--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't do one-liners, because you don't…" description: "\"I don't do one-liners, because you don't learn anything about that comedian.\" — Ricky Gervais" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/007/ricky-gervais-851_about_i-don-t-do-one-liners-because-you-don-t_404355.png" --- # I don't do one-liners, because you don't learn anything… ![“I don't do one-liners, because you don't learn anything about that comedian.” quote by Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/007/ricky-gervais-851_about_i-don-t-do-one-liners-because-you-don-t_404355.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/007/ricky-gervais-851_about_i-don-t-do-one-liners-because-you-don-t_404355.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/007/ricky-gervais-851_about_i-don-t-do-one-liners-because-you-don-t_404355.png) > “I don't do one-liners, because you don't learn anything about that comedian.” [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He avoids short jokes because they reveal little about a comedian's depth or craft. **In simple terms:** Short jokes give little insight. Key Takeaway Focus on longer material. Themes comedy craft learning Mood reflective analytical Type observational educational When to use this quote - stand-up routines - writing workshops - comedy classes - audience analysis Key Concepts humor theory performance depth Questions to Reflect On - How does length affect comedic impact? - What can audiences learn from extended bits? A Different Perspective Long jokes can be less accessible to casual listeners. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Comedian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedian/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) ## Related quotes > [I've often heard it said a preacher might learn with a comedian for a teacher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/i-ve-often-heard-it-said-a-preacher-might-learn-with-a-comedian-for-a/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [You don't learn from a situation where you do something well. You enjoy it and you give yourself credit, but you don't really learn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-farrell/you-don-t-learn-from-a-situation-where-you-do-something-well-you/) [Suzanne Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-farrell/) > [A mistake is only really a mistake if you don't learn from it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/a-mistake-is-only-really-a-mistake-if-you-don-t-learn-from-it/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [Because you don't learn anything unless you can find the patience to read. TV takes that away from you. It robs you from your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/because-you-don-t-learn-anything-unless-you-can-find-the-patience-to/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [The truth is, if we don't learn to submit to authority, we won't ever learn to submit to God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/the-truth-is-if-we-don-t-learn-to-submit-to-authority-we-won-t-ever/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [ I think, as a comedian, the funniest you can be is with people you know, and \[whom\] you've known for years, in a pub.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/i-think-as-a-comedian-the-funniest-you-can-be-is-with-people-you-know/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [I've never worked out what the moral of Humpty Dumpty is. I can only think of: Don't sit on a wall, if you're an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/i-ve-never-worked-out-what-the-moral-of-humpty-dumpty-is-i-can-only/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [I like the ironic pomposity of a stand-up comedian. Like all those comedians thinking they can bring down Coca-Cola. They forget to be funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/i-like-the-ironic-pomposity-of-a-stand-up-comedian-like-all-those/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [Funny bones, to me, are more important than funny lines. If a comedian is just not likable and doing the lines, you could read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/funny-bones-to-me-are-more-important-than-funny-lines-if-a-comedian/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [Ego is hilarious - especially the vanity of a comedian. As soon as you see one start worrying about how cool he is or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/ego-is-hilarious-especially-the-vanity-of-a-comedian-as-soon-as-you/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [I like big escapist films. It's odd because the type of comedian I am and the things I do when I'm writing and directing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/i-like-big-escapist-films-it-s-odd-because-the-type-of-comedian-i-am/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [I don't think a comedian should even be concerned with being cool or sexy, as soon as you do, you aren't a comedian any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/i-don-t-think-a-comedian-should-even-be-concerned-with-being-cool-or/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [A mistake is only a mistake if you don't learn from it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-mistake-is-only-a-mistake-if-you-don-t-learn-from-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you get up everyday and you don't learn you are a fool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-garvey/if-you-get-up-everyday-and-you-don-t-learn-you-are-a-fool/) [Marcus Garvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-garvey/) > [“If you don learn from others then others will learn from you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamzat-haruna-ribah/if-you-don-learn-from-others-then-others-will-learn-from-you/) [Hamzat haruna Ribah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamzat-haruna-ribah/) ## More by Ricky Gervais > [I was David Bowie-thin up to about 28, and then I discovered food.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/i-was-david-bowie-thin-up-to-about-28-and-then-i-discovered-food/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [I don't like it when I see a racist comedian go up and say, 'What are we gonna do about all these immigrants?' and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/i-don-t-like-it-when-i-see-a-racist-comedian-go-up-and-say-what-are/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [The truth doesn't hurt. Whatever it is, it doesn't hurt. It's better to know the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/the-truth-doesn-t-hurt-whatever-it-is-it-doesn-t-hurt-it-s-better-to/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [If all the Atheists & Agnostics left America, they'd lose 93% of The National Academy of Sciences & less than 1% of the prison population.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/if-all-the-atheists-agnostics-left-america-they-d-lose-93-of-the/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [There are so many films now where you know the story is a supporting role to the visual effects.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/there-are-so-many-films-now-where-you-know-the-story-is-a-supporting/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [When I was about to be famous, I feared it on a few levels. I feared it because I didn't want people to lump…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/when-i-was-about-to-be-famous-i-feared-it-on-a-few-levels-i-feared-it/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [It will be great to play a short, fat sweaty loser for a change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/it-will-be-great-to-play-a-short-fat-sweaty-loser-for-a-change/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [I went to university with no money. I can't understand a society that wouldn't give a poor person the same opportunity as a rich…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/i-went-to-university-with-no-money-i-can-t-understand-a-society-that/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [I'm a failed pop star. I always sneak a song into everything I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/i-m-a-failed-pop-star-i-always-sneak-a-song-into-everything-i-do/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [The grass isn't always greener on the other side!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/the-grass-isn-t-always-greener-on-the-other-side/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [I am myself sometimes, and I do state my opinions, but not in a comedy routine and not in my character. There always has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/i-am-myself-sometimes-and-i-do-state-my-opinions-but-not-in-a-comedy/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [Wearing cosmetics that were tested on animals makes you ugly on the inside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/wearing-cosmetics-that-were-tested-on-animals-makes-you-ugly-on-the/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [There's a difference between a job and a career - if you're the boss you don't stop at six o'clock, you have to worry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/there-s-a-difference-between-a-job-and-a-career-if-you-re-the-boss/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [Stupidity without malice isn't horrible; some people can't help it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/stupidity-without-malice-isn-t-horrible-some-people-can-t-help-it/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [It's interesting that music in this country... we sort of sold something to America with The Beatles and they sold something back. And we've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/it-s-interesting-that-music-in-this-country-we-sort-of-sold-something/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) [Explore all 351 Ricky Gervais quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) ## More About quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [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 talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/) [Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/) > [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [I write about presidents. That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [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 learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/) [Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/) [Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-didn-t-want-to-do-fashion-police-because-i-thought-this-is-stupid/) [Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/) > [I just worried about my weight. Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/) [Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/) > [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/) [Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/) > [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/) [John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/) > [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) Browse all 26,122 About quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't do one-liners, because you don't learn anything about that comedian.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ricky Gervais" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/i-don-t-do-one-liners-because-you-don-t-learn-anything-about-that/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "About" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/i-don-t-do-one-liners-because-you-don-t-learn-anything-about-that/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/007/ricky-gervais-851_about_i-don-t-do-one-liners-because-you-don-t_404355.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/007/ricky-gervais-851_about_i-don-t-do-one-liners-because-you-don-t_404355.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/007/ricky-gervais-851_about_i-don-t-do-one-liners-because-you-don-t_404355.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I don't do one-liners, because you don't learn anything about that comedian.” — Ricky Gervais", "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": "Ricky Gervais", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I don't do one-liners, because you...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/i-don-t-do-one-liners-because-you-don-t-learn-anything-about-that/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/i-don-t-do-one-liners-because-you-don-t-learn-anything-about-that/#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 } } ] } ```