--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: [Being a good comedian] is a skill, but…" description: "\"[Being a good comedian] is a skill, but it's also a weird thing that only certain people can do. I always equate it to surgeons and how they can just c..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae7/nick-swardson-12742_can-do_being-a-good-comedian-is-a-skill-but-it_1965771.png" --- # \[Being a good comedian\] is a skill, but it's also a weird… ![“[Being a good comedian] is a skill, but it's also a weird thing that only certain people can do. I always equate it to surgeons and how they can just cut people open and operate. Certain people are just wired differently, and I feel like comics are the same way.” quote by Nick Swardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae7/nick-swardson-12742_can-do_being-a-good-comedian-is-a-skill-but-it_1965771.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae7/nick-swardson-12742_can-do_being-a-good-comedian-is-a-skill-but-it_1965771.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae7/nick-swardson-12742_can-do_being-a-good-comedian-is-a-skill-but-it_1965771.png) > “\[Being a good comedian\] is a skill, but it's also a weird thing that only certain people can do. I always equate it to surgeons and how they can just cut people open and operate. Certain people are just wired differently, and I feel like comics are the same way.” [Nick Swardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-swardson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Comedy is portrayed as a specialized skill akin to surgery, implying only certain people possess the innate wiring for it. **In simple terms:** Comedy is a rare, surgeon‑like talent. Key Takeaway Practice to develop comedic timing. Themes talent creativity performance Mood amusing insightful Type educational motivational When to use this quote - stand‑up shows - improv classes - team building Key Concepts skill acquisition psychology of humor Questions to Reflect On - What makes you laugh? - Can humor be taught? A Different Perspective Not everyone can be funny despite effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Comedian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedian/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Skills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skills/) [Surgeons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surgeons/) [Weird things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weird-things/) ## Related quotes > [Self-publishing in comics is core to the whole artform. 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If you look at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-percy/i-think-my-leap-into-tv-and-movies-and-comics-is-in-a-way-natural/) [Benjamin Percy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-percy/) > [I tend to bristle at people praising alt comics as some kind of perfect comics paradigm, because there's quite a lot of misogyny in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noelle-stevenson/i-tend-to-bristle-at-people-praising-alt-comics-as-some-kind-of/) [Noelle Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noelle-stevenson/) > [I grew up on comics and cartoons. So, as an adult, I like comics and cartoons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-michael-straczynski/i-grew-up-on-comics-and-cartoons-so-as-an-adult-i-like-comics-and/) [J. Michael Straczynski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-michael-straczynski/) > [I like writing a joke, and I like when a joke works, and I like other comics who tell jokes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-attell/i-like-writing-a-joke-and-i-like-when-a-joke-works-and-i-like-other/) [Dave Attell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-attell/) > [People, they think that animation is a style. Animation is just a technique. It's like, people, they think that comics is a style, like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marjane-satrapi/people-they-think-that-animation-is-a-style-animation-is-just-a/) [Marjane Satrapi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marjane-satrapi/) > [The phrase 'I just turn on my monkey and it makes me feel good' sounds very dirty, but I can't explain why. It's great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-pastis/the-phrase-i-just-turn-on-my-monkey-and-it-makes-me-feel-good-sounds/) [Stephan Pastis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-pastis/) > [People often say, 'I like your comics, even though I don't know enough math to get all of them,' as if it's some kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-munroe/people-often-say-i-like-your-comics-even-though-i-don-t-know-enough/) [Randall Munroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-munroe/) > [Comics don't like to see other comics do well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrot-top/comics-don-t-like-to-see-other-comics-do-well/) [Carrot Top](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrot-top/) > [I like comics like Janeane Garofalo who is very stream of conscious in an honest way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bert-kreischer/i-like-comics-like-janeane-garofalo-who-is-very-stream-of-conscious/) [Bert Kreischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bert-kreischer/) > [I'd like to see the comics' style expanded. I'd like to see artists synthesize traditional comics arts style with fine-arts styles or whatever. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/i-d-like-to-see-the-comics-style-expanded-i-d-like-to-see-artists/) [Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/) > [My first stand-up experience, like most comics, was horrible. I got booed offstage. I thought I was funnier than I was. But the walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-rock/my-first-stand-up-experience-like-most-comics-was-horrible-i-got/) [Tony Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-rock/) > [It's the fact that fans still care. I like all the comics conventions: The smaller ones are easier, the bigger ones are exciting… Each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-lee/it-s-the-fact-that-fans-still-care-i-like-all-the-comics-conventions/) [Stan Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-lee/) ## More by Nick Swardson > [For me, honestly, one of the first movies I did I was always pounding coffee, and I crashed so horribly. So I've kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-swardson/for-me-honestly-one-of-the-first-movies-i-did-i-was-always-pounding/) [Nick Swardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-swardson/) > [That's great Bobby, but we don't have Dance Dance Revolution, so - you're dumb.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-swardson/that-s-great-bobby-but-we-don-t-have-dance-dance-revolution-so-you-re/) [Nick Swardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-swardson/) > [Uh-oh? What does that mean? High score? Is that bad? Did I break it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-swardson/uh-oh-what-does-that-mean-high-score-is-that-bad-did-i-break-it/) [Nick Swardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-swardson/) > [Ok... so who wants to hear about my STD from the silent film era? Yeah, put your hands up for that one. This chick's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-swardson/ok-so-who-wants-to-hear-about-my-std-from-the-silent-film-era-yeah/) [Nick Swardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-swardson/) > [If you want to be a comedian, go out. Do a week in Des Moines, Iowa. Try to make those people laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-swardson/if-you-want-to-be-a-comedian-go-out-do-a-week-in-des-moines-iowa-try/) [Nick Swardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-swardson/) > [Shit's weak! Shit's weak! Wizzeak!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-swardson/shit-s-weak-shit-s-weak-wizzeak/) [Nick Swardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-swardson/) > [“I totally want to cut off your skin and wear it to my birthday.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-swardson/i-totally-want-to-cut-off-your-skin-and-wear-it-to-my-birthday/) [nick swardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-swardson/) > [I always write and create. I'm never not creating. I'm always creating a show, every year, whether it gets picked up or not. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-swardson/i-always-write-and-create-i-m-never-not-creating-i-m-always-creating/) [Nick Swardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-swardson/) > [Most sketch aficionados have an enormous amount of respect for 'Mr. Show.' I didn't have HBO back then, so I was always trying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-swardson/most-sketch-aficionados-have-an-enormous-amount-of-respect-for-mr/) [Nick Swardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-swardson/) > [I would eventually like to write and star in my own stuff. I think I have a good comedic sense, so I'd like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-swardson/i-would-eventually-like-to-write-and-star-in-my-own-stuff-i-think-i/) [Nick Swardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-swardson/) > [I'm developing more stuff in my voice, more Nick Swardson. It's me as myself in a sense and kind of in my voice, no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-swardson/i-m-developing-more-stuff-in-my-voice-more-nick-swardson-it-s-me-as/) [Nick Swardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-swardson/) > [Do you have bathrooms here, or do I have to shit in a plant?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-swardson/do-you-have-bathrooms-here-or-do-i-have-to-shit-in-a-plant/) [Nick Swardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-swardson/) > [My roommates said they'd get me rims for christmas. And a CB Radio so I can talk to other car beds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-swardson/my-roommates-said-they-d-get-me-rims-for-christmas-and-a-cb-radio-so/) [Nick Swardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-swardson/) > [Hey Samantha, don't take the red pill!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-swardson/hey-samantha-don-t-take-the-red-pill/) [Nick Swardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-swardson/) > [I started in the club route. I did the alternative scene later on. When I lived in New York, I did the Luna Lounge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-swardson/i-started-in-the-club-route-i-did-the-alternative-scene-later-on-when/) [Nick Swardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-swardson/) [Explore all 53 Nick Swardson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-swardson/) ## More Can do quotes > [Changes before your eyes, things you can do and things you can't. My attitude is always let it keep rolling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-malick/changes-before-your-eyes-things-you-can-do-and-things-you-can-t-my/) [Terrence Malick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-malick/) > [The happy medium is television. And if you find a good suitor, you can do it for years. With movies, you roll the dice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-campbell/the-happy-medium-is-television-and-if-you-find-a-good-suitor-you-can/) [Bruce Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-campbell/) > [If I had a million dollars, I just wouldn't just completely set back. I'd have to get out there and show my face to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muddy-waters/if-i-had-a-million-dollars-i-just-wouldn-t-just-completely-set-back-i/) [Muddy Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muddy-waters/) > [Anybody can be Prince Charming one day a year, with the dinner and the flowers and all that. But you know what impresses me?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-howard/anybody-can-be-prince-charming-one-day-a-year-with-the-dinner-and-the/) [Ryan Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-howard/) > [And if the mind thinks with a believing attitude one can do amazing things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/and-if-the-mind-thinks-with-a-believing-attitude-one-can-do-amazing/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [The amount of things you can do with a kettlebell is unsurpassed by any other training equipment - dumbbells, resistance machines, free weights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laird-hamilton/the-amount-of-things-you-can-do-with-a-kettlebell-is-unsurpassed-by/) [Laird Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laird-hamilton/) > [It's nice when you've done enough movies that you can do your own anthology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/it-s-nice-when-you-ve-done-enough-movies-that-you-can-do-your-own/) [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) > [If people don't have their own vision, all they can do is 'sign-up' for someone else's.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-senge/if-people-don-t-have-their-own-vision-all-they-can-do-is-sign-up-for/) [Peter Senge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-senge/) > [The one thing that flies in the face of all human history and experience, is that the government can do a superior job than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/the-one-thing-that-flies-in-the-face-of-all-human-history-and/) [James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/) > [...what I can do is offer myself, wholehearted and present, to walk with the people I love through the fear and the mess. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shauna-niequist/what-i-can-do-is-offer-myself-wholehearted-and-present-to-walk-with/) [Shauna Niequist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shauna-niequist/) > [Whether that's speaking up in your job or asking for a promotion or saying, 'I think I can do that.' Using your voice in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-shriver/whether-that-s-speaking-up-in-your-job-or-asking-for-a-promotion-or/) [Maria Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-shriver/) > [The average ordinary citizen can do a lot of different things when it comes to the climate crisis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-bender/the-average-ordinary-citizen-can-do-a-lot-of-different-things-when-it/) [Lawrence Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-bender/) > [A professional is a man who can do his job when he doesn't feel like it. An amateur is a man who can't do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-agate/a-professional-is-a-man-who-can-do-his-job-when-he-doesn-t-feel-like/) [James Agate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-agate/) > [The Lord gives and the Lord takes away, as it pleases him, for he can do all things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/the-lord-gives-and-the-lord-takes-away-as-it-pleases-him-for-he-can/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [I'm not an educated man. I only know what I'm told, and I'm not told that much; I have no frame of reference for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maynard-james-keenan/i-m-not-an-educated-man-i-only-know-what-i-m-told-and-i-m-not-told/) [Maynard James Keenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maynard-james-keenan/) Browse all 5,673 Can do quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "[Being a good comedian] is a skill, but it's also a weird thing that only certain people can do. 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