--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think comedy is the hardest actual form…" description: "\"I think comedy is the hardest actual form of writing there is.\" — Michael Hirst" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a3/michael-hirst-19597_comedy_i-think-comedy-is-the-hardest-actual-for_2429755.jpg" --- # I think comedy is the hardest actual form of writing there… ![“I think comedy is the hardest actual form of writing there is.” quote by Michael Hirst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a3/michael-hirst-19597_comedy_i-think-comedy-is-the-hardest-actual-for_2429755.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a3/michael-hirst-19597_comedy_i-think-comedy-is-the-hardest-actual-for_2429755.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a3/michael-hirst-19597_comedy_i-think-comedy-is-the-hardest-actual-for_2429755.jpg) > “I think comedy is the hardest actual form of writing there is.” [Michael Hirst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hirst/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Comedy demands precision, timing, and depth, making it the toughest writing form. **In simple terms:** Comedy is hard to write. Key Takeaway Master timing and honesty. Themes writing comedy creativity Mood analytical determined Type creative inspirational When to use this quote - stand‑up scripts - screenplays - satirical articles - improvisation workshops Key Concepts narrative structure humor theory Questions to Reflect On - What makes comedy harder than drama? - How can writers balance humor with meaning? A Different Perspective Comedy’s subjectivity can hinder universal appeal. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I think comedy is the hardest art form there is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-popper/i-think-comedy-is-the-hardest-art-form-there-is/) [John Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-popper/) > [I think comedy is one of the hardest things to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faith-ford/i-think-comedy-is-one-of-the-hardest-things-to-do/) [Faith Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/faith-ford/) > [I think comedy is one of the hardest things to do for an actor, I am looking forward to the challenge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/varun-sandesh/i-think-comedy-is-one-of-the-hardest-things-to-do-for-an-actor-i-am/) [Varun Sandesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/varun-sandesh/) > [Comedy is one of the hardest genres. You can tell if it's working or not. If the director is convinced of the vision, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lara-dutta/comedy-is-one-of-the-hardest-genres-you-can-tell-if-it-s-working-or/) [Lara Dutta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lara-dutta/) > [A lot of people who do drama say comedy is the hardest thing, but, not wanting to sound like a bighead, comedy is easy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-frost/a-lot-of-people-who-do-drama-say-comedy-is-the-hardest-thing-but-not/) [Nick Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-frost/) > [I thought comedy would be the hardest thing I could do, and if I could do that, I could do anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-carrington/i-thought-comedy-would-be-the-hardest-thing-i-could-do-and-if-i-could/) [Rodney Carrington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-carrington/) > [Comedy is the hardest thing to get right. I remember a joke we did in 'What's Up, Doc?' that didn't get a single laugh.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bogdanovich/comedy-is-the-hardest-thing-to-get-right-i-remember-a-joke-we-did-in/) [Peter Bogdanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bogdanovich/) > [I don't think comedy really does change people's minds; I think you can only get someone who is almost ready to change their mind.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-jefferies/i-don-t-think-comedy-really-does-change-people-s-minds-i-think-you/) [Jim Jefferies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-jefferies/) > [I think comedy because of the Internet it has a bigger audience, a bigger fan base. It has fans that understand comedy more than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-rogan/i-think-comedy-because-of-the-internet-it-has-a-bigger-audience-a/) [Joe Rogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-rogan/) > [I think comedy comes more from a low sense of self-esteem, and I certainly have that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/i-think-comedy-comes-more-from-a-low-sense-of-self-esteem-and-i/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [I'm drawn to people who don't know who they are, because I just think that's where comedy lives, in someone with an incorrect perception…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-demetriou/i-m-drawn-to-people-who-don-t-know-who-they-are-because-i-just-think/) [Jamie Demetriou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-demetriou/) > [I think that's part of being a comedy writer. You have to be confident. If you're sitting around worrying about, like, oh my God,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mandel/i-think-that-s-part-of-being-a-comedy-writer-you-have-to-be-confident/) [David Mandel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mandel/) > [I think, in comedy, timing is everything. You and I could tell the same joke, but if one of our timing is off, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-i/i-think-in-comedy-timing-is-everything-you-and-i-could-tell-the-same/) T.I > [I always think of comedy as being spontaneous, and yet everything about filmmaking is not spontaneous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-redmayne/i-always-think-of-comedy-as-being-spontaneous-and-yet-everything/) [Eddie Redmayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-redmayne/) > [I think comedy has evolved like every art form, and people probably do less standing around and telling jokes, and more things that have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-carolla/i-think-comedy-has-evolved-like-every-art-form-and-people-probably-do/) [Adam Carolla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-carolla/) ## More by Michael Hirst > [The key for me with historical characters is they're interesting because they're human beings. A little bit of Hemingway goes a long way here,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hirst/the-key-for-me-with-historical-characters-is-they-re-interesting/) [Michael Hirst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hirst/) > [For 'Vikings,' we have to do so much outside shooting, and it's normally - I think with American shows, it'll be 60 or 70…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hirst/for-vikings-we-have-to-do-so-much-outside-shooting-and-it-s-normally/) [Michael Hirst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hirst/) > [You have to create characters - certainly in series TV - who people engage with. They don't have to be nice; you don't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hirst/you-have-to-create-characters-certainly-in-series-tv-who-people/) [Michael Hirst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hirst/) > ['Downton Abbey' is just one cliche after another, and it is a really, really poor piece of drama. But that's only me talking. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hirst/downton-abbey-is-just-one-cliche-after-another-and-it-is-a-really/) [Michael Hirst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hirst/) > [People love cliches. If you can give people cliches, that's very good TV, then.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hirst/people-love-cliches-if-you-can-give-people-cliches-that-s-very-good/) [Michael Hirst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hirst/) > [With 'The Tudors,' I had a huge amount of material, I mean so many books and so much stuff about what they really said.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hirst/with-the-tudors-i-had-a-huge-amount-of-material-i-mean-so-many-books/) [Michael Hirst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hirst/) > [I couldn't give 'Vikings' away - I mean, I love these people. And I'm not sure anyone else writing it would necessarily have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hirst/i-couldn-t-give-vikings-away-i-mean-i-love-these-people-and-i-m-not/) [Michael Hirst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hirst/) > [The Vikings certainly didn't write anything about themselves; it was not a literate, but rather a pagan, culture. So what we get was written…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hirst/the-vikings-certainly-didn-t-write-anything-about-themselves-it-was/) [Michael Hirst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hirst/) > [When I did 'The Tudors,' there was massive information available and a ready-made market.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hirst/when-i-did-the-tudors-there-was-massive-information-available-and-a/) [Michael Hirst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hirst/) > [My instinct is to absolutely recoil when talking about writing in a mechanistic way. Nothing could be dumber than writing a film or TV…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hirst/my-instinct-is-to-absolutely-recoil-when-talking-about-writing-in-a/) [Michael Hirst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hirst/) > [I've found that using historical material and being rooted in historical material is liberating because I always think to myself, 'Well, this actually happened,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hirst/i-ve-found-that-using-historical-material-and-being-rooted-in/) [Michael Hirst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hirst/) > [People offer me loads of stuff, and some of it I like, but I just can't do it because I can't write it all.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hirst/people-offer-me-loads-of-stuff-and-some-of-it-i-like-but-i-just-can-t/) [Michael Hirst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hirst/) > [The American obsession with 'Downton' amuses me slightly because it's such a fiction. I've always been questioned about my historical veracity, and 'Downton' just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hirst/the-american-obsession-with-downton-amuses-me-slightly-because-it-s/) [Michael Hirst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hirst/) > [I wasn't setting out to write a documentary; if I had, I would have done it in a completely different way. I was asked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hirst/i-wasn-t-setting-out-to-write-a-documentary-if-i-had-i-would-have/) [Michael Hirst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hirst/) > [With 'Vikings,' I had the task of making these people interesting and, to a point, sympathetic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hirst/with-vikings-i-had-the-task-of-making-these-people-interesting-and-to/) [Michael Hirst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hirst/) [Explore all 32 Michael Hirst quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hirst/) ## 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 comedy is the hardest actual form of writing there is.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Michael Hirst" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hirst/i-think-comedy-is-the-hardest-actual-form-of-writing-there-is/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Comedy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hirst/i-think-comedy-is-the-hardest-actual-form-of-writing-there-is/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a3/michael-hirst-19597_comedy_i-think-comedy-is-the-hardest-actual-for_2429755.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a3/michael-hirst-19597_comedy_i-think-comedy-is-the-hardest-actual-for_2429755.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a3/michael-hirst-19597_comedy_i-think-comedy-is-the-hardest-actual-for_2429755.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think comedy is the hardest actual form of writing there is.” — Michael Hirst", "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": "Michael Hirst", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hirst/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I think comedy is the hardest...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hirst/i-think-comedy-is-the-hardest-actual-form-of-writing-there-is/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hirst/i-think-comedy-is-the-hardest-actual-form-of-writing-there-is/#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 } } ] } ```