--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The most frightening thing about playing…" description: "\"The most frightening thing about playing Dick Gregory is I've never done stand-up before, and I had to learn how to be a stand-up comedian, which was a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/720/joe-morton-3905_comedian_the-most-frightening-thing-about-playing_2958108.png" --- # The most frightening thing about playing Dick Gregory is… ![“The most frightening thing about playing Dick Gregory is I've never done stand-up before, and I had to learn how to be a stand-up comedian, which was a bit of a challenge.” quote by Joe Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/720/joe-morton-3905_comedian_the-most-frightening-thing-about-playing_2958108.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/720/joe-morton-3905_comedian_the-most-frightening-thing-about-playing_2958108.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/720/joe-morton-3905_comedian_the-most-frightening-thing-about-playing_2958108.png) > “The most frightening thing about playing Dick Gregory is I've never done stand-up before, and I had to learn how to be a stand-up comedian, which was a bit of a challenge.” [Joe Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-morton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Transitioning to stand‑up comedy without prior experience is daunting, requiring rapid skill acquisition and confidence. **In simple terms:** Learning comedy on the fly is challenging. Key Takeaway Embrace new challenges despite inexperience. Themes learning confidence comedy adaptation challenge Mood inspirational practical Type career creative When to use this quote - stand‑up shows - improv classes - career pivots - public speaking Key Concepts skill acquisition performance anxiety Questions to Reflect On - What strategies help you learn quickly? - How do you manage fear of failure? A Different Perspective Success may depend on prior related talents. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Comedian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedian/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Dick Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dick-gregory-226724/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gregory/) [How](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/how/) [Learn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learn/) [Never](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/never/) [Playing Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing-dick-2507847/) [Stand Comedian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stand-comedian/) ## Related quotes > [Dick Gregory used every syllable, every metaphor, every joke, every march, every incarceration, every hour of his life, to embarrass this country into providing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-morton/dick-gregory-used-every-syllable-every-metaphor-every-joke-every/) [Joe Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-morton/) > [When I first saw Dick Gregory on television, growing up in Queens, it was startling and amazing, because nobody else was doing what he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-morton/when-i-first-saw-dick-gregory-on-television-growing-up-in-queens-it/) [Joe Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-morton/) > [“fumbling around like a bear cub playing with his dick”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl/fumbling-around-like-a-bear-cub-playing-with-his-dick/) [Karl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl/) > [I know who Dick Gregory is; I knew what his accomplishments are. I certainly knew him as a comedian and an activist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-morton/i-know-who-dick-gregory-is-i-knew-what-his-accomplishments-are-i/) [Joe Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-morton/) > [Dick Gregory will be greatly missed. Humbly, and in his stead, 'Turn Me Loose' carries on to be his voice and his inspiration for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-morton/dick-gregory-will-be-greatly-missed-humbly-and-in-his-stead-turn-me/) [Joe Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-morton/) > [The skill of a good actor is to make it always seem like you're in that fantastically spontaneous moment. Very often, a stand-up comedian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-firth/the-skill-of-a-good-actor-is-to-make-it-always-seem-like-you-re-in/) [Colin Firth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-firth/) > [A stand-up comedian faces the audiences and gets their immediate feedback. I hide behind the comic strip, and unless people write to me, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-pastis/a-stand-up-comedian-faces-the-audiences-and-gets-their-immediate/) [Stephan Pastis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-pastis/) > [The real focus at first is to just become a good stand-up comedian, and then when you get to a certain level, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/the-real-focus-at-first-is-to-just-become-a-good-stand-up-comedian/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [That's how to make a stand-up comedian: You take a person who is uncomfortable and try to squirrel their way out of it through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-kamau-bell/that-s-how-to-make-a-stand-up-comedian-you-take-a-person-who-is/) [W. Kamau Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-kamau-bell/) > [I started as a stand-up comedian at charity shows in Mumbai.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-lever/i-started-as-a-stand-up-comedian-at-charity-shows-in-mumbai/) [Johnny Lever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-lever/) > [Dick Gregory was a great comedian who went and got arrested, did hunger strikes, protests. It never hurt his career to be outspoken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-rogan/dick-gregory-was-a-great-comedian-who-went-and-got-arrested-did/) [Joe Rogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-rogan/) > [There are many styles of standup, but the comedians I like are people like Dick Gregory and Richard Pryor. Because Richard Pryor told the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-murphy/there-are-many-styles-of-standup-but-the-comedians-i-like-are-people/) [Charlie Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-murphy/) > [Dick Gregory and Richard Pryor laid the groundwork for us as Indian-Americans. How can we add our story to their groundwork is the question.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hasan-minhaj/dick-gregory-and-richard-pryor-laid-the-groundwork-for-us-as-indian/) [Hasan Minhaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hasan-minhaj/) > [It was a damned good thing men couldn’t have children. Gregory took no shame in admitting that the human race would have died out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/it-was-a-damned-good-thing-men-couldn-t-have-children-gregory-took-no/) [Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) > [Gregory Hines was the most talented man I've ever met or seen. Gregory Hines is one of those people that whenever he talked to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-pierce/gregory-hines-was-the-most-talented-man-i-ve-ever-met-or-seen-gregory/) [Wendell Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-pierce/) ## More by Joe Morton > [I guess on one hand I believe it doesn't matter if there is life after death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-morton/i-guess-on-one-hand-i-believe-it-doesn-t-matter-if-there-is-life/) [Joe Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-morton/) > [I love doing theater. Despite the fact that out of theater, film, and TV, theater is the hardest thing to do. It's the least…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-morton/i-love-doing-theater-despite-the-fact-that-out-of-theater-film-and-tv/) [Joe Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-morton/) > [My father was in the military; he was a captain. His service was to quote-unquote integrate the Armed Forces overseas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-morton/my-father-was-in-the-military-he-was-a-captain-his-service-was-to/) [Joe Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-morton/) > [The more you know about the world, the more resources you have in terms of things that can inform your character or the circumstances…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-morton/the-more-you-know-about-the-world-the-more-resources-you-have-in/) [Joe Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-morton/) > [Basically, the actor's job is to pay attention to the script.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-morton/basically-the-actor-s-job-is-to-pay-attention-to-the-script/) [Joe Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-morton/) > [One of the beauties of working in Shondaland is that they make an effort to get to know who you are, so they're not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-morton/one-of-the-beauties-of-working-in-shondaland-is-that-they-make-an/) [Joe Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-morton/) > [I think the greatest lesson that power has to teach us is, once you've had it, once you are a part of it, you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-morton/i-think-the-greatest-lesson-that-power-has-to-teach-us-is-once-you-ve/) [Joe Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-morton/) > [Republicans in the South... are trying to find ways, not so much to block black and brown people from voting, but to block black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-morton/republicans-in-the-south-are-trying-to-find-ways-not-so-much-to-block/) [Joe Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-morton/) > [You make up your mind what part you want to read for and why. It's kept me focused - on what's important, what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-morton/you-make-up-your-mind-what-part-you-want-to-read-for-and-why-it-s/) [Joe Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-morton/) > [Everyone does what they believe they need to do in order to survive in this business, 'survive' being the operative word.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-morton/everyone-does-what-they-believe-they-need-to-do-in-order-to-survive/) [Joe Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-morton/) > [Race prejudice has nothing to do with color. It has to do with being the stranger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-morton/race-prejudice-has-nothing-to-do-with-color-it-has-to-do-with-being/) [Joe Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-morton/) > [It's important to know, whether you're pro or anti the current president and what he's doing, that he's doing what he thinks is for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-morton/it-s-important-to-know-whether-you-re-pro-or-anti-the-current/) [Joe Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-morton/) > [I think that, unfortunately, it appears that Donald Trump is trampling all over the Constitution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-morton/i-think-that-unfortunately-it-appears-that-donald-trump-is-trampling/) [Joe Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-morton/) > [I think many villains have the burden of not being very human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-morton/i-think-many-villains-have-the-burden-of-not-being-very-human/) [Joe Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-morton/) > [The argument for '12 Years a Slave' was that - yes, it's a beautiful film. Beautifully shot, beautifully acted. It's a real story, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-morton/the-argument-for-12-years-a-slave-was-that-yes-it-s-a-beautiful-film/) [Joe Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-morton/) [Explore all 119 Joe Morton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-morton/) ## More Comedian quotes > [I would say most comedians have a very cynical worldview of the way the world can work. 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We need to make people laugh more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-davies/the-only-difference-between-a-comedian-and-someone-else-we-need-to/) [Greg Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-davies/) > [When a soldier of the night's watch dies they say, "And now his watch is over." That's what they say when a comedian dies.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-williams/when-a-soldier-of-the-night-s-watch-dies-they-say-and-now-his-watch/) [Brad Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-williams/) > [My mom is two people to me. She's my mom number one, and then she's this lady most comedians know as being a legendary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauly-shore/my-mom-is-two-people-to-me-she-s-my-mom-number-one-and-then-she-s/) [Pauly Shore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauly-shore/) > [If I had a choice, I would rather watch a comedian not involve themselves in politics at all but be hilarious than someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-richardson/if-i-had-a-choice-i-would-rather-watch-a-comedian-not-involve/) [Jon Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-richardson/) > [I wouldn't mind gigging around the same era as Jesus, after he gives his speech about the meek and how blessed they are and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-jefferies/i-wouldn-t-mind-gigging-around-the-same-era-as-jesus-after-he-gives/) [Jim Jefferies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-jefferies/) > [If someone doesn't like a comedian that's fine; a lot of people probably don't like my standup, and that's fine. But I think that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-norton/if-someone-doesn-t-like-a-comedian-that-s-fine-a-lot-of-people/) [Jim Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-norton/) > [It's very rare that an older comedian sort of slips into an old-school clunker. You know, you don't hear too much of that anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-ross/it-s-very-rare-that-an-older-comedian-sort-of-slips-into-an-old/) [Jeff Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-ross/) > [I was a kid, and I would watch standup comics do the 'Tonight Show,' and if Johnny Carson liked you, he'd wave you over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-koy/i-was-a-kid-and-i-would-watch-standup-comics-do-the-tonight-show-and/) [Jo Koy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-koy/) > [Gary Greenberg is a thoughtful comedian and a cranky philosopher and a humble pest of a reporter, equal parts Woody Allen, Kierkegaard, and Columbo.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gideon-lewis-kraus/gary-greenberg-is-a-thoughtful-comedian-and-a-cranky-philosopher-and/) [Gideon Lewis-Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gideon-lewis-kraus/) > [For me, comedians are like the epitome for everything great, and they terrify me. I just want to be them. 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The difference is, my special will air on Comedy Central, not Telemundo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-iglesias/i-m-a-comedian-who-happens-to-be-latino-what-s-the-difference-the/) [Gabriel Iglesias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-iglesias/) [Browse all 1,775 Comedian quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedian/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The most frightening thing about playing Dick Gregory is I've never done stand-up before, and I had to learn how to be a stand-up comedian, which was a bit of a challenge.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Joe Morton" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-morton/the-most-frightening-thing-about-playing-dick-gregory-is-i-ve-never/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Comedian" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-morton/the-most-frightening-thing-about-playing-dick-gregory-is-i-ve-never/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/720/joe-morton-3905_comedian_the-most-frightening-thing-about-playing_2958108.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/720/joe-morton-3905_comedian_the-most-frightening-thing-about-playing_2958108.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/720/joe-morton-3905_comedian_the-most-frightening-thing-about-playing_2958108.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The most frightening thing about playing Dick Gregory is I've never done stand-up before, and I had to learn…” — Joe Morton", "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": "Joe Morton", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-morton/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The most frightening thing about playing...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-morton/the-most-frightening-thing-about-playing-dick-gregory-is-i-ve-never/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-morton/the-most-frightening-thing-about-playing-dick-gregory-is-i-ve-never/#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 } } ] } ```