--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Just making the crowd laugh is not really…" description: "\"Just making the crowd laugh is not really doing things for me anymore. That's just knowing how to kill; I've learned how to kill - but also learned whe..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3e/patrice-o-neal-22724_comedy_just-making-the-crowd-laugh-is-not-reall_2702817.jpg" --- # Just making the crowd laugh is not really doing things for… ![“Just making the crowd laugh is not really doing things for me anymore. That's just knowing how to kill; I've learned how to kill - but also learned when a crowd's laughter is meaningful.” quote by Patrice O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3e/patrice-o-neal-22724_comedy_just-making-the-crowd-laugh-is-not-reall_2702817.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3e/patrice-o-neal-22724_comedy_just-making-the-crowd-laugh-is-not-reall_2702817.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3e/patrice-o-neal-22724_comedy_just-making-the-crowd-laugh-is-not-reall_2702817.jpg) > “Just making the crowd laugh is not really doing things for me anymore. That's just knowing how to kill; I've learned how to kill - but also learned when a crowd's laughter is meaningful.” [Patrice O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrice-o-neal/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The performer finds humor insufficient; they seek deeper purpose beyond audience approval, recognizing when laughter truly matters. **In simple terms:** Comedy alone isn’t enough; seek meaning. Key Takeaway Prioritize purpose over applause. Themes authenticity purpose humor self‑awareness Mood reflective serious Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - stand‑up shows - creative projects - personal growth - teaching - activism Key Concepts Existentialism performative art audience dynamics Questions to Reflect On - When does laughter serve truth? - How to balance entertainment and impact? A Different Perspective Humor can mask avoidance of deeper issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Laugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laugh/) [Laughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laughter/) [Meaningful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meaningful/) ## Related quotes > [There's nothing like making a crowd laugh. For me that's the ultimate high.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bert-kreischer/there-s-nothing-like-making-a-crowd-laugh-for-me-that-s-the-ultimate/) [Bert Kreischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bert-kreischer/) > [I get this weird energy that starts in my feet and goes up and fills my head, and I just want to get everyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bert-kreischer/i-get-this-weird-energy-that-starts-in-my-feet-and-goes-up-and-fills/) [Bert Kreischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bert-kreischer/) > [I only study the things I like; I apply my mind only to matters that interest me. They'll be useful-or useless-to me or to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-chamfort/i-only-study-the-things-i-like-i-apply-my-mind-only-to-matters-that/) [Nicolas Chamfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-chamfort/) > [I like to be loved or hated - I don't like mediocre. So I'd rather have the entire crowd hate me than to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrice-o-neal/i-like-to-be-loved-or-hated-i-don-t-like-mediocre-so-i-d-rather-have/) [Patrice O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrice-o-neal/) > [I've never ceased to be amazed at the survival skills of poor children. I've learned how much children can actually do for themselves if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/landon-pearson/i-ve-never-ceased-to-be-amazed-at-the-survival-skills-of-poor/) Landon Pearson > [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/) > [I've learned over the years that when it comes to success, consistency is key. Consistent hard work that we may not like doing today,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-johnson/i-ve-learned-over-the-years-that-when-it-comes-to-success-consistency/) [Dwayne Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-johnson/) > [I've learned a simple principle: all I have to do is be the best 'me' that I can be. One day when I read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/i-ve-learned-a-simple-principle-all-i-have-to-do-is-be-the-best-me/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [Nuh-uh. No deals with the devil. I’ve learned my lesson on that one. ~Jaime Vegas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/nuh-uh-no-deals-with-the-devil-i-ve-learned-my-lesson-on-that-one/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [I mean, it's amazing that I get to meet all these people. I've learned so much from all of them. I just worked with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elle-fanning/i-mean-it-s-amazing-that-i-get-to-meet-all-these-people-i-ve-learned/) [Elle Fanning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elle-fanning/) > [What I think I've learned is that you're never going to get it all right, and you can't obsess about having a fact wrong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/what-i-think-i-ve-learned-is-that-you-re-never-going-to-get-it-all/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [I really want people to know that I've worked hard, very hard, to get to where I am today.. this didn't just happen overnight.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magic-johnson/i-really-want-people-to-know-that-i-ve-worked-hard-very-hard-to-get/) [Magic Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magic-johnson/) > [Technically, I've learned that having good legs and wind is good for being on stage. You have to be in shape and have endurance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-c-k/technically-i-ve-learned-that-having-good-legs-and-wind-is-good-for/) [Louis C. K](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-c-k/) > [One or two years ago, I didn't know who I was on court and I used to swear a lot. But now I've learned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-federer/one-or-two-years-ago-i-didn-t-know-who-i-was-on-court-and-i-used-to/) [Roger Federer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-federer/) > [I've seen of enough of people who die for an idea. I don't believe in heroism; I know it's easy and I've learned it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/i-ve-seen-of-enough-of-people-who-die-for-an-idea-i-don-t-believe-in/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) ## More by Patrice O'Neal > [Who has connections to Connecticut? That's where rich people go to live the rest of their life in the woods.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrice-o-neal/who-has-connections-to-connecticut-that-s-where-rich-people-go-to/) [Patrice O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrice-o-neal/) > [People have tried to corner the market on being offended, corner the market on language and corner the market on opinion. Should I lose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrice-o-neal/people-have-tried-to-corner-the-market-on-being-offended-corner-the/) [Patrice O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrice-o-neal/) > [I like to be loved or hated - I don't like mediocre. So I'd rather have the entire crowd hate me than to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrice-o-neal/i-like-to-be-loved-or-hated-i-don-t-like-mediocre-so-i-d-rather-have/) [Patrice O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrice-o-neal/) > [I generally don't like living in a world where being what a man is, is a horrible thing; and no matter what a woman…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrice-o-neal/i-generally-don-t-like-living-in-a-world-where-being-what-a-man-is-is/) [Patrice O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrice-o-neal/) > [I wanna say 'China', but I don't really mean 'China.' I just mean the places that Chinese people come from.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrice-o-neal/i-wanna-say-china-but-i-don-t-really-mean-china-i-just-mean-the/) [Patrice O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrice-o-neal/) > [When I came up, football was about gladiators . . . When we hit somebody and he didnt get up, we didnt hold hands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrice-o-neal/when-i-came-up-football-was-about-gladiators-when-we-hit-somebody-and/) [Patrice O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrice-o-neal/) > [I am that guy who will say things that people seem to think is a little edgy, a little racy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrice-o-neal/i-am-that-guy-who-will-say-things-that-people-seem-to-think-is-a/) [Patrice O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrice-o-neal/) > [Women don't want to win, they want a winner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrice-o-neal/women-don-t-want-to-win-they-want-a-winner/) [Patrice O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrice-o-neal/) > [I'm a slave to the culture, so I see an Audi, a Denali, or an Escalade, my neighbor got the four-door Porsche. I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrice-o-neal/i-m-a-slave-to-the-culture-so-i-see-an-audi-a-denali-or-an-escalade/) [Patrice O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrice-o-neal/) > [I need a little bass and I don't even need that crazy bass to break your face. I just want it to sound good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrice-o-neal/i-need-a-little-bass-and-i-don-t-even-need-that-crazy-bass-to-break/) [Patrice O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrice-o-neal/) > [What I'm trying to do is be righteous. And when I say “righteous,” I don't mean God. You know? God- Righteous. I mean just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrice-o-neal/what-i-m-trying-to-do-is-be-righteous-and-when-i-say-righteous-i-don/) [Patrice O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrice-o-neal/) > [Ive still got that little freedom part of me that wants to have a car that looks really sexy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrice-o-neal/ive-still-got-that-little-freedom-part-of-me-that-wants-to-have-a-car/) [Patrice O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrice-o-neal/) > [I'm really glad my food comes murdered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrice-o-neal/i-m-really-glad-my-food-comes-murdered/) [Patrice O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrice-o-neal/) > [I'm a big buffet dude, or I'm a big cheap-food-and-order-more-when-I-need-it dude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrice-o-neal/i-m-a-big-buffet-dude-or-i-m-a-big-cheap-food-and-order-more-when-i/) [Patrice O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrice-o-neal/) > [I've still got that little freedom part of me that wants to have a car that looks really sexy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrice-o-neal/i-ve-still-got-that-little-freedom-part-of-me-that-wants-to-have-a/) [Patrice O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrice-o-neal/) [Explore all 27 Patrice O'Neal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrice-o-neal/) ## 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": "Just making the crowd laugh is not really doing things for me anymore. 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