--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was way more comfortable in front of…" description: "\"I was way more comfortable in front of strangers than I was in front of relatives. So when they would laugh at my dysfunctions or my anxiety, I felt le..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5b/richard-lewis-20166_alone_i-was-way-more-comfortable-in-front-of-s_346220.jpg" --- # I was way more comfortable in front of strangers than I… ![“I was way more comfortable in front of strangers than I was in front of relatives. So when they would laugh at my dysfunctions or my anxiety, I felt less alone, and I still do it for the same reason.” quote by Richard Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5b/richard-lewis-20166_alone_i-was-way-more-comfortable-in-front-of-s_346220.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5b/richard-lewis-20166_alone_i-was-way-more-comfortable-in-front-of-s_346220.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5b/richard-lewis-20166_alone_i-was-way-more-comfortable-in-front-of-s_346220.jpg) > “I was way more comfortable in front of strangers than I was in front of relatives. So when they would laugh at my dysfunctions or my anxiety, I felt less alone, and I still do it for the same reason.” [Richard Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lewis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The comedian finds comfort in being vulnerable with strangers, discovering that shared humor eases anxiety and fosters connection. **In simple terms:** Sharing personal quirks with strangers can reduce loneliness. Key Takeaway Embrace authenticity to build supportive connections. Themes vulnerability humor anxiety relief social connection Mood lighthearted introspective Type comedic motivational When to use this quote - public speaking - support groups - online communities - friendship building Key Concepts stand‑up comedy self‑acceptance shared experience Questions to Reflect On - When does sharing become oversharing? - How can humor be used responsibly? A Different Perspective Strangers may not always be supportive; vulnerability can be risky. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alone/) [Anxiety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Strangers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strangers/) ## Related quotes > [“The job he did kept his brain busy enough to cover up the anxiety; to distract him from his dark thoughts. He could deal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-michelle-lynch/the-job-he-did-kept-his-brain-busy-enough-to-cover-up-the-anxiety-to/) [Sarah Michelle Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-michelle-lynch/) > [“I said those things and did those things because you'd hurt me," he continued, whispering just outside my ear. "And I wanted to hurt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-williams/i-said-those-things-and-did-those-things-because-you-d-hurt-me-he/) [Nicole Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-williams/) > [“Benny knew she was sounding very peculiar but conversation of any kind made her feel less anxious. It filled that great empty echo chamber…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maeve-binchy/benny-knew-she-was-sounding-very-peculiar-but-conversation-of-any/) [Maeve Binchy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maeve-binchy/) > [“Anxiety felt like a grapnel anchor had been pickaxed into your back, one prong in each lung, one through the heart, one through the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krystal-sutherland/anxiety-felt-like-a-grapnel-anchor-had-been-pickaxed-into-your-back/) [Krystal Sutherland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krystal-sutherland/) > [“Jean Valjean watched these ravages with anxiety. He who felt that he could never do anything but crawl, walk at the most, beheld wings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/jean-valjean-watched-these-ravages-with-anxiety-he-who-felt-that-he/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [“It was fortunate that I had not already yielded to the temptation to break with Albertine; the tedium of having to rejoin her presently,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-proust/it-was-fortunate-that-i-had-not-already-yielded-to-the-temptation-to/) [Marcel Proust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-proust/) > [I was having pretty bad anxiety attacks and stuff, and I think a lot of it had to do with my physical environment. Deep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-degraw/i-was-having-pretty-bad-anxiety-attacks-and-stuff-and-i-think-a-lot/) [Brian Degraw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-degraw/) > [“The anxiety felt in anticipation of a disaster is far more disturbing than the actual encounter of the disaster itself for the human mind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neelima-dalmia-adhar/the-anxiety-felt-in-anticipation-of-a-disaster-is-far-more-disturbing/) Neelima Dalmia Adhar > [“Most nights I lay on my futon I was sick with anxiety, and felt a pit inside myself as big and empty as if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-golden/most-nights-i-lay-on-my-futon-i-was-sick-with-anxiety-and-felt-a-pit/) [Arthur Golden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-golden/) > [“I once asked you what anxiety felt like, and you told me that most days left you riddled with bullet holes. Every morning came…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-a-s/i-once-asked-you-what-anxiety-felt-like-and-you-told-me-that-most/) d.a.s > [Has this ever happened to you? You run into a friend you haven't spoken to in a while. You look at each other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imynatot/has-this-ever-happened-to-you-you-run-into-a-friend-you-haven-t/) IMynatot > [The Internet lets thousands of total strangers collaborate to produce a truly hivelike result.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-thompson/the-internet-lets-thousands-of-total-strangers-collaborate-to-produce/) [Clive Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-thompson/) > [It's amazing when strangers become friends but it's so sad, when friends become strangers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-amazing-when-strangers-become-friends-but-it-s-so-sad-when/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you read 'Lord of the Rings' and dismiss it as a lie because it has orcs and elves, you're missing the whole point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-tennapel/if-you-read-lord-of-the-rings-and-dismiss-it-as-a-lie-because-it-has/) [Doug TenNapel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-tennapel/) > [A place has almost the shyness of a person, with strangers; and its secret is not to be surprised by a too direct interrogation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-symons/a-place-has-almost-the-shyness-of-a-person-with-strangers-and-its/) [Arthur Symons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-symons/) ## More by Richard Lewis > [I'm paranoid. On my stationary bike, I have a rear view mirror.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lewis/i-m-paranoid-on-my-stationary-bike-i-have-a-rear-view-mirror/) [Richard Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lewis/) > [Most Texans think Hanukkah is some sort of duck call.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lewis/most-texans-think-hanukkah-is-some-sort-of-duck-call/) [Richard Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lewis/) > [My family - it wasn't an abusive family - they meant well, but they were in their own world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lewis/my-family-it-wasn-t-an-abusive-family-they-meant-well-but-they-were/) [Richard Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lewis/) > [For 45 years I've worked without an audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lewis/for-45-years-i-ve-worked-without-an-audience/) [Richard Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lewis/) > [My act is always a work in progress. I pray I have a bad day before a show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lewis/my-act-is-always-a-work-in-progress-i-pray-i-have-a-bad-day-before-a/) [Richard Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lewis/) > [My performance level has risen - and my anxiety-level has sky-rocketed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lewis/my-performance-level-has-risen-and-my-anxiety-level-has-sky-rocketed/) [Richard Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lewis/) > [My wife's hip, beautiful and independent and never jealous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lewis/my-wife-s-hip-beautiful-and-independent-and-never-jealous/) [Richard Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lewis/) > [I'm 70; I'm just glad I'm on top of the ground. Honest to God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lewis/i-m-70-i-m-just-glad-i-m-on-top-of-the-ground-honest-to-god/) [Richard Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lewis/) > [There's a thin line between narcissism, even if it's a healthy narcissism, and entertainment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lewis/there-s-a-thin-line-between-narcissism-even-if-it-s-a-healthy/) [Richard Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lewis/) > [I was 23, and all sorts of people were coming in and out and watching me, like Steve Allen and Bette Midler. David Brenner…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lewis/i-was-23-and-all-sorts-of-people-were-coming-in-and-out-and-watching/) [Richard Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lewis/) > [I never wanted to do observational humor because I never wanted to tell people what they were seeing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lewis/i-never-wanted-to-do-observational-humor-because-i-never-wanted-to/) [Richard Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lewis/) > [When I started out, I struggled, and I was broke a lot. But I'm glad I struggled, and I'm glad I was broke a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lewis/when-i-started-out-i-struggled-and-i-was-broke-a-lot-but-i-m-glad-i/) [Richard Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lewis/) > [I never gave much thought to anything since I was 22 years old, when I got into the arts, so when Larry David came…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lewis/i-never-gave-much-thought-to-anything-since-i-was-22-years-old-when-i/) [Richard Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lewis/) > [When you do something in the moment, it may just be for that stage, that audience, that head space that you're in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lewis/when-you-do-something-in-the-moment-it-may-just-be-for-that-stage/) [Richard Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lewis/) > [If you want to devote yourself to the arts, you'd better do it strictly from passion, because there is zero guarantee that you'll get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lewis/if-you-want-to-devote-yourself-to-the-arts-you-d-better-do-it/) [Richard Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lewis/) [Explore all 31 Richard Lewis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lewis/) ## More Alone quotes > [I can be taken away from myself quite easily, I kind of start betraying myself and compromising my integrity, to keep someone else happy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aimee-lou-wood/i-can-be-taken-away-from-myself-quite-easily-i-kind-of-start/) [Aimee Lou Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aimee-lou-wood/) > [Perhaps our own opposition to even the level of European integration we have now, let alone any more, is well known.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-farage/perhaps-our-own-opposition-to-even-the-level-of-european-integration/) [Nigel Farage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-farage/) > [If your goal is to look different, you'll see results faster with strength training than with cardio alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-kaiser/if-your-goal-is-to-look-different-you-ll-see-results-faster-with/) [Anna Kaiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-kaiser/) > [With my songs, the question is always, 'Can you pull it off live, alone on just an acoustic guitar?' That's the litmus test. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-colvin/with-my-songs-the-question-is-always-can-you-pull-it-off-live-alone/) [Shawn Colvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-colvin/) > [I should have liked to get married, but over many decades I have lived essentially alone. I go to sleep when I'm tired, get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-dennis/i-should-have-liked-to-get-married-but-over-many-decades-i-have-lived/) [Felix Dennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-dennis/) > [I am not alone in that I've had times of unemployment - unemployment is huge amongst disabled people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosie-jones/i-am-not-alone-in-that-i-ve-had-times-of-unemployment-unemployment-is/) [Rosie Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosie-jones/) > [I never knew a heart could feel so cold so empty so broken until now , I don't know what to say I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-never-knew-a-heart-could-feel-so-cold-so-empty-so-broken-until-now/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you're disabled or different from what general society deems normal, it's fine. There will always be people who won't accept you, but there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millicent-simmonds/if-you-re-disabled-or-different-from-what-general-society-deems/) [Millicent Simmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millicent-simmonds/) > [Real love is a permanently self-enlarging experience…A Journey With My Girl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luckybannu/real-love-is-a-permanently-self-enlarging-experience-a-journey-with/) Luckybannu > [“What I'm trying to say is that I spent the last four months learning to be alone, avoiding the world, hating pretty much anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-cremer/what-i-m-trying-to-say-is-that-i-spent-the-last-four-months-learning/) [Andrea Cremer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-cremer/) > [I'm used to being alone in a quiet, isolated environment - I'm kind of a low-energy, low-vibration, low-stamina person to begin with - so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-cain/i-m-used-to-being-alone-in-a-quiet-isolated-environment-i-m-kind-of-a/) [Ethel Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-cain/) > [“When I look back at myself at age twenty, what I remember most is being alone and lonely. I had no girlfriend to warm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/when-i-look-back-at-myself-at-age-twenty-what-i-remember-most-is/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [I have developed a nasty habit of losing to the guy who wins the tournament, and that alone makes you think what you could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-robertson/i-have-developed-a-nasty-habit-of-losing-to-the-guy-who-wins-the/) [Neil Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-robertson/) > [As a child, I was this record collector/listener that would sit in a room and listen to the entire Beatles catalog alone, over and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cornell/as-a-child-i-was-this-record-collector-listener-that-would-sit-in-a/) [Chris Cornell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cornell/) > [How one hates to think of oneself as alone. How one avoids it. It seems to imply rejection or unpopularity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-morrow-lindbergh/how-one-hates-to-think-of-oneself-as-alone-how-one-avoids-it-it-seems/) [Anne Morrow Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-morrow-lindbergh/) [Browse all 3,082 Alone quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alone/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was way more comfortable in front of strangers than I was in front of relatives. 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