--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't think people understand what…" description: "\"I don't think people understand what comedy is supposed to do. We will observe things, we will make fun of things.\" — Neal Brennan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e38/neal-brennan-4937_comedy_i-don-t-think-people-understand-what-com_208082.jpg" --- # I don't think people understand what comedy is supposed to… ![“I don't think people understand what comedy is supposed to do. We will observe things, we will make fun of things.” quote by Neal Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e38/neal-brennan-4937_comedy_i-don-t-think-people-understand-what-com_208082.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e38/neal-brennan-4937_comedy_i-don-t-think-people-understand-what-com_208082.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e38/neal-brennan-4937_comedy_i-don-t-think-people-understand-what-com_208082.jpg) > “I don't think people understand what comedy is supposed to do. We will observe things, we will make fun of things.” [Neal Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-brennan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Comedy should reveal truths by mocking absurdities, prompting reflection. **In simple terms:** Comedy critiques by. Key Takeaway Use humor to expose absurdity. Themes comedy truth reflection social critique Mood playful critical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - media - social commentary - stand‑up - culture Key Concepts satire observational humor Questions to Reflect On - What absurdities do you see daily? - How can comedy foster change? A Different Perspective Humor can alienate; not all audiences appreciate critique. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Fun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fun/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [“It is very important to carefully observe the things we see before we judge. Things aren't always as they appear.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-j-barrier/it-is-very-important-to-carefully-observe-the-things-we-see-before-we/) [Ellen J. Barrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-j-barrier/) > [If I get to know somebody, I'll open up, but other than that I like to sit back and observe things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-westbrook/if-i-get-to-know-somebody-i-ll-open-up-but-other-than-that-i-like-to/) [Russell Westbrook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-westbrook/) > [Sometimes when I am in a situation that I have never been in, I kind of pull back a little bit to observe things;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/queen-latifah/sometimes-when-i-am-in-a-situation-that-i-have-never-been-in-i-kind/) [Queen Latifah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/queen-latifah/) > [“The general root of superstition : namely, that men observe when things hit, and not when they miss; and commit to memory the one,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/the-general-root-of-superstition-namely-that-men-observe-when-things/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [“Use your eyes: observe all things as they are. Don't place a twig in the path of an ant or whistle with the bird.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elsie-v-aidinoff/use-your-eyes-observe-all-things-as-they-are-don-t-place-a-twig-in/) Elsie V. Aidinoff > [Observe things as they are and don't pay attention to other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huangbo-xiyun/observe-things-as-they-are-and-don-t-pay-attention-to-other-people/) [Huangbo Xiyun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huangbo-xiyun/) > [“Observe the things you are instintively attracted to, they are often linked to your purpose and path in life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anupama-garg/observe-the-things-you-are-instintively-attracted-to-they-are-often/) [Anupama Garg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anupama-garg/) > [Anil Sethi told me to get into journalism. The thought got into my head, that I could see things, write about them. I used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravish-kumar/anil-sethi-told-me-to-get-into-journalism-the-thought-got-into-my/) [Ravish Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravish-kumar/) > [I've always found that I personally love to observe things, and I'm good at observing things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-johnson/i-ve-always-found-that-i-personally-love-to-observe-things-and-i-m/) [Jamie Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-johnson/) > [If you feel like an outsider, you tend to observe things a lot more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anderson-cooper/if-you-feel-like-an-outsider-you-tend-to-observe-things-a-lot-more/) [Anderson Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anderson-cooper/) > [Social situations, for me - it's very natural for me to be an observer. That's where I'm most comfortable. I observe things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-lamontagne/social-situations-for-me-it-s-very-natural-for-me-to-be-an-observer/) [Ray LaMontagne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-lamontagne/) > [If you're using comedy to shame people for getting informed and questioning authority, you're not doing comedy, you're doing propaganda, 'cause comedy is supposed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-dore/if-you-re-using-comedy-to-shame-people-for-getting-informed-and/) [Jimmy Dore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-dore/) > [There's a lot of ordinariness, and people tend to play to the same regressive tropes - sexism, patriarchy, unkindness to the oppressed. Comedy shouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/varun-grover/there-s-a-lot-of-ordinariness-and-people-tend-to-play-to-the-same/) [Varun Grover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/varun-grover/) > [Comedy is not supposed to be funny. Its supposed to tell the truth and then that's funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-patton/comedy-is-not-supposed-to-be-funny-its-supposed-to-tell-the-truth-and/) [Paula Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-patton/) > [It's the idea that we as people can control our own destinies. The government and the corporations, more even than the government, can't dictate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-hanna/it-s-the-idea-that-we-as-people-can-control-our-own-destinies-the/) [Kathleen Hanna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-hanna/) ## More by Neal Brennan > [If the word police want to come and get me, they can come and get me. If someone wants to blog about me, fine.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-brennan/if-the-word-police-want-to-come-and-get-me-they-can-come-and-get-me/) [Neal Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-brennan/) > [I can always tell the demographic that will probably recognize me - white dudes, sort of skater-y hip hop white dudes, and working class…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-brennan/i-can-always-tell-the-demographic-that-will-probably-recognize-me/) [Neal Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-brennan/) > [I think it's naïve to think white people aren't singing along directly!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-brennan/i-think-it-s-na-ve-to-think-white-people-aren-t-singing-along-directly/) [Neal Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-brennan/) > [I think I've seen every 'Bill Maher' episode.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-brennan/i-think-i-ve-seen-every-bill-maher-episode/) [Neal Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-brennan/) > [The biggest problem in America is most people believe poor people are poor because they are lazy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-brennan/the-biggest-problem-in-america-is-most-people-believe-poor-people-are/) [Neal Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-brennan/) > [Models never say, "I'm hot." They say, "Look at these clothes." Whereas, with comedy, you have to say, "I'm hot."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-brennan/models-never-say-i-m-hot-they-say-look-at-these-clothes-whereas-with/) [Neal Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-brennan/) > [ \[Robert Smigel\] is one of the greatest comedy writers in the last 50 years. "TV Funhouse" and Triumph and all those sketches.He's really unique,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-brennan/robert-smigel-is-one-of-the-greatest-comedy-writers-in-the-last-50/) [Neal Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-brennan/) > [I generally don't read articles about myself/'Chappelle's Show,' nor do I read reviews. It's basically playing Russian Roulette. They're not all gonna be positive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-brennan/i-generally-don-t-read-articles-about-myself-chappelle-s-show-nor-do/) [Neal Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-brennan/) > [I'm not the easiest dude to work with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-brennan/i-m-not-the-easiest-dude-to-work-with/) [Neal Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-brennan/) > [My entryway into hip-hop was - my biggest introduction was obviously like, you know, the Def Jam, Run D.M.C., Beastie Boys, like, that conglomerate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-brennan/my-entryway-into-hip-hop-was-my-biggest-introduction-was-obviously/) [Neal Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-brennan/) > [You can say whatever you want, but there's going to be consequences to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-brennan/you-can-say-whatever-you-want-but-there-s-going-to-be-consequences-to/) [Neal Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-brennan/) > [When you're in a friend circle, you all kind of talk the same way. And it's hard to do on-the-fly radio edits of yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-brennan/when-you-re-in-a-friend-circle-you-all-kind-of-talk-the-same-way-and/) [Neal Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-brennan/) > [I needed to be more self-determining, and the most self-determining thing you can do in comedy is stand-up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-brennan/i-needed-to-be-more-self-determining-and-the-most-self-determining/) [Neal Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-brennan/) > [I'm obsessive, I'm a control freak, I get snappy with people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-brennan/i-m-obsessive-i-m-a-control-freak-i-get-snappy-with-people/) [Neal Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-brennan/) > [The story of '3 Mics' is the story of a guy who wants to be something and is sort of figuring out how he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-brennan/the-story-of-3-mics-is-the-story-of-a-guy-who-wants-to-be-something/) [Neal Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-brennan/) [Explore all 104 Neal Brennan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-brennan/) ## 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 don't think people understand what comedy is supposed to do. 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