-knew-i-could/) [Hannibal Buress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannibal-buress/) > [My nephew's always crying. I'm like, 'Dude, why are you crying? Your life is great. All you do is eat apple sauce and take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannibal-buress/my-nephew-s-always-crying-i-m-like-dude-why-are-you-crying-your-life/) [Hannibal Buress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannibal-buress/) > [When somebody mangles one of my jokes, that bothers me more than somebody saying that I'm the worst comedian ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannibal-buress/when-somebody-mangles-one-of-my-jokes-that-bothers-me-more-than/) [Hannibal Buress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannibal-buress/) [Explore all 81 Hannibal Buress quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannibal-buress/) ## More I can quotes > [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. 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Especially for the kids and everybody, showing my example of what I can achieve so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-sharapova/i-love-playing-for-my-country-getting-the-support-especially-for-the/) [Maria Sharapova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-sharapova/) > [I always step on the plane with my right foot and touch the outside of the plane with my left hand. Sometimes you know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hope-davis/i-always-step-on-the-plane-with-my-right-foot-and-touch-the-outside/) [Hope Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hope-davis/) > [From as long as I can remember, I was always fond of drawing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-lucia/from-as-long-as-i-can-remember-i-was-always-fond-of-drawing/) [St. Lucia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-lucia/) > [I don't want to be famous famous. I'm happy on the second tier, where I have autonomy on a professional level but I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-reece/i-don-t-want-to-be-famous-famous-i-m-happy-on-the-second-tier-where-i/) [Gabrielle Reece](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-reece/) > [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/) > [From my experience of having served for 3000 days, I can say that anything can be achieved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/from-my-experience-of-having-served-for-3000-days-i-can-say-that/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [I can still function when I don't have that balance I crave. 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Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) [Browse all 24,836 I can quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-can/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I can work as a writer, but I wanted to do stand-up.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Hannibal Buress" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannibal-buress/i-can-work-as-a-writer-but-i-wanted-to-do-stand-up/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "I can" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannibal-buress/i-can-work-as-a-writer-but-i-wanted-to-do-stand-up/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10f/hannibal-buress-8402_i-can_i-can-work-as-a-writer-but-i-wanted-to-d_3127588.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10f/hannibal-buress-8402_i-can_i-can-work-as-a-writer-but-i-wanted-to-d_3127588.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10f/hannibal-buress-8402_i-can_i-can-work-as-a-writer-but-i-wanted-to-d_3127588.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I can work as a writer, but I wanted to do stand-up.” — Hannibal Buress", "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": "Hannibal Buress", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannibal-buress/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I can work as a writer,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannibal-buress/i-can-work-as-a-writer-but-i-wanted-to-do-stand-up/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannibal-buress/i-can-work-as-a-writer-but-i-wanted-to-do-stand-up/#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 } } ] } ```