--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The secret to comedy is not playing the…" description: "\"The secret to comedy is not playing the comedy, but actually playing the situation, playing the drama of it.\" — Nathan Fillion" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f70/nathan-fillion-3284_comedy_the-secret-to-comedy-is-not-playing-the_592815.jpg" --- # The secret to comedy is not playing the comedy, but… ![“The secret to comedy is not playing the comedy, but actually playing the situation, playing the drama of it.” quote by Nathan Fillion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f70/nathan-fillion-3284_comedy_the-secret-to-comedy-is-not-playing-the_592815.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f70/nathan-fillion-3284_comedy_the-secret-to-comedy-is-not-playing-the_592815.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f70/nathan-fillion-3284_comedy_the-secret-to-comedy-is-not-playing-the_592815.jpg) > “The secret to comedy is not playing the comedy, but actually playing the situation, playing the drama of it.” [Nathan Fillion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-fillion/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Comedy works by embodying the situation rather than performing jokes. **In simple terms:** Comedy is about living the moment. Key Takeaway Focus on authentic reactions. Themes comedy authenticity improvisation Mood humorous insightful Type practical inspirational When to use this quote - stand‑up - improv - acting - writing Key Concepts situational humor drama performance Questions to Reflect On - What real‑life moments could become jokes? - How can you stay present on stage? A Different Perspective Relying solely on situation may limit broader comedic range. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Drama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drama/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Secret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secret/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [When your playing drama, and you're in the moment, and you can nail the emotion that is called for, it just feels like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-bowles/when-your-playing-drama-and-you-re-in-the-moment-and-you-can-nail-the/) [Lauren Bowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-bowles/) > [“You are a human mind again, pretending to be a human being, interacting with another mind, playing a drama called “love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/you-are-a-human-mind-again-pretending-to-be-a-human-being-interacting/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [I have been fortunate to be able to have a career playing comedy and drama. And it's awfully hard - it's like apples and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-lemmon/i-have-been-fortunate-to-be-able-to-have-a-career-playing-comedy-and/) [Jack Lemmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-lemmon/) > [I love comedy. Playing the underdog, and getting the laughs is my form of entertainment. I could think of nothing different that I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-levy/i-love-comedy-playing-the-underdog-and-getting-the-laughs-is-my-form/) [Eugene Levy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-levy/) > [I think that doing comedy and playing Dwight is a service. Not to get grandiose about it, but I have a talent for playing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainn-wilson/i-think-that-doing-comedy-and-playing-dwight-is-a-service-not-to-get/) [Rainn Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainn-wilson/) > [“Santino, come here. What's the matter with you? I think your brain is going soft with all that comedy you are playing with that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-puzo/santino-come-here-what-s-the-matter-with-you-i-think-your-brain-is/) [Mario Puzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-puzo/) > [The secret of comedy is enjoying it. If you're not laughing, it's not going to be funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-alexander/the-secret-of-comedy-is-enjoying-it-if-you-re-not-laughing-it-s-not/) [Sarah Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-alexander/) > [The secret to riches is the same as the secret to comedy - timing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-crowe/the-secret-to-riches-is-the-same-as-the-secret-to-comedy-timing/) [Russell Crowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-crowe/) > [My secret to comedy is don't offend anybody. Don't offend anybody ever. That's my secret.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-roiland/my-secret-to-comedy-is-don-t-offend-anybody-don-t-offend-anybody-ever/) [Justin Roiland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-roiland/) > [I don't have to change anything. I think that's the secret to comedy. You want to be universal and appeal to everyone. You want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hart/i-don-t-have-to-change-anything-i-think-that-s-the-secret-to-comedy/) [Kevin Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hart/) > [This to me is the secret comedy of all author interviews, down through the ages, even the good ones in the 'Paris Review' and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-jeremiah-sullivan/this-to-me-is-the-secret-comedy-of-all-author-interviews-down-through/) [John Jeremiah Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-jeremiah-sullivan/) > [The secret of comedy is don't grow up. 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Even though it's a comedy and there are serious moments, I really felt like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-hill/funny-people-is-my-favorite-performance-of-myself-to-date-even-though/) [Jonah Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-hill/) > [I always enjoy the scenes with Dennis Waterman, particularly when we're playing comedy, we're always finding stuff together and he's very immediate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-lawson/i-always-enjoy-the-scenes-with-dennis-waterman-particularly-when-we/) [Denis Lawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-lawson/) ## More by Nathan Fillion > [I've kind of learned this about Joss Whedon. Never say never. I've learned that. I also have another rule about Joss Whedon. Never say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-fillion/i-ve-kind-of-learned-this-about-joss-whedon-never-say-never-i-ve/) [Nathan Fillion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-fillion/) > [My dinner spot is usually in front of the TV. I'll grill a steak and whip up a salad and watch 'Hoarders'. I love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-fillion/my-dinner-spot-is-usually-in-front-of-the-tv-i-ll-grill-a-steak-and/) [Nathan Fillion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-fillion/) > [You want to put out a TV show? If you have the money to do it on your own, by yourself, and you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-fillion/you-want-to-put-out-a-tv-show-if-you-have-the-money-to-do-it-on-your/) [Nathan Fillion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-fillion/) > [I'm the biggest geek of all. Adventure, fantasy, comic books - I can't get enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-fillion/i-m-the-biggest-geek-of-all-adventure-fantasy-comic-books-i-can-t-get/) [Nathan Fillion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-fillion/) > [It's hard to shake a stick at success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-fillion/it-s-hard-to-shake-a-stick-at-success/) [Nathan Fillion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-fillion/) > [I think people imagine that I have about five scripts sitting in front of me and I say, 'I think I'm going to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-fillion/i-think-people-imagine-that-i-have-about-five-scripts-sitting-in/) [Nathan Fillion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-fillion/) > [I'll never look down on and I love running into actors who say 'Oh yeah, I did a soap.' 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It's not in the stage direction and it's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-fillion/when-people-embrace-character-there-s-latzie-it-s-the-stuffing-of-a/) [Nathan Fillion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-fillion/) > [You can't embarrass Joss Whedon, he's got no pride! He fully admits it. 'Oh, it's me. I'm little and goofy.' You can't wound his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-fillion/you-can-t-embarrass-joss-whedon-he-s-got-no-pride-he-fully-admits-it/) [Nathan Fillion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-fillion/) > [My brother used to say that when you deal with women, it's difficult to remove emotions from an argument. I never really knew what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-fillion/my-brother-used-to-say-that-when-you-deal-with-women-it-s-difficult/) [Nathan Fillion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-fillion/) > [The trick is, when you grow up, find work that feels like play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-fillion/the-trick-is-when-you-grow-up-find-work-that-feels-like-play/) [Nathan Fillion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-fillion/) > [When I was a waiter I was fired twice from the same restaurant. I guess I was that good of an actor but that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-fillion/when-i-was-a-waiter-i-was-fired-twice-from-the-same-restaurant-i/) [Nathan Fillion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-fillion/) > [My brain is like a hard drive. Once you start adding new information, you start cutting off old information.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-fillion/my-brain-is-like-a-hard-drive-once-you-start-adding-new-information/) [Nathan Fillion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-fillion/) [Explore all 134 Nathan Fillion quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-fillion/) ## 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. 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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": "The secret to comedy is not playing the comedy, but actually playing the situation, playing the drama of it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Nathan Fillion" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-fillion/the-secret-to-comedy-is-not-playing-the-comedy-but-actually-playing/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Comedy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-fillion/the-secret-to-comedy-is-not-playing-the-comedy-but-actually-playing/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f70/nathan-fillion-3284_comedy_the-secret-to-comedy-is-not-playing-the_592815.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f70/nathan-fillion-3284_comedy_the-secret-to-comedy-is-not-playing-the_592815.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f70/nathan-fillion-3284_comedy_the-secret-to-comedy-is-not-playing-the_592815.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The secret to comedy is not playing the comedy, but actually playing the situation, playing the drama of it.” — Nathan Fillion", "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": "Nathan Fillion", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-fillion/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The secret to comedy is not...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-fillion/the-secret-to-comedy-is-not-playing-the-comedy-but-actually-playing/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-fillion/the-secret-to-comedy-is-not-playing-the-comedy-but-actually-playing/#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 } } ] } ```