--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People entertain me more than I entertain…" description: "\"People entertain me more than I entertain them.\" — Kathleen Madigan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/834/kathleen-madigan-42250_people_people-entertain-me-more-than-i-entertai_1529176.jpg" --- # People entertain me more than I entertain them. ![“People entertain me more than I entertain them.” quote by Kathleen Madigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/834/kathleen-madigan-42250_people_people-entertain-me-more-than-i-entertai_1529176.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/834/kathleen-madigan-42250_people_people-entertain-me-more-than-i-entertai_1529176.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/834/kathleen-madigan-42250_people_people-entertain-me-more-than-i-entertai_1529176.jpg) > “People entertain me more than I entertain them.” [Kathleen Madigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-madigan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Audiences often give more attention to the performer than the performer gives to them. **In simple terms:** People watch more than they’re watched. Key Takeaway Balance give‑and‑take in entertainment. Themes entertainment audience attention balance Mood humorous observational Type comedic social commentary When to use this quote - show planning - audience engagement - feedback loops Key Concepts reciprocity performer‑audience dynamics social exchange Questions to Reflect On - How do you engage your audience? - What makes a performance feel mutual? A Different Perspective May not apply to all performance styles. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [I'm an entertainer and I entertain people and they entertain me back by asking questions. And some of them I answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-reiner/i-m-an-entertainer-and-i-entertain-people-and-they-entertain-me-back/) [Carl Reiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-reiner/) > [Poor people entertain with the heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haitian-proverb/poor-people-entertain-with-the-heart/) [Haitian Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haitian-proverb/) > [Some people entertain ideas; others put them to work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/some-people-entertain-ideas-others-put-them-to-work/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My dad always said, 'There's no limit to the amount of people you can entertain as long as you're willing to be the butt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cris-collinsworth/my-dad-always-said-there-s-no-limit-to-the-amount-of-people-you-can/) [Cris Collinsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cris-collinsworth/) > [I'm only interested in two kinds of people, those who can entertain me and those who can advance my career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-bergman/i-m-only-interested-in-two-kinds-of-people-those-who-can-entertain-me/) [Ingrid Bergman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-bergman/) > [I'm like Cab Calloway: I love the entertainment, and I've loved entertaining people ever since I was little.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wyclef-jean/i-m-like-cab-calloway-i-love-the-entertainment-and-i-ve-loved/) [Wyclef Jean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wyclef-jean/) > [We are here to entertain and ultimately put smiles on people's faces.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jinder-mahal/we-are-here-to-entertain-and-ultimately-put-smiles-on-people-s-faces/) [Jinder Mahal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jinder-mahal/) > [I don't want to go too far away from what I'm doing now because that would alienate my audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-church/i-don-t-want-to-go-too-far-away-from-what-i-m-doing-now-because-that/) [Charlotte Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-church/) > [Ryan Murphy, he basically tries to find something that's a pulse, a pressure point in our culture, and he grabs it, and he squeezes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finn-wittrock/ryan-murphy-he-basically-tries-to-find-something-that-s-a-pulse-a/) [Finn Wittrock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finn-wittrock/) > [I write to entertain. When people read one of my books I want them to finish with a smile on their faces, feeling a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/i-write-to-entertain-when-people-read-one-of-my-books-i-want-them-to/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) > [I would entertain endorsement offers if they came along.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-rutter/i-would-entertain-endorsement-offers-if-they-came-along/) [Brad Rutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-rutter/) > [Some days, I think maybe we should try and be a little more conventional, but every time I try, I fail, so I'm learning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seinabo-sey/some-days-i-think-maybe-we-should-try-and-be-a-little-more/) [Seinabo Sey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seinabo-sey/) > [You can't write well what you don't read for pleasure. If it doesn't entertain you, it's not going to entertain anyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/you-can-t-write-well-what-you-don-t-read-for-pleasure-if-it-doesn-t/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [That's what TV has forgotten: how to entertain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-coogan/that-s-what-tv-has-forgotten-how-to-entertain/) [Jackie Coogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-coogan/) > [Movies have power. Power to impact society and the choices we make. I want to entertain, but I also want to say something to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-prince-bythewood/movies-have-power-power-to-impact-society-and-the-choices-we-make-i/) [Gina Prince-Bythewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-prince-bythewood/) ## More by Kathleen Madigan > [The bus scares me. Way too many gross people on the bus. Sixty-five people on the bus and I was the last one on.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-madigan/the-bus-scares-me-way-too-many-gross-people-on-the-bus-sixty-five/) [Kathleen Madigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-madigan/) > [I never have goals or dreams. My sister says it's pathetic and lazy, but I had a goal, to tell jokes to pay bills…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-madigan/i-never-have-goals-or-dreams-my-sister-says-it-s-pathetic-and-lazy/) [Kathleen Madigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-madigan/) > [I would like to be an FBI profiler. I'm fascinated with psychology, but I wouldn't want to deal with people and their problems in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-madigan/i-would-like-to-be-an-fbi-profiler-i-m-fascinated-with-psychology-but/) [Kathleen Madigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-madigan/) > [Some people are mean, and when you look at their page, they only write mean things, but I have a great time with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-madigan/some-people-are-mean-and-when-you-look-at-their-page-they-only-write/) [Kathleen Madigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-madigan/) > [Kids? It's like living with homeless people. They're cute but they just chase you around all day long going, 'Can I have a dollar?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-madigan/kids-it-s-like-living-with-homeless-people-they-re-cute-but-they-just/) [Kathleen Madigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-madigan/) > [I always give homeless people money, and my friends yell at me, 'He's only going to buy more alcohol and cigarettes.' And I'm thinking,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-madigan/i-always-give-homeless-people-money-and-my-friends-yell-at-me-he-s/) [Kathleen Madigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-madigan/) > [I don't have a computer. I'm going to wait until that whole fad is over. I was suckered in on the Pet Rock. Not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-madigan/i-don-t-have-a-computer-i-m-going-to-wait-until-that-whole-fad-is/) [Kathleen Madigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-madigan/) > [I don't really write jokes. I wait for stuff to happen in life, and then I tell it on stage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-madigan/i-don-t-really-write-jokes-i-wait-for-stuff-to-happen-in-life-and/) [Kathleen Madigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-madigan/) > [I bowled for two years in college, because I was drunk and needed shoes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-madigan/i-bowled-for-two-years-in-college-because-i-was-drunk-and-needed-shoes/) [Kathleen Madigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-madigan/) [Explore all 10 Kathleen Madigan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-madigan/) ## More Entertain quotes > [Movies have power. Power to impact society and the choices we make. I want to entertain, but I also want to say something to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-prince-bythewood/movies-have-power-power-to-impact-society-and-the-choices-we-make-i/) [Gina Prince-Bythewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-prince-bythewood/) > [That's what TV has forgotten: how to entertain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-coogan/that-s-what-tv-has-forgotten-how-to-entertain/) [Jackie Coogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-coogan/) > [You can't write well what you don't read for pleasure. If it doesn't entertain you, it's not going to entertain anyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/you-can-t-write-well-what-you-don-t-read-for-pleasure-if-it-doesn-t/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [Some days, I think maybe we should try and be a little more conventional, but every time I try, I fail, so I'm learning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seinabo-sey/some-days-i-think-maybe-we-should-try-and-be-a-little-more/) [Seinabo Sey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seinabo-sey/) > [I would entertain endorsement offers if they came along.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-rutter/i-would-entertain-endorsement-offers-if-they-came-along/) [Brad Rutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-rutter/) > [I write to entertain. When people read one of my books I want them to finish with a smile on their faces, feeling a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/i-write-to-entertain-when-people-read-one-of-my-books-i-want-them-to/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) > [Ryan Murphy, he basically tries to find something that's a pulse, a pressure point in our culture, and he grabs it, and he squeezes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finn-wittrock/ryan-murphy-he-basically-tries-to-find-something-that-s-a-pulse-a/) [Finn Wittrock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finn-wittrock/) > [I don't want to go too far away from what I'm doing now because that would alienate my audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-church/i-don-t-want-to-go-too-far-away-from-what-i-m-doing-now-because-that/) [Charlotte Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-church/) > [We are here to entertain and ultimately put smiles on people's faces.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jinder-mahal/we-are-here-to-entertain-and-ultimately-put-smiles-on-people-s-faces/) [Jinder Mahal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jinder-mahal/) > [I'm like Cab Calloway: I love the entertainment, and I've loved entertaining people ever since I was little.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wyclef-jean/i-m-like-cab-calloway-i-love-the-entertainment-and-i-ve-loved/) [Wyclef Jean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wyclef-jean/) > [You have come to earth to entertain and to be entertained.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/you-have-come-to-earth-to-entertain-and-to-be-entertained/) [Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/) > [I like to entertain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrell-suggs/i-like-to-entertain/) [Terrell Suggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrell-suggs/) > [Our purpose is to educate as well as to entertain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-mayfield/our-purpose-is-to-educate-as-well-as-to-entertain/) [Curtis Mayfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-mayfield/) > [I'd rather entertain people than offend them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-kinison/i-d-rather-entertain-people-than-offend-them/) [Sam Kinison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-kinison/) > [I'm a storyteller... I haves a God-given gift that I can share with you and perhaps entertain you and bring you along for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-sutter/i-m-a-storyteller-i-haves-a-god-given-gift-that-i-can-share-with-you/) [Kurt Sutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-sutter/) Browse all 465 Entertain quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "People entertain me more than I entertain them.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kathleen Madigan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-madigan/people-entertain-me-more-than-i-entertain-them/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Entertain" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-madigan/people-entertain-me-more-than-i-entertain-them/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/834/kathleen-madigan-42250_people_people-entertain-me-more-than-i-entertai_1529176.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/834/kathleen-madigan-42250_people_people-entertain-me-more-than-i-entertai_1529176.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/834/kathleen-madigan-42250_people_people-entertain-me-more-than-i-entertai_1529176.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“People entertain me more than I entertain them.” — Kathleen Madigan", "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": "Kathleen Madigan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-madigan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "People entertain me more than I...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-madigan/people-entertain-me-more-than-i-entertain-them/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-madigan/people-entertain-me-more-than-i-entertain-them/#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 } } ] } ```