--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I first realized that I wanted to be…" description: "\"When I first realized that I wanted to be a stand-up comedian was when I was in the service.\" — Rudy Ray Moore" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8bf/rudy-ray-moore-28819_comedian_when-i-first-realized-that-i-wanted-to-b_2499861.jpg" --- # When I first realized that I wanted to be a stand-up… ![“When I first realized that I wanted to be a stand-up comedian was when I was in the service.” quote by Rudy Ray Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8bf/rudy-ray-moore-28819_comedian_when-i-first-realized-that-i-wanted-to-b_2499861.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8bf/rudy-ray-moore-28819_comedian_when-i-first-realized-that-i-wanted-to-b_2499861.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8bf/rudy-ray-moore-28819_comedian_when-i-first-realized-that-i-wanted-to-b_2499861.jpg) > “When I first realized that I wanted to be a stand-up comedian was when I was in the service.” [Rudy Ray Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudy-ray-moore/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Realizing a passion for comedy during military service sparked a career shift. **In simple terms:** Military service revealed comedic calling. Key Takeaway Pursue humor after discovery. Themes career comedy selfdiscovery military Mood reflective inspirational Type personal career When to use this quote - veteran transition - comedy workshops - personal growth Key Concepts Identity creative expression career change Questions to Reflect On - What sparked your creative awakening? - How did service shape your humor? A Different Perspective Comedy may not guarantee financial stability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Comedian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedian/) [Comedian Service](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedian-service-1050301/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [First](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first/) [Realized](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/realized/) [Realized Wanted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/realized-wanted-889357/) [Service](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/service/) [Stand Comedian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stand-comedian-244768/) [Wanted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted/) ## Related quotes > [I realized that I wanted to make what I wanted to make and then find my lane as I progressed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-alchemist/i-realized-that-i-wanted-to-make-what-i-wanted-to-make-and-then-find/) [The Alchemist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-alchemist/) > [“...he realized how much he wanted to take her pain away”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/he-realized-how-much-he-wanted-to-take-her-pain-away/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“I realized I still wanted to dream about the person I would become, not actually be her.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-howrey/i-realized-i-still-wanted-to-dream-about-the-person-i-would-become/) [Meg Howrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-howrey/) > [I started as a stand-up comedian at charity shows in Mumbai.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-lever/i-started-as-a-stand-up-comedian-at-charity-shows-in-mumbai/) [Johnny Lever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-lever/) > [That's how to make a stand-up comedian: You take a person who is uncomfortable and try to squirrel their way out of it through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-kamau-bell/that-s-how-to-make-a-stand-up-comedian-you-take-a-person-who-is/) [W. Kamau Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-kamau-bell/) > [The real focus at first is to just become a good stand-up comedian, and then when you get to a certain level, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/the-real-focus-at-first-is-to-just-become-a-good-stand-up-comedian/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [A stand-up comedian faces the audiences and gets their immediate feedback. I hide behind the comic strip, and unless people write to me, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-pastis/a-stand-up-comedian-faces-the-audiences-and-gets-their-immediate/) [Stephan Pastis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-pastis/) > [The skill of a good actor is to make it always seem like you're in that fantastically spontaneous moment. Very often, a stand-up comedian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-firth/the-skill-of-a-good-actor-is-to-make-it-always-seem-like-you-re-in/) [Colin Firth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-firth/) > [She saw him the first day on board, and then her heart sank into her shoes as she realized at last how much she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/she-saw-him-the-first-day-on-board-and-then-her-heart-sank-into-her/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [“Nothing makes you want somthing more than having it and losing it. Until I got that top ranking, I hadn't realized how much I'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-sharapova/nothing-makes-you-want-somthing-more-than-having-it-and-losing-it/) [Maria Sharapova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-sharapova/) > [“Maybe being with Cade was a need…my body needed him more than I realized. He was a part of me, whether I wanted him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicia-tatum/maybe-being-with-cade-was-a-need-my-body-needed-him-more-than-i/) [Felicia Tatum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicia-tatum/) > [but she realized that she wanted him to know her. She wanted him to understand her, if only because she had strange sense that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/but-she-realized-that-she-wanted-him-to-know-her-she-wanted-him-to/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [“And just so we’re clear, I love you, Mac. I love you so damn much that even if you hadn’t come back, I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-j-harvey/and-just-so-we-re-clear-i-love-you-mac-i-love-you-so-damn-much-that/) [B.J. Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-j-harvey/) > [“I had wanted to get married, but I realized now that I never wanted to be a 'wife.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-bialosky/i-had-wanted-to-get-married-but-i-realized-now-that-i-never-wanted-to/) [Jill Bialosky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-bialosky/) > [Her heart sank into her shoes as she realized at last how much she wanted him. No matter what his past was, no matter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/her-heart-sank-into-her-shoes-as-she-realized-at-last-how-much-she/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) ## More by Rudy Ray Moore > [Back in the 1970s, it was mostly all-black audiences coming into the theaters. So, we presented stories they could relate to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudy-ray-moore/back-in-the-1970s-it-was-mostly-all-black-audiences-coming-into-the/) [Rudy Ray Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudy-ray-moore/) > [These guys Steve Harvey and Cedric the Entertainer and Bernie Mac claim they're the Kings of Comedy. They may be funny, but they ain't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudy-ray-moore/these-guys-steve-harvey-and-cedric-the-entertainer-and-bernie-mac/) [Rudy Ray Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudy-ray-moore/) > [Snoop Dogg has had me to Hollywood to rap with him on his records, and the 2 Live Crew brought me to Miami and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudy-ray-moore/snoop-dogg-has-had-me-to-hollywood-to-rap-with-him-on-his-records-and/) [Rudy Ray Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudy-ray-moore/) > [I opened the door for one of the great stars of today, Mr. Ernie Hudson. I put him in 'Human Tornado.' It was the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudy-ray-moore/i-opened-the-door-for-one-of-the-great-stars-of-today-mr-ernie-hudson/) [Rudy Ray Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudy-ray-moore/) > [The godfather of rap, that is what I am known as, and the king of party records, the records I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudy-ray-moore/the-godfather-of-rap-that-is-what-i-am-known-as-and-the-king-of-party/) [Rudy Ray Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudy-ray-moore/) > [Luther Campbell is the only person that has ever paid me for sampling me. I'm out for the rest of 'em, but the young…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudy-ray-moore/luther-campbell-is-the-only-person-that-has-ever-paid-me-for-sampling/) [Rudy Ray Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudy-ray-moore/) > [I never was in favor of doing this. No, no, no. I was never in favor of cursing on records and so forth. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudy-ray-moore/i-never-was-in-favor-of-doing-this-no-no-no-i-was-never-in-favor-of/) [Rudy Ray Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudy-ray-moore/) > [I didn't have the kind of budget to compete with the big studios, therefore I had to make my films more outlandish, more outrageous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudy-ray-moore/i-didn-t-have-the-kind-of-budget-to-compete-with-the-big-studios/) [Rudy Ray Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudy-ray-moore/) > [Busta Rhymes, I have to give him credit for one thing: he always lays the red carpet out for me when I'm in New…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudy-ray-moore/busta-rhymes-i-have-to-give-him-credit-for-one-thing-he-always-lays/) [Rudy Ray Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudy-ray-moore/) > [You know, I hope that someday they make a movie about me. People need to know the story of 'Dolemite;' they need to know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudy-ray-moore/you-know-i-hope-that-someday-they-make-a-movie-about-me-people-need/) [Rudy Ray Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudy-ray-moore/) > [My childhood was all about going to church, singing in church. And later on, after I got a little older, my mother taught me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudy-ray-moore/my-childhood-was-all-about-going-to-church-singing-in-church-and/) [Rudy Ray Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudy-ray-moore/) > [This was my motto: 'Don't come up with routine stuff.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudy-ray-moore/this-was-my-motto-don-t-come-up-with-routine-stuff/) [Rudy Ray Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudy-ray-moore/) > [I have to thank my mother for this. When I was a little boy she used to teach me poems. I would go in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudy-ray-moore/i-have-to-thank-my-mother-for-this-when-i-was-a-little-boy-she-used/) [Rudy Ray Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudy-ray-moore/) > [I've been sampled at least 71 times. Me, James Brown and George Clinton, we're the ones who've been sampled the most.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudy-ray-moore/i-ve-been-sampled-at-least-71-times-me-james-brown-and-george-clinton/) [Rudy Ray Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudy-ray-moore/) > [When I did rap and rhyme, it wasn't just a word that rhymed with another one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudy-ray-moore/when-i-did-rap-and-rhyme-it-wasn-t-just-a-word-that-rhymed-with/) [Rudy Ray Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudy-ray-moore/) [Explore all 19 Rudy Ray Moore quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudy-ray-moore/) ## More Comedian quotes > [I would say most comedians have a very cynical worldview of the way the world can work. It's almost like if you didn't, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-quinn/i-would-say-most-comedians-have-a-very-cynical-worldview-of-the-way/) [Colin Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-quinn/) > [At one point when I was very young, when I was first starting out, I thought, 'Well, one day I'll be able to put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/at-one-point-when-i-was-very-young-when-i-was-first-starting-out-i/) [Bo Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/) > [I like to turn up my collar when I'm leaving the theatre and feel like I'm some heroic comedian figure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-skinner/i-like-to-turn-up-my-collar-when-i-m-leaving-the-theatre-and-feel/) [Frank Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-skinner/) > [The only difference between a comedian and someone else? We need to make people laugh more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-davies/the-only-difference-between-a-comedian-and-someone-else-we-need-to/) [Greg Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-davies/) > [When a soldier of the night's watch dies they say, "And now his watch is over." That's what they say when a comedian dies.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-williams/when-a-soldier-of-the-night-s-watch-dies-they-say-and-now-his-watch/) [Brad Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-williams/) > [My mom is two people to me. She's my mom number one, and then she's this lady most comedians know as being a legendary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauly-shore/my-mom-is-two-people-to-me-she-s-my-mom-number-one-and-then-she-s/) [Pauly Shore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauly-shore/) > [If I had a choice, I would rather watch a comedian not involve themselves in politics at all but be hilarious than someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-richardson/if-i-had-a-choice-i-would-rather-watch-a-comedian-not-involve/) [Jon Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-richardson/) > [I wouldn't mind gigging around the same era as Jesus, after he gives his speech about the meek and how blessed they are and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-jefferies/i-wouldn-t-mind-gigging-around-the-same-era-as-jesus-after-he-gives/) [Jim Jefferies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-jefferies/) > [If someone doesn't like a comedian that's fine; a lot of people probably don't like my standup, and that's fine. But I think that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-norton/if-someone-doesn-t-like-a-comedian-that-s-fine-a-lot-of-people/) [Jim Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-norton/) > [It's very rare that an older comedian sort of slips into an old-school clunker. You know, you don't hear too much of that anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-ross/it-s-very-rare-that-an-older-comedian-sort-of-slips-into-an-old/) [Jeff Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-ross/) > [I was a kid, and I would watch standup comics do the 'Tonight Show,' and if Johnny Carson liked you, he'd wave you over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-koy/i-was-a-kid-and-i-would-watch-standup-comics-do-the-tonight-show-and/) [Jo Koy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-koy/) > [Gary Greenberg is a thoughtful comedian and a cranky philosopher and a humble pest of a reporter, equal parts Woody Allen, Kierkegaard, and Columbo.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gideon-lewis-kraus/gary-greenberg-is-a-thoughtful-comedian-and-a-cranky-philosopher-and/) [Gideon Lewis-Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gideon-lewis-kraus/) > [For me, comedians are like the epitome for everything great, and they terrify me. I just want to be them. I want to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tatiana-maslany/for-me-comedians-are-like-the-epitome-for-everything-great-and-they/) [Tatiana Maslany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tatiana-maslany/) > [No matter what town we went to, if there was a comedian playing, I'd go watch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-waltrip/no-matter-what-town-we-went-to-if-there-was-a-comedian-playing-i-d-go/) [Michael Waltrip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-waltrip/) > [I'm a comedian who happens to be Latino. What's the difference? The difference is, my special will air on Comedy Central, not Telemundo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-iglesias/i-m-a-comedian-who-happens-to-be-latino-what-s-the-difference-the/) [Gabriel Iglesias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-iglesias/) [Browse all 1,775 Comedian quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedian/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I first realized that I wanted to be a stand-up comedian was when I was in the service.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Rudy Ray Moore" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudy-ray-moore/when-i-first-realized-that-i-wanted-to-be-a-stand-up-comedian-was/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Comedian" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudy-ray-moore/when-i-first-realized-that-i-wanted-to-be-a-stand-up-comedian-was/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8bf/rudy-ray-moore-28819_comedian_when-i-first-realized-that-i-wanted-to-b_2499861.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8bf/rudy-ray-moore-28819_comedian_when-i-first-realized-that-i-wanted-to-b_2499861.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8bf/rudy-ray-moore-28819_comedian_when-i-first-realized-that-i-wanted-to-b_2499861.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When I first realized that I wanted to be a stand-up comedian was when I was in the service.” — Rudy Ray Moore", "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": "Rudy Ray Moore", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudy-ray-moore/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When I first realized that I...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudy-ray-moore/when-i-first-realized-that-i-wanted-to-be-a-stand-up-comedian-was/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudy-ray-moore/when-i-first-realized-that-i-wanted-to-be-a-stand-up-comedian-was/#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 } } ] } ```