--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Everyone says comedy is really hard, but…" description: "\"Everyone says comedy is really hard, but with 'The Office' the naturalism was everything so it didn't feel like doing comedy; it just felt like doing a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/041/ralph-ineson-23672_character_everyone-says-comedy-is-really-hard-but_3125054.jpg" --- # Everyone says comedy is really hard, but with 'The Office'… ![“Everyone says comedy is really hard, but with 'The Office' the naturalism was everything so it didn't feel like doing comedy; it just felt like doing a really offensive character who thought he was funny.” quote by Ralph Ineson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/041/ralph-ineson-23672_character_everyone-says-comedy-is-really-hard-but_3125054.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/041/ralph-ineson-23672_character_everyone-says-comedy-is-really-hard-but_3125054.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/041/ralph-ineson-23672_character_everyone-says-comedy-is-really-hard-but_3125054.jpg) > “Everyone says comedy is really hard, but with 'The Office' the naturalism was everything so it didn't feel like doing comedy; it just felt like doing a really offensive character who thought he was funny.” [Ralph Ineson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-ineson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Comedy can feel effortless when grounded in realistic characters, making humor arise from authenticity rather than forced jokes. **In simple terms:** Authentic characters make comedy feel natural. Key Takeaway Embrace realism in humor. Themes comedy authenticity character work Mood humorous reflective Type analysis observational When to use this quote - stand‑up - sitcom writing - improv workshops - character studies Key Concepts improvisation performance art Questions to Reflect On - How does authenticity enhance comedic impact? - When might exaggeration be more effective? A Different Perspective Relying solely on realism may limit creative absurdity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Comedy Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy-really/) [Everything](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/everything/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Offensive Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/offensive-character-2725152/) [Office Naturalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/office-naturalism-5503502/) [Says](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/says/) [Says Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/says-comedy-5503501/) ## Related quotes > [To watch an American on a beach, or crowding into a subway, or buying a theatre ticket, or sitting at home with his radio…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alistair-cooke/to-watch-an-american-on-a-beach-or-crowding-into-a-subway-or-buying-a/) [Alistair Cooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alistair-cooke/) > [I don't think comedy really does change people's minds; I think you can only get someone who is almost ready to change their mind.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-jefferies/i-don-t-think-comedy-really-does-change-people-s-minds-i-think-you/) [Jim Jefferies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-jefferies/) > [Stand-up comedy is a really lonely profession: you 'perform for 2000 people, then you go to a hotel room by yourself and stare at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anh-do/stand-up-comedy-is-a-really-lonely-profession-you-perform-for-2000/) [Anh Do](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anh-do/) > [You gotta understand, there weren't a whole lot of roles for Hispanics in the Eighties, so comedy was really the way I could really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-michael-quezada/you-gotta-understand-there-weren-t-a-whole-lot-of-roles-for-hispanics/) [Steven Michael Quezada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-michael-quezada/) > [I think the combination of action and the combination of comedy are two really, really good genres to meld together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-h-moritz/i-think-the-combination-of-action-and-the-combination-of-comedy-are/) [Neal H. Moritz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-h-moritz/) > [I wasn't classically trained as an actor; I wasn't pursuing standup comedy. I really came into it through the back door. And there was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-jon-benjamin/i-wasn-t-classically-trained-as-an-actor-i-wasn-t-pursuing-standup/) [H. Jon Benjamin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-jon-benjamin/) > [I think that comedy really tells you how it is. The other thing about comedy is that - you don't even know if you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-reiner/i-think-that-comedy-really-tells-you-how-it-is-the-other-thing-about/) [Carl Reiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-reiner/) > [I hope I am pigeonholed with comedy. I'm really not interested in writing the darker stuff, the emotional stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-espenson/i-hope-i-am-pigeonholed-with-comedy-i-m-really-not-interested-in/) [Jane Espenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-espenson/) > [Mean comedy is not really something that I personally gravitate towards or something that I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-wiig/mean-comedy-is-not-really-something-that-i-personally-gravitate/) [Kristen Wiig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-wiig/) > [Comedy is really not like any other art form in that it's very specialized and varied in it's content, but generic in it's title.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-rogan/comedy-is-really-not-like-any-other-art-form-in-that-it-s-very/) [Joe Rogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-rogan/) > [The beauty of comedy is you can really push things. Hopefully, you're with people with a sense of humor and can relate to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrien-brody/the-beauty-of-comedy-is-you-can-really-push-things-hopefully-you-re/) [Adrien Brody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrien-brody/) > [Anger and comedy are really connected.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/anger-and-comedy-are-really-connected/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [Sometimes, songs spill out of you very fast, and sometimes you have to wrangle them to the floor. But the same thing is true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-shearer/sometimes-songs-spill-out-of-you-very-fast-and-sometimes-you-have-to/) [Harry Shearer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-shearer/) > [I really enjoy comedy, but I also still really enjoy the drama aspect. So, I don't like to narrow my possible chances out there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-durance/i-really-enjoy-comedy-but-i-also-still-really-enjoy-the-drama-aspect/) [Erica Durance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-durance/) > [I was thinking about comedy and how comedy in many ways opens us up to ideas and really being influenced by Richard Pryor and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-gross/i-was-thinking-about-comedy-and-how-comedy-in-many-ways-opens-us-up/) [Terry Gross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-gross/) ## More by Ralph Ineson > [When I am stressed I pluck my beard, leaving bald patches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-ineson/when-i-am-stressed-i-pluck-my-beard-leaving-bald-patches/) [Ralph Ineson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-ineson/) > [Once I won the roles in 'Spender' and 'First Knight' it was much easier for everyone, me included, to get their heads around the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-ineson/once-i-won-the-roles-in-spender-and-first-knight-it-was-much-easier/) [Ralph Ineson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-ineson/) > [I have a penchant for Tammy Wynette and Dolly Parton.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-ineson/i-have-a-penchant-for-tammy-wynette-and-dolly-parton/) [Ralph Ineson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-ineson/) > [I don't think you can predict success, but you get a feeling if something's going to be good or bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-ineson/i-don-t-think-you-can-predict-success-but-you-get-a-feeling-if/) [Ralph Ineson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-ineson/) > [I always just like to do good stuff, and I'm very, very lucky that I do almost everything. I do theatre, radio, TV, film,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-ineson/i-always-just-like-to-do-good-stuff-and-i-m-very-very-lucky-that-i-do/) [Ralph Ineson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-ineson/) > [You can't go wrong with pirates. I mean, they're pirates. It's what everyone wants to be when they're a kid. Ninja, assassin, or a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-ineson/you-can-t-go-wrong-with-pirates-i-mean-they-re-pirates-it-s-what/) [Ralph Ineson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-ineson/) > [I have been so lucky when it comes to work. It's great to do so many different roles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-ineson/i-have-been-so-lucky-when-it-comes-to-work-it-s-great-to-do-so-many/) [Ralph Ineson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-ineson/) > [I think 'The Witch' was actually my 100th job. Only took me 100 jobs to get a lead! But it did change things a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-ineson/i-think-the-witch-was-actually-my-100th-job-only-took-me-100-jobs-to/) [Ralph Ineson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-ineson/) > [I've always wanted to be a Bond villain. I'll probably have to do make do with being a henchman but I'd be quite happy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-ineson/i-ve-always-wanted-to-be-a-bond-villain-i-ll-probably-have-to-do-make/) [Ralph Ineson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-ineson/) > [I have two amazing children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-ineson/i-have-two-amazing-children/) [Ralph Ineson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-ineson/) > [Finchy is foul. And there is no way I would be mates with him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-ineson/finchy-is-foul-and-there-is-no-way-i-would-be-mates-with-him/) [Ralph Ineson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-ineson/) > [At castings for commercials, you end up being told to do ridiculous things, such as animal impersonations. You probably get one commercial for 20…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-ineson/at-castings-for-commercials-you-end-up-being-told-to-do-ridiculous/) [Ralph Ineson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-ineson/) > [I'm usually the bad guy, you know, but I do a lot of different genres of acting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-ineson/i-m-usually-the-bad-guy-you-know-but-i-do-a-lot-of-different-genres/) [Ralph Ineson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-ineson/) > [Not that I am hugely working class, but in the U.K. I'm always perceived, casting-wise, as being working class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-ineson/not-that-i-am-hugely-working-class-but-in-the-u-k-i-m-always/) [Ralph Ineson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-ineson/) > [Nobody knows what they're doing, so don't be afraid to try things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-ineson/nobody-knows-what-they-re-doing-so-don-t-be-afraid-to-try-things/) [Ralph Ineson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-ineson/) [Explore all 25 Ralph Ineson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-ineson/) ## More Character quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [When you're on a daytime drama you get one page, you better damn well know your character. You better know what she would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hudgins/when-you-re-on-a-daytime-drama-you-get-one-page-you-better-damn-well/) [David Hudgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hudgins/) > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [In the fight between biology and morality, biology has commonly won in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/in-the-fight-between-biology-and-morality-biology-has-commonly-won-in/) [Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/) > [Your looks don't make you pretty, it's the person inside who makes you pretty!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-chan/your-looks-don-t-make-you-pretty-it-s-the-person-inside-who-makes-you/) [Aaron Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-chan/) > [I'm not a huge social media kind of guy, so I don't really know, I don't really ever get... at least in real life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-stroma/i-m-not-a-huge-social-media-kind-of-guy-so-i-don-t-really-know-i-don/) [Freddie Stroma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-stroma/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [Courage: the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/courage-the-most-important-of-all-the-virtues-because-without-courage/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) [Browse all 32,707 Character quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Everyone says comedy is really hard, but with 'The Office' the naturalism was everything so it didn't feel like doing comedy; it just felt like doing a really offensive character who thought he was funny.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ralph Ineson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-ineson/everyone-says-comedy-is-really-hard-but-with-the-office-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Character" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-ineson/everyone-says-comedy-is-really-hard-but-with-the-office-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/041/ralph-ineson-23672_character_everyone-says-comedy-is-really-hard-but_3125054.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/041/ralph-ineson-23672_character_everyone-says-comedy-is-really-hard-but_3125054.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/041/ralph-ineson-23672_character_everyone-says-comedy-is-really-hard-but_3125054.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Everyone says comedy is really hard, but with 'The Office' the naturalism was everything so it didn't feel…” — Ralph Ineson", "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": "Ralph Ineson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-ineson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Everyone says comedy is really hard,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-ineson/everyone-says-comedy-is-really-hard-but-with-the-office-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-ineson/everyone-says-comedy-is-really-hard-but-with-the-office-the/#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 } } ] } ```