--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was always a little embarrassed when…" description: "\"I was always a little embarrassed when there was an act on television that requires a great deal of skill but is a little goofy, and the host comes ove..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e3/penn-jillette-1046_deals_i-was-always-a-little-embarrassed-when-t_1599668.png" --- # I was always a little embarrassed when there was an act on… ![“I was always a little embarrassed when there was an act on television that requires a great deal of skill but is a little goofy, and the host comes over and acts like the person doing this skill is some sort of fool for having learned to do something that's very, very difficult.” quote by Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e3/penn-jillette-1046_deals_i-was-always-a-little-embarrassed-when-t_1599668.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e3/penn-jillette-1046_deals_i-was-always-a-little-embarrassed-when-t_1599668.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e3/penn-jillette-1046_deals_i-was-always-a-little-embarrassed-when-t_1599668.png) > “I was always a little embarrassed when there was an act on television that requires a great deal of skill but is a little goofy, and the host comes over and acts like the person doing this skill is some sort of fool for having learned to do something that's very, very difficult.” [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He feels embarrassed when skilled acts are mocked as silly, highlighting respect for mastery over ridicule. **In simple terms:** Mocking talent feels embarrassing; respect skill. Key Takeaway Value skill over mockery. Themes humor skill respect Mood playful critical Type cultural observational When to use this quote - talent shows - live performances - skill workshops Key Concepts performance media criticism talent shows Questions to Reflect On - Why do we ridicule mastery? - What balance should exist between entertainment and respect? A Different Perspective Some audiences enjoy humor mixed with skill. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Embarrassed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/embarrassed/) [Fool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fool/) [Goofy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goofy/) [Skill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skill/) [Skills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skills/) [Television](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/television/) ## Related quotes > [If you stop doing a skill you've done for years for any period of time, there's an adjustment period to get it back. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-o-driscoll/if-you-stop-doing-a-skill-you-ve-done-for-years-for-any-period-of/) [Brian O'Driscoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-o-driscoll/) > [The United States in particular and the West in general should be feeling a little embarrassed about all that lecturing we did to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krugman/the-united-states-in-particular-and-the-west-in-general-should-be/) [Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) > [I do feel a little embarrassed and ashamed that I was sort of saying, "Oh, yes, I used to do country music, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmylou-harris/i-do-feel-a-little-embarrassed-and-ashamed-that-i-was-sort-of-saying/) [Emmylou Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmylou-harris/) > [There was a stage when I was a little embarrassed about my Asian upbringing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-golding/there-was-a-stage-when-i-was-a-little-embarrassed-about-my-asian/) [Henry Golding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-golding/) > [I too was a little embarrassed by my recent topless 'scandal' and the subsequent parodies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-lee-curtis/i-too-was-a-little-embarrassed-by-my-recent-topless-scandal-and-the/) [Jamie Lee Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-lee-curtis/) > [I saw my father preach in Madison Square Garden, and I was a little embarrassed, I think, the first time I heard him preach.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-graham/i-saw-my-father-preach-in-madison-square-garden-and-i-was-a-little/) [Franklin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-graham/) > [There were days when my dad and grandpa had to work and I would call a cab to get to school. I felt a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-livingston/there-were-days-when-my-dad-and-grandpa-had-to-work-and-i-would-call/) [Shaun Livingston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-livingston/) > [“And you think, “I wish God was my boss. That would be awesome. He wouldn’t care about my sales sheet. He would care about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-acuff/and-you-think-i-wish-god-was-my-boss-that-would-be-awesome-he-wouldn/) [Jon Acuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-acuff/) > [I'm a little embarrassed to say I'm a little bit of a soccer dad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-laettner/i-m-a-little-embarrassed-to-say-i-m-a-little-bit-of-a-soccer-dad/) [Christian Laettner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-laettner/) > [I know more English than Spanish, but I'm always a little embarrassed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romain-duris/i-know-more-english-than-spanish-but-i-m-always-a-little-embarrassed/) [Romain Duris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romain-duris/) > [I've been a little embarrassed on the show because, you know, I didn't know what calamari was, and a lotta people make fun me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kellie-pickler/i-ve-been-a-little-embarrassed-on-the-show-because-you-know-i-didn-t/) [Kellie Pickler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kellie-pickler/) > [At home we're the hosts, and I never liked the idea of being embarrassed in front of our friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/knute-rockne/at-home-we-re-the-hosts-and-i-never-liked-the-idea-of-being/) [Knute Rockne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/knute-rockne/) > [Computers absolutely changed my life. Before I had a computer, I had never written one thing. Not one thing. I'm a very bad speller…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/computers-absolutely-changed-my-life-before-i-had-a-computer-i-had/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [A lot of older parents worry about being older parents. I hear people say, 'I don't want to be too old to play baseball…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/a-lot-of-older-parents-worry-about-being-older-parents-i-hear-people/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [I've always grown different types of facial hair like goofy type deals, but you know it really took off at Washington State when we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gardner-minshew/i-ve-always-grown-different-types-of-facial-hair-like-goofy-type/) [Gardner Minshew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gardner-minshew/) ## More by Penn Jillette > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [I intend to do the Penn & Teller show until they pry my cheesy magic wand from my cold dead fingers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/i-intend-to-do-the-penn-teller-show-until-they-pry-my-cheesy-magic/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Part of the experience of being entertained is sitting back and plugging into someone else's vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/part-of-the-experience-of-being-entertained-is-sitting-back-and/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [That whole 99% thing, they are all in the 1% of the world. Every one of them pays a cellphone bill that is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/that-whole-99-thing-they-are-all-in-the-1-of-the-world-every-one-of/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [I will forever stick up for Catholics and Christians in general. With a small number of very horrible exceptions, they do play by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/i-will-forever-stick-up-for-catholics-and-christians-in-general-with/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [I believe very much that the most damning thing you can say about Muslims is that you're afraid to say anything because they'll hurt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/i-believe-very-much-that-the-most-damning-thing-you-can-say-about/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [I'm not bothered by the idea of getting old, or I guess you could say by having arrived at old. I was 10 when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/i-m-not-bothered-by-the-idea-of-getting-old-or-i-guess-you-could-say/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [I'm always surprised when the corporate world does stupid things, because they're often not very stupid in hindsight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/i-m-always-surprised-when-the-corporate-world-does-stupid-things/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [It's only the losers named 'Dave' that think having an unusual name is bad, and who cares what they think? They're named 'Dave.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/it-s-only-the-losers-named-dave-that-think-having-an-unusual-name-is/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [The only secret of magic is that I'm willing to work harder on it than you think it's worth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/the-only-secret-of-magic-is-that-i-m-willing-to-work-harder-on-it/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Well, it's not really the right word, but freedom is kind of a hobby with me, and I have disposable income that I'll spend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/well-it-s-not-really-the-right-word-but-freedom-is-kind-of-a-hobby/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [It is really funny to see people that you know acting unpleasantly just because there are TV cameras on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/it-is-really-funny-to-see-people-that-you-know-acting-unpleasantly/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [My whole take on libertarianism is simply that I don't know what's best for other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/my-whole-take-on-libertarianism-is-simply-that-i-don-t-know-what-s/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Freedom means the right to be stupid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/freedom-means-the-right-to-be-stupid/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [“Once you've condoned faith in general, you've condoned any crazy shit done because of faith.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/once-you-ve-condoned-faith-in-general-you-ve-condoned-any-crazy-shit/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) [Explore all 302 Penn Jillette quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) ## More Deals quotes > [Right now we're concerned about budget. Right now we're concerned about the prospect of interest rate rise. We're concerned about government corruption, government handing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amity-shlaes/right-now-we-re-concerned-about-budget-right-now-we-re-concerned/) [Amity Shlaes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amity-shlaes/) > [A lot of indigenous cultures are deeply involved in working with ancestor spirits, elemental spirits, and demons. Many of these cultures feel that, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-pinchbeck/a-lot-of-indigenous-cultures-are-deeply-involved-in-working-with/) [Daniel Pinchbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-pinchbeck/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [Failure is a part of life and you have to learn to deal with it. Failure is something that is part of life's cycle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/failure-is-a-part-of-life-and-you-have-to-learn-to-deal-with-it/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [When you reach that competing point, when you reach that time when the gun is about to go off, everyone's level is pretty much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/apolo-ohno/when-you-reach-that-competing-point-when-you-reach-that-time-when-the/) [Apolo Ohno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/apolo-ohno/) > [I think the next 50 years are going to present the human race with challenges that so far exceed the limitations of geopolitical boundaries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-quinto/i-think-the-next-50-years-are-going-to-present-the-human-race-with/) [Zachary Quinto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-quinto/) > [Americans are very friendly and very suspicious, that is what Americans are and that is what always upsets the foreigner, who deals with them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/americans-are-very-friendly-and-very-suspicious-that-is-what/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [As a professional athlete and someone who has spent almost his entire life in boxing, not a day goes by when I don't think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-de-la-hoya/as-a-professional-athlete-and-someone-who-has-spent-almost-his-entire/) [Oscar De La Hoya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-de-la-hoya/) > [Okay, so I'll admit I'm curious. Big deal. We both know what that leads to. Dead cat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/okay-so-i-ll-admit-i-m-curious-big-deal-we-both-know-what-that-leads/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [I don't really resent being on the red carpet as much as I do having to deal with the paparazzi.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-fox/i-don-t-really-resent-being-on-the-red-carpet-as-much-as-i-do-having/) [Megan Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-fox/) > [I think kids growing up, if they were picked on and feeling inferior at 12, they're going to feel that way at 72. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvester-stallone/i-think-kids-growing-up-if-they-were-picked-on-and-feeling-inferior/) [Sylvester Stallone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvester-stallone/) > [You know, by the time you reach my age, you've made plenty of mistakes if you've lived your life properly. So you learn. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/you-know-by-the-time-you-reach-my-age-you-ve-made-plenty-of-mistakes/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [ By profession a biologist, \[Thomas Henry Huxley\] covered in fact the whole field of the exact sciences, and then bulged through its four fences.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/by-profession-a-biologist-thomas-henry-huxley-covered-in-fact-the/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [I deal with the obvious. I present, reiterate, and glorify the obvious - because the obvious is what people need to be told.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/i-deal-with-the-obvious-i-present-reiterate-and-glorify-the-obvious/) [Dale Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-carnegie/) > [But when you have to deal with notes, and to be able to make a full definition of what a sound is - if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-brown/but-when-you-have-to-deal-with-notes-and-to-be-able-to-make-a-full/) [Dennis Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-brown/) Browse all 7,121 Deals quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was always a little embarrassed when there was an act on television that requires a great deal of skill but is a little goofy, and the host comes over and acts like the person doing this skill is some sort of fool for having learned to do something that's very, very difficult.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Penn Jillette" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/i-was-always-a-little-embarrassed-when-there-was-an-act-on-television/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Deals" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/i-was-always-a-little-embarrassed-when-there-was-an-act-on-television/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e3/penn-jillette-1046_deals_i-was-always-a-little-embarrassed-when-t_1599668.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e3/penn-jillette-1046_deals_i-was-always-a-little-embarrassed-when-t_1599668.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e3/penn-jillette-1046_deals_i-was-always-a-little-embarrassed-when-t_1599668.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I was always a little embarrassed when there was an act on television that requires a great deal of skill…” — Penn Jillette", "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": "Penn Jillette", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I was always a little embarrassed...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/i-was-always-a-little-embarrassed-when-there-was-an-act-on-television/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/i-was-always-a-little-embarrassed-when-there-was-an-act-on-television/#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 } } ] } ```