--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Comedy is much harder, it's a lot more…" description: "\"Comedy is much harder, it's a lot more exacting. You can't just be real and you can't just use the same kind of techniques you use to fill up a regular..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4b/jack-nicholson-1283_being-real_comedy-is-much-harder-it-s-a-lot-more-ex_187548.jpg" --- # Comedy is much harder, it's a lot more exacting. You can't… ![“Comedy is much harder, it's a lot more exacting. You can't just be real and you can't just use the same kind of techniques you use to fill up a regular scene.” quote by Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4b/jack-nicholson-1283_being-real_comedy-is-much-harder-it-s-a-lot-more-ex_187548.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4b/jack-nicholson-1283_being-real_comedy-is-much-harder-it-s-a-lot-more-ex_187548.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4b/jack-nicholson-1283_being-real_comedy-is-much-harder-it-s-a-lot-more-ex_187548.jpg) > “Comedy is much harder, it's a lot more exacting. You can't just be real and you can't just use the same kind of techniques you use to fill up a regular scene.” [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Comedy requires precision and craft; it cannot rely solely on authenticity or generic techniques. **In simple terms:** Comedy is a disciplined art. Key Takeaway Master the craft of humor. Themes creativity craftsmanship discipline Mood playful analytical Type educational inspirational When to use this quote - stand‑up - screenwriting - improv workshops Key Concepts timing structure subversion Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance structure with spontaneity? - What techniques sharpen comedic impact? A Different Perspective Humor can be stifled by over‑analysis, losing spontaneity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-real/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Technique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technique/) ## Related quotes > [THE TECHNIQUES OF the Art of Peace are neither fast nor slow, nor are they inside or outside.. They transcend time and space.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morihei-ueshiba/the-techniques-of-the-art-of-peace-are-neither-fast-nor-slow-nor-are/) [Morihei Ueshiba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morihei-ueshiba/) > [I don't use any techniques; I'm not trained to be an actor. I just enjoy working in films.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amitabh-bachchan/i-don-t-use-any-techniques-i-m-not-trained-to-be-an-actor-i-just/) [Amitabh Bachchan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amitabh-bachchan/) > [I don't think we'll ever use the same sound techniques.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-wilson/i-don-t-think-we-ll-ever-use-the-same-sound-techniques/) [Ann Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-wilson/) > [The techniques are all means of dealing with one simple idea: She wrote it. (That is, the "wrong" person--in this case, female--has created the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-russ/the-techniques-are-all-means-of-dealing-with-one-simple-idea-she/) [Joanna Russ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-russ/) > [We can be eaten by techniques and forget what we have inside of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-cantona/we-can-be-eaten-by-techniques-and-forget-what-we-have-inside-of-us/) [Eric Cantona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-cantona/) > [I have the manual, and the sad thing is that many of the techniques are exactly the same ones with a few enhancements by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-mcgovern/i-have-the-manual-and-the-sad-thing-is-that-many-of-the-techniques/) [Ray McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-mcgovern/) > [When you get a black belt, it’s not the number of techniques you know, but how well you know them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caio-terra/when-you-get-a-black-belt-it-s-not-the-number-of-techniques-you-know/) [Caio Terra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caio-terra/) > [You don't become a good teacher by applying techniques; you don't become a good teacher by using the latest hot methodologies that are being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parker-j-palmer/you-don-t-become-a-good-teacher-by-applying-techniques-you-don-t/) [Parker J. Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parker-j-palmer/) > [Having written both comedy and drama, comedy's harder because the fear of failure's so much stronger. When you write a scene and you see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-thomas/having-written-both-comedy-and-drama-comedy-s-harder-because-the-fear/) [Rob Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-thomas/) > [It proved to me, though, that comedy is so much harder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-elfman/it-proved-to-me-though-that-comedy-is-so-much-harder/) [Jenna Elfman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-elfman/) > [People often ask why comedy is harder for women, and the reason is because a tampon will sometimes fall out when you're on stage.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-eclair/people-often-ask-why-comedy-is-harder-for-women-and-the-reason-is/) [Jenny Eclair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-eclair/) > [Comedy is harder, because if there's no laughs, it's pretty bad. But drama, if there's no reaction, you can say, 'Well, it's not their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-willard/comedy-is-harder-because-if-there-s-no-laughs-it-s-pretty-bad-but/) [Fred Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-willard/) > [Drama is easier to do because you just have to have the emotion and not get caught acting, but comedy is much harder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-dempsey/drama-is-easier-to-do-because-you-just-have-to-have-the-emotion-and/) [Patrick Dempsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-dempsey/) > [I think comedy's harder to pull off on the screen than on the stage, anyway. Tragedy is easier on the screen... oddly enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-shepard/i-think-comedy-s-harder-to-pull-off-on-the-screen-than-on-the-stage/) [Sam Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-shepard/) > [ Comedy is harder than drama, because with comedy you're expecting a result..you make them laugh. \[If\] they ain't laughing then you're screwed. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-bob-thornton/comedy-is-harder-than-drama-because-with-comedy-you-re-expecting-a/) [Billy Bob Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-bob-thornton/) ## More by Jack Nicholson > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [Women are sort of like motorcycle gangs with me. They get really shy and polite. I don't know why.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/women-are-sort-of-like-motorcycle-gangs-with-me-they-get-really-shy/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [I love writing, but I stopped because I felt I was more effective approaching filmmaking from a different vantage point.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/i-love-writing-but-i-stopped-because-i-felt-i-was-more-effective/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [I've been too many places. I'm like the bad penny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/i-ve-been-too-many-places-i-m-like-the-bad-penny/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [I was invited to join the MGM cartoon department. But if I'd started work in animation I'd have had to take a cut in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/i-was-invited-to-join-the-mgm-cartoon-department-but-if-i-d-started/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [I don't play golf competitively. I tell everybody that I cheat so they won't gamble with me. That's why you can't watch football. Everybody's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/i-don-t-play-golf-competitively-i-tell-everybody-that-i-cheat-so-they/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [I'm such a perfectionist. I always feel overpraised or whatever. In the abstract, I know I'm a good person, a good professional. But it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/i-m-such-a-perfectionist-i-always-feel-overpraised-or-whatever-in-the/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [Men dominate because of physicality, and thus they have mercy where women do not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/men-dominate-because-of-physicality-and-thus-they-have-mercy-where/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [I think it's good if a man gives a woman some time to herself because I think we all need that and we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/i-think-it-s-good-if-a-man-gives-a-woman-some-time-to-herself-because/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [The most difficult thing about being well known? Getting out of a hotel room at 4am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/the-most-difficult-thing-about-being-well-known-getting-out-of-a/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [ He \[Castro\] is a genius. We spoke about everything. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/he-castro-is-a-genius-we-spoke-about-everything/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [I've always had an urge to feed my need to have fun and feel free. I don't see any interesting alternatives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/i-ve-always-had-an-urge-to-feed-my-need-to-have-fun-and-feel-free-i/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [Take caution in your tone, commander. I'm a fair man, but this -- heat is making me absolutely crazy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/take-caution-in-your-tone-commander-i-m-a-fair-man-but-this-heat-is/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [The stage has a certain discipline. But the ultimate standard is more exacting in film, because you have to see yourself and you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/the-stage-has-a-certain-discipline-but-the-ultimate-standard-is-more/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [I'd prefer if people had no impressions of me. As a kid, I had to tell my own family, "Please, just don't talk about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/i-d-prefer-if-people-had-no-impressions-of-me-as-a-kid-i-had-to-tell/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) [Explore all 261 Jack Nicholson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) ## More Being real quotes > [Don't be in such a hurry to condemn a person because she doesn't do what you do, or think as you think or as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcom-x/don-t-be-in-such-a-hurry-to-condemn-a-person-because-she-doesn-t-do/) [Malcom X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcom-x/) > [Well, I don't want to be king, I want to be real.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/well-i-don-t-want-to-be-king-i-want-to-be-real/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [Going through unknown people's profiles and judging them by their pictures is totally normal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pradeep-chandra/going-through-unknown-people-s-profiles-and-judging-them-by-their/) Pradeep Chandra > [When you are important to another person, they will always find a way to make time for you - no excuses, no lies, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-are-important-to-another-person-they-will-always-find-a-way/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you speak the truth watch the fuck niggas start hating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-speak-the-truth-watch-the-fuck-niggas-start-hating/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think about everyone in my life that was harsh with me or who gave me tough love and told me things that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlamagne-tha-god/i-think-about-everyone-in-my-life-that-was-harsh-with-me-or-who-gave/) [Charlamagne Tha God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlamagne-tha-god/) > [Laugh at every mistakes and realize that no one is perfect. We are human. All of us are imperfect, so there's no point judging…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/laugh-at-every-mistakes-and-realize-that-no-one-is-perfect-we-are/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Give yourself a chance to live because nobody will live it for you when you die](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/give-yourself-a-chance-to-live-because-nobody-will-live-it-for-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You've noticed a change huh ? She doesn't text you as often . She never calls you anymore . When she does text you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/delaney-ridnour/you-ve-noticed-a-change-huh-she-doesn-t-text-you-as-often-she-never/) [Delaney Ridnour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/delaney-ridnour/) > [I wish that one day you would finally realize that the person that is willing to love you forever is the person you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khat-leen/i-wish-that-one-day-you-would-finally-realize-that-the-person-that-is/) [Khat Leen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khat-leen/) > [..If you love her/him then why give up, nobody said love was easy and nobody said love was hard... a relationship is what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tevin-bostic/if-you-love-her-him-then-why-give-up-nobody-said-love-was-easy-and/) [TEVIN BOSTIC](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tevin-bostic/) > [I learned a tremendous amount about what was important to me as a head coach in that I was not in charge. I didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-carroll/i-learned-a-tremendous-amount-about-what-was-important-to-me-as-a/) [Pete Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-carroll/) > [Im loving you not because you're giving me what I need, Instead I'm loving you because you're giving me this feeling I never thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernajoy-vaal/im-loving-you-not-because-you-re-giving-me-what-i-need-instead-i-m/) [Bernajoy Vaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernajoy-vaal/) > [Be who you want to be, not what people want to see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/be-who-you-want-to-be-not-what-people-want-to-see/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There should be in eloquence that which is pleasing and that which is real; but that which is pleasing should itself be real.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/there-should-be-in-eloquence-that-which-is-pleasing-and-that-which-is/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) [Browse all 1,607 Being real quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-real/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Comedy is much harder, it's a lot more exacting. 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