--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You just can't take yourself too…" description: "\"You just can't take yourself too seriously, especially in comedy. You shouldn't try to be funny, but you should try to be as honest as possible. The ex..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c0/paula-patton-11845_actors_you-just-can-t-take-yourself-too-serious_1600211.jpg" --- # You just can't take yourself too seriously, especially in… ![“You just can't take yourself too seriously, especially in comedy. You shouldn't try to be funny, but you should try to be as honest as possible. The extreme end of honesty is usually what's funny. That's your job [as an actor]. You just have to let people see it.” quote by Paula Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c0/paula-patton-11845_actors_you-just-can-t-take-yourself-too-serious_1600211.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c0/paula-patton-11845_actors_you-just-can-t-take-yourself-too-serious_1600211.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c0/paula-patton-11845_actors_you-just-can-t-take-yourself-too-serious_1600211.jpg) > “You just can't take yourself too seriously, especially in comedy. You shouldn't try to be funny, but you should try to be as honest as possible. The extreme end of honesty is usually what's funny. That's your job \[as an actor\]. You just have to let people see it.” [Paula Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-patton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Comedy succeeds when performers are authentic; overthinking humor hinders spontaneity. **In simple terms:** Be honest, not forced funny. Key Takeaway Embrace authenticity on stage. Themes comedy authenticity self-awareness performance humor Mood lighthearted encouraging insightful Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - stand‑up shows - improv classes - acting auditions - writing sketches Key Concepts improvisation vulnerability truthful expression Questions to Reflect On - How can you stay true while respecting audience comfort? - When does honesty become counterproductive? A Different Perspective Excessive honesty can alienate audiences if not balanced with timing. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Extremes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/extremes/) [Honest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honest/) [Honesty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honesty/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [You just can't take yourself too seriously, especially in comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-patton/you-just-can-t-take-yourself-too-seriously-especially-in-comedy/) [Paula Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-patton/) > [There's a theory with comedy that you shouldn't do anything that's too topical in your specials because people won't be able to watch them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-jefferies/there-s-a-theory-with-comedy-that-you-shouldn-t-do-anything-that-s/) [Jim Jefferies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-jefferies/) > ['Friends' is easy to dismiss, but it's really good television - the art with which those actors play with comedy shouldn't be denigrated. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-elliott/friends-is-easy-to-dismiss-but-it-s-really-good-television-the-art/) [Marianne Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-elliott/) > [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/) > [I hate to give myself credit for anything, but I will say I really enjoy, as an actor, and especially with comedy stuff, playing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-greenfield/i-hate-to-give-myself-credit-for-anything-but-i-will-say-i-really/) [Max Greenfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-greenfield/) > [I try not to blame the public, because the public - men, especially - have seen not great portrayals of women in supporting roles,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/i-try-not-to-blame-the-public-because-the-public-men-especially-have/) [Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/) > [Adult Swim has cornered this really cool market, especially for comedy shows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-scheer/adult-swim-has-cornered-this-really-cool-market-especially-for-comedy/) [Paul Scheer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-scheer/) > [For me, I believe comedy's about taking risks, taking chances, working in a safe environment where you're comfortable making a fool of yourself. 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A friend told…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-swihart/one-of-the-great-things-about-being-on-a-show-for-a-long-period-of/) John Swihart > [Especially with comedy, you take massive risks because ultimately you're trying to be funny. If you're not funny, then it's really embarrassing and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-cooper/especially-with-comedy-you-take-massive-risks-because-ultimately-you/) [Dominic Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-cooper/) > [It sounds gross to say that I like myself more. But not everyone likes themselves that much. Especially in the comedy world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kattan/it-sounds-gross-to-say-that-i-like-myself-more-but-not-everyone-likes/) [Chris Kattan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kattan/) ## More by Paula Patton > [My job, as an actor, is to entertain people. My contribution to society is to be a respite from everyday life. People go home…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-patton/my-job-as-an-actor-is-to-entertain-people-my-contribution-to-society/) [Paula Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-patton/) > [I feel like movies should stick to a genre and give the audience what they want, and then surprise them with the unexpected, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-patton/i-feel-like-movies-should-stick-to-a-genre-and-give-the-audience-what/) [Paula Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-patton/) > [Before, if your phone was busy, your phone was busy. You had no cell phone. Now people work 24/7, their BlackBerry keeps them busy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-patton/before-if-your-phone-was-busy-your-phone-was-busy-you-had-no-cell/) [Paula Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-patton/) > [We don't really know the ultimate outcome of our lives. All we can say is, "Fate has brought me thus far. This is where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-patton/we-don-t-really-know-the-ultimate-outcome-of-our-lives-all-we-can-say/) [Paula Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-patton/) > [I always like the physical comedy because I actually do a lot of it in my own life, but not on purpose. I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-patton/i-always-like-the-physical-comedy-because-i-actually-do-a-lot-of-it/) [Paula Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-patton/) > [A movie is painting, it's photography, it's literature - because you have to have the screenplay - it's music. 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That's what makes the job exciting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-patton/for-me-anything-that-you-take-on-you-want-to-be-challenged-that-s/) [Paula Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-patton/) > [Sometimes I do yoga, sometimes it's kickboxing, sometimes it's weight training, sometimes it's Pilates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-patton/sometimes-i-do-yoga-sometimes-it-s-kickboxing-sometimes-it-s-weight/) [Paula Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-patton/) > [As a little girl I always dreamed of having a cosmetics contract, which was the cherry on top of 'making it' in my opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-patton/as-a-little-girl-i-always-dreamed-of-having-a-cosmetics-contract/) [Paula Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-patton/) > [If you're an actress and even one person knows your name, you're lucky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-patton/if-you-re-an-actress-and-even-one-person-knows-your-name-you-re-lucky/) [Paula Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-patton/) > [A movie is painting, it's photography, it's literature - because you have to have the screenplay - it's music. 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