Comedian Quote by John Cleese
“By watching the great, old comedians I picked up a few tricks about how to do physical comedy. And whenever I could learn something, I sort of added that to my repertoire.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: The Monty Python Years, 1975
Learning from masters lets you absorb techniques and expand your own skill set.
In simple terms: Study great comedians to improve your physical comedy.
Key Takeaway
Observe, practice, and integrate new tricks.
Themes
comedy
learning
skill development
Mood
humorous
inspirational
Type
educational
inspirational
When to use this quote
- stand‑up shows
- theatre rehearsals
- improv workshops
- film acting
Key Concepts
physical comedy
imitation
craftsmanship
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you make borrowed tricks uniquely yours?
- What physical comedy style suits your personality?
A Different Perspective
May rely too heavily on imitation, limiting originality.
![“Mel [Gibson] could stage physical comedy and put the camera in such a way... I mean, we did some really funny stuff, and he had some great ideas about how to do it. It was a delight to work with him in that regard.” quote by Keith Carradine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/110/keith-carradine-15039_cameras_mel-gibson-could-stage-physical-comedy-a_623760.jpg)
![“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 all that type of bullshit, going up there and doing a flat 20 [minutes]. I reckon I'd have better stagecraft and presence than Jesus. Yea, I'm a better stand-up comedian than…” quote by Jim Jefferies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/0fb/jim-jefferies-8092_blessed_i-wouldn-t-mind-gigging-around-the-same_24477.jpg)
