---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't think comedy comes from hotbeds…"
description: "\"I don't think comedy comes from hotbeds of doing shtick. I think it usually comes from some kind of childhood humiliation or darkness.\" — Sarah Silverman"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a91/sarah-silverman-1212_childhood_i-don-t-think-comedy-comes-from-hotbeds_2445560.png"
---

#  I don't think comedy comes from hotbeds of doing shtick. I…

![“I don't think comedy comes from hotbeds of doing shtick. I think it usually comes from some kind of childhood humiliation or darkness.” quote by Sarah Silverman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a91/sarah-silverman-1212_childhood_i-don-t-think-comedy-comes-from-hotbeds_2445560.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a91/sarah-silverman-1212_childhood_i-don-t-think-comedy-comes-from-hotbeds_2445560.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a91/sarah-silverman-1212_childhood_i-don-t-think-comedy-comes-from-hotbeds_2445560.png)

> “I don't think comedy comes from hotbeds of doing shtick. I think it usually comes from some kind of childhood humiliation or darkness.”

[Sarah Silverman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-silverman/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Comedy often stems from personal pain or awkward childhood moments rather than rehearsed jokes.

**In simple terms:** Humor can arise from past humiliation.

Key Takeaway

Explore personal history for comedic material.

Themes

humor vulnerability creativity

Mood

reflective introspective

Type

observational self‑deprecating

When to use this quote

- stand‑up writing
- therapy sessions
- creative workshops
- personal storytelling

Key Concepts

psychology self‑acceptance

Questions to Reflect On

- What personal pain could you transform into humor?
- How does vulnerability affect audience connection?

A Different Perspective

Humor based on trauma may alienate audiences if not handled sensitively.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Childhood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/childhood/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Darkness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/darkness/) [Humiliation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humiliation/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/)

## Related quotes

> [I think comedy, so much of it comes out of the strange sort of golden instant 'cause you don't know why it's funny, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-lowe/i-think-comedy-so-much-of-it-comes-out-of-the-strange-sort-of-golden/)

[Alice Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-lowe/)

> [I think comedy comes more from a low sense of self-esteem, and I certainly have that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/i-think-comedy-comes-more-from-a-low-sense-of-self-esteem-and-i/)

[Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/)

> [I certainly do believe that a lot of comedy comes from awkwardness and embarrassment - pointing out the ways things are uncomfortable. Definitely the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-finnegan/i-certainly-do-believe-that-a-lot-of-comedy-comes-from-awkwardness/)

[Christian Finnegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-finnegan/)

> [Comedy comes from childhood only. The humour genes you are born with remain with you. I was always making mischief and making people laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-lever/comedy-comes-from-childhood-only-the-humour-genes-you-are-born-with/)

[Johnny Lever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-lever/)

> [I'm a lot smarter and thoughtful of a comedian. This market is different than it was. You don't have to have cable to hear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-torry/i-m-a-lot-smarter-and-thoughtful-of-a-comedian-this-market-is/)

[Joe Torry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-torry/)

> [Comedy comes from confusion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vir-das/comedy-comes-from-confusion/)

[Vir Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vir-das/)

> [An actor must communicate his author's given message--comedy, tragedy, serio- comedy; then comes his unique moment, as he is confronted by the looked-for, yet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-robson-belmont/an-actor-must-communicate-his-author-s-given-message-comedy-tragedy/)

[Eleanor Robson Belmont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-robson-belmont/)

> [In the comedies I've been lucky enough to be a part of a world like Judd Apatow's, where I believe comedy comes from real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-hill/in-the-comedies-i-ve-been-lucky-enough-to-be-a-part-of-a-world-like/)

[Jonah Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-hill/)

> [It's so hard for me to kind of fall in love with comedy, but if something comes my way... I mean, I loved 'Weird,'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-paul/it-s-so-hard-for-me-to-kind-of-fall-in-love-with-comedy-but-if/)

[Aaron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-paul/)

> [Comedy comes with a bit of sarcasm, wit and edginess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiku-sharda/comedy-comes-with-a-bit-of-sarcasm-wit-and-edginess/)

[Kiku Sharda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiku-sharda/)

> [My inspiration for film comedy comes from here. Spend a day on the Madurai streets and you will be amused at the way these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivek/my-inspiration-for-film-comedy-comes-from-here-spend-a-day-on-the/)

[Vivek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivek/)

> [It's always been said that comedy comes mostly out of the dark side anyway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-thicke/it-s-always-been-said-that-comedy-comes-mostly-out-of-the-dark-side/)

[Alan Thicke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-thicke/)

> [Certainly in my appetite for more challenges, it's very much alive. I love comedy and it comes to me in a natural way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-levy/certainly-in-my-appetite-for-more-challenges-it-s-very-much-alive-i/)

[Shawn Levy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-levy/)

> [Comedy comes from tragedy, and being Iranian in America from 1979 on had been quite tragic. In stand-up comedy, I was able to take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maz-jobrani/comedy-comes-from-tragedy-and-being-iranian-in-america-from-1979-on/)

[Maz Jobrani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maz-jobrani/)

> [All comedy comes from a dark place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katt-williams/all-comedy-comes-from-a-dark-place/)

[Katt Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katt-williams/)

## More by Sarah Silverman

> [When I was 17, I read a profile of Carol Leifer. Since then, I wanted to be her. I still want to be her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-silverman/when-i-was-17-i-read-a-profile-of-carol-leifer-since-then-i-wanted-to/)

[Sarah Silverman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-silverman/)

> [My growing up years, we watched 'Happy Days,' every night. I don't know what was reruns and what was new.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-silverman/my-growing-up-years-we-watched-happy-days-every-night-i-don-t-know/)

[Sarah Silverman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-silverman/)

> [People can't help what topics cut them deep. It all depends on who's inferring - and what the contexts of their lives are at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-silverman/people-can-t-help-what-topics-cut-them-deep-it-all-depends-on-who-s/)

[Sarah Silverman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-silverman/)

> [In your twenties, I think you should have all of the sex that you're inclined to have, as long as you're safe about it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-silverman/in-your-twenties-i-think-you-should-have-all-of-the-sex-that-you-re/)

[Sarah Silverman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-silverman/)

> [I was a bedwetter until I was about 15, and it was humiliating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-silverman/i-was-a-bedwetter-until-i-was-about-15-and-it-was-humiliating/)

[Sarah Silverman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-silverman/)

> [Someone on Twitter sent me a page from a textbook. It had a picture of a football player next to a picture of me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-silverman/someone-on-twitter-sent-me-a-page-from-a-textbook-it-had-a-picture-of/)

[Sarah Silverman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-silverman/)

> [It fills me with a weird rage to wear shoes that make me not able to walk easily or run if I had to.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-silverman/it-fills-me-with-a-weird-rage-to-wear-shoes-that-make-me-not-able-to/)

[Sarah Silverman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-silverman/)

> [If you are truly offended by an 80-year-old man saying you're not funny, then you're probably not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-silverman/if-you-are-truly-offended-by-an-80-year-old-man-saying-you-re-not/)

[Sarah Silverman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-silverman/)

> [Summer camp: the second worst camp for Jews.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-silverman/summer-camp-the-second-worst-camp-for-jews/)

[Sarah Silverman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-silverman/)

> [“If you’ve ever heard that song by Beyoncé, “Single Ladies,” I am one of the people she’s singing about. I have to be, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-silverman/if-you-ve-ever-heard-that-song-by-beyonc-single-ladies-i-am-one-of/)

[Sarah Silverman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-silverman/)

> [If I were somebody else looking at my character, I'd be like, "She's beautiful." I'm practicing. I'm not succeeding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-silverman/if-i-were-somebody-else-looking-at-my-character-i-d-be-like-she-s/)

[Sarah Silverman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-silverman/)

> [I say 'I'm sorry.' It usually disarms them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-silverman/i-say-i-m-sorry-it-usually-disarms-them/)

[Sarah Silverman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-silverman/)

> [“People who call themselves divas...you are not a diva. I'm pretty sure you're a cunt.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-silverman/people-who-call-themselves-divas-you-are-not-a-diva-i-m-pretty-sure/)

[Sarah Silverman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-silverman/)

> [ \[I'm\] almost positive there is no God. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-silverman/i-m-almost-positive-there-is-no-god/)

[Sarah Silverman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-silverman/)

> [It's just hard to say, "Well, I do this, which means this." If I'm telling you exactly who I am, then there's nothing for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-silverman/it-s-just-hard-to-say-well-i-do-this-which-means-this-if-i-m-telling/)

[Sarah Silverman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-silverman/)

[Explore all 273 Sarah Silverman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-silverman/)

## More Childhood quotes

> [“Children's lives are always beginning and adults' lives are always ending. Or is it the opposite? Your childhood is always ending and your adult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-espach/children-s-lives-are-always-beginning-and-adults-lives-are-always/)

[Alison Espach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-espach/)

> [“From childhood’s hour I have not been As others were—I have not seen As others saw—I could not bring My passions from a common…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-allan-poe/from-childhood-s-hour-i-have-not-been-as-others-were-i-have-not-seen/)

[Edgar Allan Poe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-allan-poe/)

> [We were so poor as kids. I didn't even see a bathtub, running water, hot water, commode - we didn't have any of that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-robertson/we-were-so-poor-as-kids-i-didn-t-even-see-a-bathtub-running-water-hot/)

[Phil Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-robertson/)

> [I had a rough upbringing. Group homes. Foster homes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-shamrock/i-had-a-rough-upbringing-group-homes-foster-homes/)

[Frank Shamrock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-shamrock/)

> [When I talk about my childhood I used to say it as if it was scripted and I'd make jokes because it was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-katona/when-i-talk-about-my-childhood-i-used-to-say-it-as-if-it-was-scripted/)

[Kerry Katona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-katona/)

> [Every man remembers his childhood as a kind of mythical age, just as every nation's childhood is its mythical age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giacomo-leopardi/every-man-remembers-his-childhood-as-a-kind-of-mythical-age-just-as/)

[Giacomo Leopardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giacomo-leopardi/)

> [It's a very familiar type of place where people either go to their house on the lake or they get together in different places.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-carell/it-s-a-very-familiar-type-of-place-where-people-either-go-to-their/)

[Steve Carell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-carell/)

> [Ideal for the child and society in the best of times, Rudolf Steiner's brilliant process of education is critically needed and profoundly relevant now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-chilton-pearce/ideal-for-the-child-and-society-in-the-best-of-times-rudolf-steiner-s/)

[Joseph Chilton Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-chilton-pearce/)

> [Downstairs in my house, I have a museum room. I keep all of my awards down there, and childhood photos, and even all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-kelly/downstairs-in-my-house-i-have-a-museum-room-i-keep-all-of-my-awards/)

[R. Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-kelly/)

> [Childhood is Last Chance Gulch for happiness. After that, you know too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/childhood-is-last-chance-gulch-for-happiness-after-that-you-know-too/)

[Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/)

> [On paper, it looks rough, but I had a great childhood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-morton/on-paper-it-looks-rough-but-i-had-a-great-childhood/)

[Samantha Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-morton/)

> [Let positive, strong, helpful thoughts enter into your brains from very childhood. Lay yourselves open to these thoughts, and not to weakening and paralysing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/let-positive-strong-helpful-thoughts-enter-into-your-brains-from-very/)

[Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/)

> [I always knew that I was kind of bored; the regular life of a child didn't fit me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-ricci/i-always-knew-that-i-was-kind-of-bored-the-regular-life-of-a-child/)

[Christina Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-ricci/)

> [Children are not a zoo of entertainingly exotic creatures, but an array of mirrors in which the human predicament leaps out at us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-updike/children-are-not-a-zoo-of-entertainingly-exotic-creatures-but-an/)

[John Updike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-updike/)

> [I'm not sure I would have ever started to draw, let alone write, if my childhood hadn't been so happy. It was a mixture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tove-jansson/i-m-not-sure-i-would-have-ever-started-to-draw-let-alone-write-if-my/)

[Tove Jansson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tove-jansson/)

[Browse all 5,837 Childhood quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/childhood/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I don't think comedy comes from hotbeds of doing shtick. I think it usually comes from some kind of childhood humiliation or darkness.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Sarah Silverman"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-silverman/i-don-t-think-comedy-comes-from-hotbeds-of-doing-shtick-i-think-it/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Childhood"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-silverman/i-don-t-think-comedy-comes-from-hotbeds-of-doing-shtick-i-think-it/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a91/sarah-silverman-1212_childhood_i-don-t-think-comedy-comes-from-hotbeds_2445560.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a91/sarah-silverman-1212_childhood_i-don-t-think-comedy-comes-from-hotbeds_2445560.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a91/sarah-silverman-1212_childhood_i-don-t-think-comedy-comes-from-hotbeds_2445560.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I don't think comedy comes from hotbeds of doing shtick. I think it usually comes from some kind of…” — Sarah Silverman",
                "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": "Sarah Silverman",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-silverman/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I don't think comedy comes from...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-silverman/i-don-t-think-comedy-comes-from-hotbeds-of-doing-shtick-i-think-it/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-silverman/i-don-t-think-comedy-comes-from-hotbeds-of-doing-shtick-i-think-it/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
