--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One of my greatest inspirations for…" description: "\"One of my greatest inspirations for stand-up was Jonathan Winters. He was a genius. One thing about him, and also Lenny Bruce, is that they were in the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39f/robert-klein-18164_about_one-of-my-greatest-inspirations-for-stan_557873.jpg" --- # One of my greatest inspirations for stand-up was Jonathan… ![“One of my greatest inspirations for stand-up was Jonathan Winters. He was a genius. One thing about him, and also Lenny Bruce, is that they were in the tradition of the one-man show. That's why Richard Pryor was so great, and George Carlin, too. They prowled the stage, they used voices, they were…” quote by Robert Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39f/robert-klein-18164_about_one-of-my-greatest-inspirations-for-stan_557873.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39f/robert-klein-18164_about_one-of-my-greatest-inspirations-for-stan_557873.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39f/robert-klein-18164_about_one-of-my-greatest-inspirations-for-stan_557873.jpg) > “One of my greatest inspirations for stand-up was Jonathan Winters. He was a genius. One thing about him, and also Lenny Bruce, is that they were in the tradition of the one-man show. That's why Richard Pryor was so great, and George Carlin, too. They prowled the stage, they used voices, they were really talents.” [Robert Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-klein/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Great comedians build on predecessors, using voice and character to innovate within stand‑up tradition. **In simple terms:** Comedians learn from past masters. Key Takeaway Study comedy history to improve your act. Themes comedy inspiration legacy Mood analytical motivational Type educational inspirational When to use this quote - writing workshop - open mic nights - comedy classes - studying classic routines Key Concepts Stand‑up tradition voice work character performance Questions to Reflect On - Which comedian influences you most? - How can you blend their techniques with your own voice? 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It's taking something common and drawing out the humor, being clever with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-cosby/george-carlin-is-brilliant-with-words-and-johnny-winters-is-very/) [Bill Cosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-cosby/) > [Show me one guy or woman as funny as Rodney Dangerfield or as good as George Carlin, Richard Pryor, Bill Cosby, or Joan Rivers.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-rock/show-me-one-guy-or-woman-as-funny-as-rodney-dangerfield-or-as-good-as/) [Chris Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-rock/) > [You can be funny and say what you mean; these ideas are not mutually exclusive. Some of the best jokes came from people who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hari-kondabolu/you-can-be-funny-and-say-what-you-mean-these-ideas-are-not-mutually/) [Hari Kondabolu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hari-kondabolu/) > [On the comedy side of what I love as a filmmaker are Richard Pryor, Lenny Bruce, and Eddie Murphy; those are my favorites.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-dobkin/on-the-comedy-side-of-what-i-love-as-a-filmmaker-are-richard-pryor/) [David Dobkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-dobkin/) > [When I first started out, 'Time' magazine did an article on what it called 'the sick comics,' and they were myself, Shelley Berman, Nichols…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/when-i-first-started-out-time-magazine-did-an-article-on-what-it/) [Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/) > [My grandma, Edith, was one of the greatest inspirations in my life, both personally and professionally. She was an incredibly talented artist who shared…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-meyer/my-grandma-edith-was-one-of-the-greatest-inspirations-in-my-life-both/) [Jennifer Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-meyer/) > [My grandmother was one of the greatest inspirations in my life. She taught me how to be a real woman, to have strength and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reese-witherspoon/my-grandmother-was-one-of-the-greatest-inspirations-in-my-life-she/) [Reese Witherspoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reese-witherspoon/) > [My daughter is one of my greatest inspirations. She's an environmentalist, she plays piano, she's raising money for the earthquake victims in Nepal. Every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/my-daughter-is-one-of-my-greatest-inspirations-she-s-an/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [Viola Davis, Patti Smith, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Julianne Moore. I could go on forever listing names. However... my greatest inspirations have, without a doubt, been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-hawke/viola-davis-patti-smith-lin-manuel-miranda-julianne-moore-i-could-go/) [Maya Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-hawke/) > [My biggest inspiration is black America and what they've done in the arts. I have always felt like an outsider in America, and what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hasan-minhaj/my-biggest-inspiration-is-black-america-and-what-they-ve-done-in-the/) [Hasan Minhaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hasan-minhaj/) > [Camaron has been one of my greatest inspirations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosalia/camaron-has-been-one-of-my-greatest-inspirations/) [Rosalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosalia/) > [My children are my greatest gifts and my greatest inspirations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trista-sutter/my-children-are-my-greatest-gifts-and-my-greatest-inspirations/) [Trista Sutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trista-sutter/) > [If I can make you laugh and learn, I want to be like George Carlin and Richard Pryor and Eddie Murphy and Sam Kinison…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralphie-may/if-i-can-make-you-laugh-and-learn-i-want-to-be-like-george-carlin-and/) [Ralphie May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralphie-may/) > [“Why should I have to hide the fact that I don't believe there’s a supreme being? There’s no proof of it. There’s no harm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-ventura/why-should-i-have-to-hide-the-fact-that-i-don-t-believe-there-s-a/) [Jesse Ventura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-ventura/) ## More by Robert Klein > [But I think the other is a little more like bullfighting, a little more daring and although I appreciate good acting and I liked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-klein/but-i-think-the-other-is-a-little-more-like-bullfighting-a-little/) [Robert Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-klein/) > [I guess I'm pleased and proud of the respect of my peers, and that when I disappear from the scene or from this earth,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-klein/i-guess-i-m-pleased-and-proud-of-the-respect-of-my-peers-and-that/) [Robert Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-klein/) > [ \[T\]he Super Bowl, the quintessential American creation. A dizzying mélange of brilliant entrepreneurship in an atmosphere of intense competition. It is the perfect show… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-klein/t-he-super-bowl-the-quintessential-american-creation-a-dizzying-m/) [Robert Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-klein/) > [I'd walk into the school, smell that institutional smell of the tomato soup, peanut butter, disinfectant, and boys room. Pass the lunchroom, see the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-klein/i-d-walk-into-the-school-smell-that-institutional-smell-of-the-tomato/) [Robert Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-klein/) > [I was a class clown. My father was a class clown. My son has been a class clown, and it sort of ran in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-klein/i-was-a-class-clown-my-father-was-a-class-clown-my-son-has-been-a/) [Robert Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-klein/) > [In the book of things people more often do wrong than right, investing must certainly top the list, followed closely by wallpapering and eating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-klein/in-the-book-of-things-people-more-often-do-wrong-than-right-investing/) [Robert Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-klein/) > [I wrote my book 'The Amorous Busboy Of Decatur Avenue' completely like a writer does, writing it down, re-writing everything. But in my stand-up,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-klein/i-wrote-my-book-the-amorous-busboy-of-decatur-avenue-completely-like/) [Robert Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-klein/) > [My 1974 album 'Mind Over Matter' was a detailed thing about Watergate. I always had some righteous indignation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-klein/my-1974-album-mind-over-matter-was-a-detailed-thing-about-watergate-i/) [Robert Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-klein/) > [But to do it professionally is a quantum leap difference and my father had to be persuaded by these kind of Ivy League professors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-klein/but-to-do-it-professionally-is-a-quantum-leap-difference-and-my/) [Robert Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-klein/) > [I learned more at The Second City than I did at Yale for all that high tuition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-klein/i-learned-more-at-the-second-city-than-i-did-at-yale-for-all-that/) [Robert Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-klein/) > [There is a cliche that probably has some anecdotal evidence on the side that comedians are very depressed people, but that's because no one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-klein/there-is-a-cliche-that-probably-has-some-anecdotal-evidence-on-the/) [Robert Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-klein/) > [Comedy is still alive, and there are still funny people. Jews are still overrepresented in comedy and psychiatry and underrepresented in the priesthood. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-klein/comedy-is-still-alive-and-there-are-still-funny-people-jews-are-still/) [Robert Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-klein/) > [Regis and I were inducted into the original Bronx Walk of Fame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-klein/regis-and-i-were-inducted-into-the-original-bronx-walk-of-fame/) [Robert Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-klein/) > [I have a work-out regime; I am not a maniac. It sounds cliche, but stand-up comedy, doing a one-man show, helps keep me young,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-klein/i-have-a-work-out-regime-i-am-not-a-maniac-it-sounds-cliche-but-stand/) [Robert Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-klein/) > [According to one account of the New York City schools during the 1950s: The teacher could not technically hit the child, but the old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-klein/according-to-one-account-of-the-new-york-city-schools-during-the/) [Robert Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-klein/) [Explore all 35 Robert Klein quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-klein/) ## 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. 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