---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think stand-up comedy is this - it's…"
description: "\"I think stand-up comedy is this - it's this kind of indulgence and narcissism.\" — Jim Gaffigan"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/644/jim-gaffigan-580_comedy_i-think-stand-up-comedy-is-this-it-s-thi_1333863.jpg"
---

#  I think stand-up comedy is this - it's this kind of…

![“I think stand-up comedy is this - it's this kind of indulgence and narcissism.” quote by Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/644/jim-gaffigan-580_comedy_i-think-stand-up-comedy-is-this-it-s-thi_1333863.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/644/jim-gaffigan-580_comedy_i-think-stand-up-comedy-is-this-it-s-thi_1333863.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/644/jim-gaffigan-580_comedy_i-think-stand-up-comedy-is-this-it-s-thi_1333863.jpg)

> “I think stand-up comedy is this - it's this kind of indulgence and narcissism.”

[Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Comedy often serves as a mirror for self‑indulgence and ego, highlighting personal vanity.

**In simple terms:** Comedy reflects ego.

Key Takeaway

Recognize humor’s self‑centered roots.

Themes

humor ego self‑reflection

Mood

witty critical

Type

entertainment observational

When to use this quote

- performing
- writing
- public speaking

Key Concepts

psychology media studies

Questions to Reflect On

- How does self‑indulgence affect audience connection?
- Can comedy be both self‑aware and inclusive?

A Different Perspective

Humor can also foster empathy, not just narcissism.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Narcissism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/narcissism/) [Stand up comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stand-up-comedy/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/)

## Related quotes

> [When has stand-up comedy been kind to anyone? It goes after anyone who's the target. Comedy attacks, man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-kinison/when-has-stand-up-comedy-been-kind-to-anyone-it-goes-after-anyone-who/)

[Sam Kinison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-kinison/)

> [When I started stand-up - and this is in the '90s - there was definitely people hadn't watched decades of Comedy Central, where people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/when-i-started-stand-up-and-this-is-in-the-90s-there-was-definitely/)

[Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/)

> [Stand-up comedy in the end, unlike the rest of the entertainment industry, is a meritocracy. There's a certain level of undeniability you can work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/stand-up-comedy-in-the-end-unlike-the-rest-of-the-entertainment/)

[Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/)

> [People need to write articles and they need to have angles in them and I'm grateful when people are doing articles, but I always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/people-need-to-write-articles-and-they-need-to-have-angles-in-them/)

[Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/)

> [I am a guy who talks about bacon and escalators. Stand-up comedy is very much a conversation. It's very personal, stylistically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/i-am-a-guy-who-talks-about-bacon-and-escalators-stand-up-comedy-is/)

[Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/)

> [For me, stand-up comedy is a conversation between me and the audience. I have to keep them listening. When I'm making jokes about cake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/for-me-stand-up-comedy-is-a-conversation-between-me-and-the-audience/)

[Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/)

> [On MySpace ... the whole demographic of the stand-up comedy fan has changed. It's like an indie band thing. People think they've discovered you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/on-myspace-the-whole-demographic-of-the-stand-up-comedy-fan-has/)

[Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/)

> [You're on stage and because stand-up comedy is one of the few meritocracies in the entertainment industry, there's some kind of - at least…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/you-re-on-stage-and-because-stand-up-comedy-is-one-of-the-few/)

[Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/)

> [I mean, there's an aspect I've always said that is - it's, you know, it's not poetry but it's kind of like it. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-tarantino/i-mean-there-s-an-aspect-i-ve-always-said-that-is-it-s-you-know-it-s/)

[Quentin Tarantino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-tarantino/)

> [About a year after I moved to Los Angeles, I decided I wanted to be a joke writer for a late night talk show.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/about-a-year-after-i-moved-to-los-angeles-i-decided-i-wanted-to-be-a/)

[Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/)

> [You know, it wasn't even that I'm a funny guy, I just loved stand-up comedy and I wanted to do it. It was one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-burr/you-know-it-wasn-t-even-that-i-m-a-funny-guy-i-just-loved-stand-up/)

[Bill Burr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-burr/)

> [Stand-up comedy is a very hard thing on the spirit. There are people who transcend it, like Jack Benny and Steve Martin, but in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-nichols/stand-up-comedy-is-a-very-hard-thing-on-the-spirit-there-are-people/)

[Mike Nichols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-nichols/)

> [Stand-up comedy is an art form and it dies unless you expand it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-kinison/stand-up-comedy-is-an-art-form-and-it-dies-unless-you-expand-it/)

[Sam Kinison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-kinison/)

> [When you're standing around for an hour doing stand up it's no big deal but when you're standing around watching a show for an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-rogan/when-you-re-standing-around-for-an-hour-doing-stand-up-it-s-no-big/)

[Joe Rogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-rogan/)

> [Regardless of what I do, whether I write a book or whether I act or whether I host, I'll always do stand-up comedy because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howie-mandel/regardless-of-what-i-do-whether-i-write-a-book-or-whether-i-act-or/)

[Howie Mandel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howie-mandel/)

## More by Jim Gaffigan

> [“Cousins are like celebrities for little kids.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/cousins-are-like-celebrities-for-little-kids/)

[Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/)

> [Stand-up comedy in the end, unlike the rest of the entertainment industry, is a meritocracy. There's a certain level of undeniability you can work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/stand-up-comedy-in-the-end-unlike-the-rest-of-the-entertainment/)

[Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/)

> [I think growing up in Indiana prepares anyone for a life in comedy. I do feel like there is a certain kind of self-effacing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/i-think-growing-up-in-indiana-prepares-anyone-for-a-life-in-comedy-i/)

[Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/)

> [Besides hot pockets keeps introducing new products every 10 minutes so I always have new stuff on the topic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/besides-hot-pockets-keeps-introducing-new-products-every-10-minutes/)

[Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/)

> [“The song goes, “Morning has broken,” and I’m pretty sure my children broke it. Like everything else they break, if they did break it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/the-song-goes-morning-has-broken-and-i-m-pretty-sure-my-children/)

[Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/)

> [I am single, I don't drink. It's kind of hard to get a woman buzzed when you don't drink. You'll be like, "Yeah, I'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/i-am-single-i-don-t-drink-it-s-kind-of-hard-to-get-a-woman-buzzed/)

[Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/)

> [Babies and toddlers are mostly what I've been exposed to at this point. I'm hoping parenting just gets much easier after this. It does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/babies-and-toddlers-are-mostly-what-i-ve-been-exposed-to-at-this/)

[Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/)

> [Isn't it strange -- when you're single, all you see is couples, and when you're part of a couple, all you see are hookers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/isn-t-it-strange-when-you-re-single-all-you-see-is-couples-and-when/)

[Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/)

> [I usually don't have a burger, a brat, and a steak but it is 4th of July. And I need the energy if I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/i-usually-don-t-have-a-burger-a-brat-and-a-steak-but-it-is-4th-of/)

[Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/)

> [“If you complain about how you spend your Saturdays taking your kid to birthday parties, that means you are taking your kid to birthday…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/if-you-complain-about-how-you-spend-your-saturdays-taking-your-kid-to/)

[Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/)

> [Ever eat so much you feel sick? Isn't that the best?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/ever-eat-so-much-you-feel-sick-isn-t-that-the-best/)

[Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/)

> [I believe that comedians do what they do, and then they get credit or criticism for doing it. There's nothing planned about this.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/i-believe-that-comedians-do-what-they-do-and-then-they-get-credit-or/)

[Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/)

> [“Being a parent is a selfless adventure. The worldview of “Take care of yourself first” is no longer logical to a sane person if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/being-a-parent-is-a-selfless-adventure-the-worldview-of-take-care-of/)

[Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/)

> [“Occasionally, a dog will be presented as some training method for having a baby. "My girlfriend and I got a dog. We are going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/occasionally-a-dog-will-be-presented-as-some-training-method-for/)

[Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/)

> [Cookies at both of them. The cookies are probably better at Letterman though.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/cookies-at-both-of-them-the-cookies-are-probably-better-at-letterman/)

[Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/)

[Explore all 465 Jim Gaffigan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/)

## More Comedy quotes

> ['Mad TV' is one of my most favorite shows of all time and is a huge part of my obsession with sketch comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-dawson/mad-tv-is-one-of-my-most-favorite-shows-of-all-time-and-is-a-huge/)

[Shane Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-dawson/)

> [You can laugh at me, but I understand show business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ksenia-sobchak/you-can-laugh-at-me-but-i-understand-show-business/)

[Ksenia Sobchak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ksenia-sobchak/)

> [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/)

[Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/)

> [I wouldn't want people to laugh at me. That's why I have to give all that I can, and at least produce something that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhao-wei/i-wouldn-t-want-people-to-laugh-at-me-that-s-why-i-have-to-give-all/)

[Zhao Wei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhao-wei/)

> [“Our world will not die as a result of the bomb, as the papers say, it will die of laughter, of banality, of making a joke…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/our-world-will-not-die-as-a-result-of-the-bomb-as-the-papers-say-it/)

[Carlos Ruiz Zafon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/)

> [I've been funny my whole life. This is a gift God gave me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-morgan/i-ve-been-funny-my-whole-life-this-is-a-gift-god-gave-me/)

[Tracy Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-morgan/)

> [“Laugh and grow strong”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ignatius-of-loyola/laugh-and-grow-strong/)

[Ignatius of Loyola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ignatius-of-loyola/)

> [In the future, I would like to do more films with contemporary themes. Perhaps comedy, which is something I have done in theater but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/in-the-future-i-would-like-to-do-more-films-with-contemporary-themes/)

[Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/)

> [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/)

[Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/)

> [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/)

[Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/)

> [There's a difference between delivering real funny and just silly funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-rel-howery/there-s-a-difference-between-delivering-real-funny-and-just-silly/)

[Lil Rel Howery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-rel-howery/)

> [Oh to that corkscrew, the useful tool to unlock the treasure of wit, the treasury of laughter, the front door of fellowship, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-guzaldo/oh-to-that-corkscrew-the-useful-tool-to-unlock-the-treasure-of-wit/)

[Andrew Guzaldo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-guzaldo/)

> [“Men circle like bees around honey, buzzing to communicate their sexual despair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carla-h-krueger/men-circle-like-bees-around-honey-buzzing-to-communicate-their-sexual/)

[Carla H Krueger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carla-h-krueger/)

> [I do love to laugh!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-giudice/i-do-love-to-laugh/)

[Teresa Giudice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-giudice/)

> [I really enjoy making people laugh; I've discovered that's a great technique. That's as powerful as stirring their sorrow, stirring their compassion, because that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/i-really-enjoy-making-people-laugh-i-ve-discovered-that-s-a-great/)

[Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/)

[Browse all 19,795 Comedy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I think stand-up comedy is this - it's this kind of indulgence and narcissism.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Jim Gaffigan"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/i-think-stand-up-comedy-is-this-it-s-this-kind-of-indulgence-and/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Comedy"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/i-think-stand-up-comedy-is-this-it-s-this-kind-of-indulgence-and/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/644/jim-gaffigan-580_comedy_i-think-stand-up-comedy-is-this-it-s-thi_1333863.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/644/jim-gaffigan-580_comedy_i-think-stand-up-comedy-is-this-it-s-thi_1333863.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/644/jim-gaffigan-580_comedy_i-think-stand-up-comedy-is-this-it-s-thi_1333863.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I think stand-up comedy is this - it's this kind of indulgence and narcissism.” — Jim Gaffigan",
                "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": "Jim Gaffigan",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I think stand-up comedy is this...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/i-think-stand-up-comedy-is-this-it-s-this-kind-of-indulgence-and/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/i-think-stand-up-comedy-is-this-it-s-this-kind-of-indulgence-and/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
