--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Going on Letterman is like going off the…" description: "\"Going on Letterman is like going off the high dive. It's exhilarating, but after a while it wasn't the kind of thrill I enjoyed.\" — Lynda Barry" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/865/lynda-barry-3343_adventure_going-on-letterman-is-like-going-off-the_2911533.jpg" --- # Going on Letterman is like going off the high dive. It's… ![“Going on Letterman is like going off the high dive. It's exhilarating, but after a while it wasn't the kind of thrill I enjoyed.” quote by Lynda Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/865/lynda-barry-3343_adventure_going-on-letterman-is-like-going-off-the_2911533.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/865/lynda-barry-3343_adventure_going-on-letterman-is-like-going-off-the_2911533.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/865/lynda-barry-3343_adventure_going-on-letterman-is-like-going-off-the_2911533.jpg) > “Going on Letterman is like going off the high dive. It's exhilarating, but after a while it wasn't the kind of thrill I enjoyed.” [Lynda Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynda-barry/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Public appearances can feel thrilling at first but may lose their appeal over time. **In simple terms:** Fame can become less exciting after the initial rush. Key Takeaway Seek deeper fulfillment beyond fame. Themes celebrity performance authenticity Mood thoughtful melancholic Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - talk shows - media appearances - creative work Key Concepts self‑expression public scrutiny Questions to Reflect On - What truly satisfies you beyond applause? - How can you stay authentic on stage? A Different Perspective Public pressure can erode personal joy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adventure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adventure/) [Enjoyed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enjoyed/) [Exhilarating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exhilarating/) [Exhilarating Wasn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exhilarating-wasn-4195262/) [Going Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going-letterman-4195260/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/letterman/) [Letterman Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/letterman-like-4195261/) [Saturday night live](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saturday-night-live/) [Thrill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thrill/) ## Related quotes > [The first time I was on Letterman, I was, like, 20 years old, and I was on a show called 'Camping with Barry White…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobcat-goldthwait/the-first-time-i-was-on-letterman-i-was-like-20-years-old-and-i-was/) [Bobcat Goldthwait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobcat-goldthwait/) > ['The David Letterman Show' is a show of comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-ventura/the-david-letterman-show-is-a-show-of-comedy/) [Jesse Ventura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-ventura/) > [I would watch a lot of old tapes of David Letterman doing his talk show and a lot of interviews. I never had a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-bones/i-would-watch-a-lot-of-old-tapes-of-david-letterman-doing-his-talk/) [Bobby Bones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-bones/) > [I don't know about you, but I can never get enough David Letterman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-walters/i-don-t-know-about-you-but-i-can-never-get-enough-david-letterman/) [Barbara Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-walters/) > [Has anyone seen me on Letterman? Two million people watch that show and I don't know where they are. You might have seen this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/has-anyone-seen-me-on-letterman-two-million-people-watch-that-show/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [Did you know David Letterman was offered millions of dollars to do a commercial for dog food?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-ullman/did-you-know-david-letterman-was-offered-millions-of-dollars-to-do-a/) [Tracey Ullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-ullman/) > [In 1980s, I discovered 'Late Night with David Letterman.' It was on one of the 13 cable TV channels. They didn't have 25 late…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-green/in-1980s-i-discovered-late-night-with-david-letterman-it-was-on-one/) [Tom Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-green/) > [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/) > [For those who don't like Dave Letterman, there's Jay Leno; and for those who like neither, there's Craig Ferguson; and if you're still feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-shales/for-those-who-don-t-like-dave-letterman-there-s-jay-leno-and-for/) [Tom Shales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-shales/) > [David Letterman is the best late-night talk show host right now, hands down, and has been since he first took the desk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lopez/david-letterman-is-the-best-late-night-talk-show-host-right-now-hands/) [George Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lopez/) > [We will try to honor David Letterman achievement by doing the best show we can.And occasionally making the network very mad at us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/we-will-try-to-honor-david-letterman-achievement-by-doing-the-best/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [I watch Jay. I watch 'Letterman'. I flip back and forth between 'Conan' and 'Letterman', especially the top of the show for those guys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wanda-sykes/i-watch-jay-i-watch-letterman-i-flip-back-and-forth-between-conan-and/) [Wanda Sykes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wanda-sykes/) > [I was a huge David Letterman fan, even going back to when he was on NBC. My parents would only let me watch a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevor-moore/i-was-a-huge-david-letterman-fan-even-going-back-to-when-he-was-on/) [Trevor Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevor-moore/) > [I think the first time I was on The David Letterman Show, he didn't quite know what to expect. I think people generally are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-reubens/i-think-the-first-time-i-was-on-the-david-letterman-show-he-didn-t/) [Paul Reubens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-reubens/) > [The idea that I would ever end up on David Letterman or Jay Leno is horrifying. I am such a freak in comparison to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-leto/the-idea-that-i-would-ever-end-up-on-david-letterman-or-jay-leno-is/) [Jared Leto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-leto/) ## More by Lynda Barry > [ “i believe \[images\] are the soul's immune system and transit system.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynda-barry/i-believe-images-are-the-soul-s-immune-system-and-transit-system/) [Lynda Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynda-barry/) > [The happy ending is hardly important, though we may be glad its there. The real joy is knowing that if you felt the trouble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynda-barry/the-happy-ending-is-hardly-important-though-we-may-be-glad-its-there/) [Lynda Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynda-barry/) > [I found myself compelled - like this weird, shameful compulsion - to draw cute animals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynda-barry/i-found-myself-compelled-like-this-weird-shameful-compulsion-to-draw/) [Lynda Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynda-barry/) > [“As I enter the small intestine I get squeezed by muscles. Its dark and the walls look like slimey crushed velvet theres pancreas juice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynda-barry/as-i-enter-the-small-intestine-i-get-squeezed-by-muscles-its-dark-and/) [Lynda Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynda-barry/) > [I look crazy. I know I do. Been true since I was a kid!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynda-barry/i-look-crazy-i-know-i-do-been-true-since-i-was-a-kid/) [Lynda Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynda-barry/) > [In life there are always these things happening if you can just get the joke.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynda-barry/in-life-there-are-always-these-things-happening-if-you-can-just-get/) [Lynda Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynda-barry/) > [You may be a lady but you are still the man!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynda-barry/you-may-be-a-lady-but-you-are-still-the-man/) [Lynda Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynda-barry/) > [The minute you understand racism, you're responsible for being racist. It's like eating from the tree of knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynda-barry/the-minute-you-understand-racism-you-re-responsible-for-being-racist/) [Lynda Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynda-barry/) > [“Same circus, different clowns, and without a doubt I'm one of them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynda-barry/same-circus-different-clowns-and-without-a-doubt-i-m-one-of-them/) [Lynda Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynda-barry/) > [“Above me soft footsteps, the sound through the ceiling of a teenager haunted by a door to the night. My cousin Maybonne lights up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynda-barry/above-me-soft-footsteps-the-sound-through-the-ceiling-of-a-teenager/) [Lynda Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynda-barry/) > [Dear Anyone Who Finds This, Do not blame the drugs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynda-barry/dear-anyone-who-finds-this-do-not-blame-the-drugs/) [Lynda Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynda-barry/) > [There was a beautiful time in the beginning when I just did it and didn't analyze the consequences, but I think that time ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynda-barry/there-was-a-beautiful-time-in-the-beginning-when-i-just-did-it-and/) [Lynda Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynda-barry/) > [The library was open for one hour after school let out. I hid there, looking at art books and reading poetry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynda-barry/the-library-was-open-for-one-hour-after-school-let-out-i-hid-there/) [Lynda Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynda-barry/) > [“Mr. Harmong is the cheapest chinztiest most pig-lipped tightwad skanked-out lardo king landlord of all time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynda-barry/mr-harmong-is-the-cheapest-chinztiest-most-pig-lipped-tightwad/) [Lynda Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynda-barry/) > [Love will make a way out of no way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynda-barry/love-will-make-a-way-out-of-no-way/) [Lynda Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynda-barry/) [Explore all 133 Lynda Barry quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynda-barry/) ## More Adventure quotes > [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [I painted the words "GREAT ADVENTURE" in Beijing, Dallas, San Francisco, Copenhagen, and Japan. What it means to me is completely different to everybody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-eine/i-painted-the-words-great-adventure-in-beijing-dallas-san-francisco/) [Ben Eine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-eine/) > [I've used the Phoenix Centrifuge to replicate what the body's going to go through on the flight up. I've also done some gravity tests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-ve-used-the-phoenix-centrifuge-to-replicate-what-the-body-s-going/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [I have lifted my plane . . . for perhaps a thousand flights and I have never felt her wheels glide from the Earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beryl-markham/i-have-lifted-my-plane-for-perhaps-a-thousand-flights-and-i-have/) [Beryl Markham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beryl-markham/) > [I am attracted to looking at the different things language can mean even in one sometimes quite ordinary utterance. Writing is partly about listening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rae-armantrout/i-am-attracted-to-looking-at-the-different-things-language-can-mean/) [Rae Armantrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-armantrout/) > [What a thrill. You know you've entered new territory when you realise that your outfit cost more than your film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-yu/what-a-thrill-you-know-you-ve-entered-new-territory-when-you-realise/) [Jessica Yu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-yu/) > [“So many people live within unhappy circumstances and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation because they are conditioned by a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-supertramp-chris-mccandless/so-many-people-live-within-unhappy-circumstances-and-yet-will-not/) [Alexander Supertramp Chris McCandless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-supertramp-chris-mccandless/) > [A common fallacy in much of the adverse criticism to which science is subjected today is that it claims certainty, infallibility and complete emotional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/a-common-fallacy-in-much-of-the-adverse-criticism-to-which-science-is/) [Cyril Norman Hinshelwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/) > [“Exactly. I think the original tantric Buddhists took notice of was some very wise old people who never studied in their youth, but took…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-niemczura/exactly-i-think-the-original-tantric-buddhists-took-notice-of-was/) [Joe Niemczura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-niemczura/) > [As an adventurer...I try to protect against the downside. I make sure I have covered as many eventualities as I can. In the end,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/as-an-adventurer-i-try-to-protect-against-the-downside-i-make-sure-i/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [“Love can give you such happiness, then can break the very heart it filled, leaving a hole that can never be fixed or protected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-mcleod/love-can-give-you-such-happiness-then-can-break-the-very-heart-it/) [Kevin McLeod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-mcleod/) > [“It always gave Wolf a peculiar thrill thus to tighten his grip upon his stick, thus to wrap himself more closely in his faded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cowper-powys/it-always-gave-wolf-a-peculiar-thrill-thus-to-tighten-his-grip-upon/) [John Cowper Powys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cowper-powys/) > [“It all had to be squeezed and squeezed again, to provide a thrill, to provide enjoyment. 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