--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The first time I did stand-up I was 17…" description: "\"The first time I did stand-up I was 17, and I was really a stand-up once I was 19 in New York, and now I'm 41, and I still feel like I haven't found my..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/626/sarah-silverman-1212_career_the-first-time-i-did-stand-up-i-was-17-a_2332809.jpg" --- # The first time I did stand-up I was 17, and I was really a… ![“The first time I did stand-up I was 17, and I was really a stand-up once I was 19 in New York, and now I'm 41, and I still feel like I haven't found myself onstage. Earlier in my career, I was really tight, really together, and knew who I was and I was confident.” quote by Sarah Silverman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/626/sarah-silverman-1212_career_the-first-time-i-did-stand-up-i-was-17-a_2332809.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/626/sarah-silverman-1212_career_the-first-time-i-did-stand-up-i-was-17-a_2332809.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/626/sarah-silverman-1212_career_the-first-time-i-did-stand-up-i-was-17-a_2332809.jpg) > “The first time I did stand-up I was 17, and I was really a stand-up once I was 19 in New York, and now I'm 41, and I still feel like I haven't found myself onstage. Earlier in my career, I was really tight, really together, and knew who I was and I was confident.” [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. She feels she hasn't fully discovered her stage identity despite experience and confidence earlier in her career. **In simple terms:** She feels incomplete onstage. Key Takeaway Explore and redefine your comedic voice. Themes identity creativity self‑discovery Mood introspective hopeful Type personal reflective When to use this quote - stand‑up comedy - career retrospection - personal development Key Concepts authenticity artistic evolution Questions to Reflect On - What aspects of your performance feel unexplored? - How can you reconnect with your original confidence? A Different Perspective Audience expectations may limit experimentation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [17 Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/17-really-1935840/) [41 Feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/41-feel-4160802/) [Career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Confident](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confident/) [Did](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/did/) [Earlier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earlier/) [Earlier Career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earlier-career-280031/) [Feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feel/) [First](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first/) [First time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-time/) [Found](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/found/) [Knew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knew/) [Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like/) [Myself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myself/) [New](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new/) [New york](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-york/) [Now](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/now/) [Once](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/once/) [Onstage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/onstage/) [Onstage Earlier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/onstage-earlier-5616980/) [Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/really/) [Stand up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stand-up/) [Still](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/still/) [Tight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tight/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Together](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/together/) [Who](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/who/) [York](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/york/) ## Related quotes > [I can't believe how much time has passed. The first time I did stand-up I was 17, and I was really a stand-up once…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-silverman/i-can-t-believe-how-much-time-has-passed-the-first-time-i-did-stand/) [Sarah Silverman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-silverman/) > [Race and gender definitely came up, occasionally, in my life at work. But the bigger challenge that I had was age. I took roles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-burns/race-and-gender-definitely-came-up-occasionally-in-my-life-at-work/) [Ursula Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-burns/) > [Earlier in my career I had so much to prove.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-dream/earlier-in-my-career-i-had-so-much-to-prove/) [The-Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-dream/) > [Earlier in my career, fans weren't a big consideration for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-marr/earlier-in-my-career-fans-weren-t-a-big-consideration-for-me/) [Johnny Marr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-marr/) > [One of the reasons I didn't really want to do TV earlier in my career was because it is so life-consuming, and I wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andie-macdowell/one-of-the-reasons-i-didn-t-really-want-to-do-tv-earlier-in-my-career/) [Andie MacDowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andie-macdowell/) > [ There's always a little bit of disappointment. At the same time, number one, \[Hillary Clinton\] made a great choice. Secondly, I'm 41. And so… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-castro/there-s-always-a-little-bit-of-disappointment-at-the-same-time-number/) [Julian Castro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-castro/) > [This girl at 17 really led an army, this girl at 19 really burned at the stake by her own choice. And you sit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leelee-sobieski/this-girl-at-17-really-led-an-army-this-girl-at-19-really-burned-at/) [Leelee Sobieski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leelee-sobieski/) > [Earlier in my career, I was really tight, really together, and knew who I was and I was confident. I kind of feel in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-silverman/earlier-in-my-career-i-was-really-tight-really-together-and-knew-who/) [Sarah Silverman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-silverman/) > [I'm not capable of being in a group where I'm not the leader. I did it once earlier in my career with Legacy, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cody-rhodes/i-m-not-capable-of-being-in-a-group-where-i-m-not-the-leader-i-did-it/) [Cody Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cody-rhodes/) > [I think earlier in my career, especially before I got traded, I thought about it a lot before the trade deadline.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerami-grant/i-think-earlier-in-my-career-especially-before-i-got-traded-i-thought/) [Jerami Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerami-grant/) > [I think, thinking back earlier in my career, if I would have been told that I would be starting an All-Star Game at age…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buster-posey/i-think-thinking-back-earlier-in-my-career-if-i-would-have-been-told/) [Buster Posey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buster-posey/) > [Earlier in my career, I wanted to do a lot of things under the radar because I felt uncomfortable in engaging with the fans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-long/earlier-in-my-career-i-wanted-to-do-a-lot-of-things-under-the-radar/) [Chris Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-long/) > [Looking back - I did have a lot of success and a lot of great opportunities earlier in my career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winona-ryder/looking-back-i-did-have-a-lot-of-success-and-a-lot-of-great/) [Winona Ryder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winona-ryder/) > [There were times, earlier in my career, where I didn't have the wherewithal to self-edit, and I probably said things and pushed the limits…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dane-cook/there-were-times-earlier-in-my-career-where-i-didn-t-have-the/) [Dane Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dane-cook/) > [I was quite a snob when I was a theatre actor earlier in my career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-englund/i-was-quite-a-snob-when-i-was-a-theatre-actor-earlier-in-my-career/) [Robert Englund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-englund/) ## 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 Career quotes > [“Don’t allow anyone to pressure you into taking a job in a field that doesn’t feel right in your gut. You are the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-james/don-t-allow-anyone-to-pressure-you-into-taking-a-job-in-a-field-that/) [Alison James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-james/) > [In every province, the chief occupations, in order of importance, are lovemaking, malicious gossip, and talking nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/in-every-province-the-chief-occupations-in-order-of-importance-are/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [One needs more than ambition and talent to make a success of anything, really. There must be love and a vocation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessye-norman/one-needs-more-than-ambition-and-talent-to-make-a-success-of-anything/) [Jessye Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessye-norman/) > [There are so many things you can do with your life, you can go to school and study toward your career, you can become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simphiwe-scientist-dumi/there-are-so-many-things-you-can-do-with-your-life-you-can-go-to/) [Simphiwe Scientist Dumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simphiwe-scientist-dumi/) > [I always knew I wanted to have a good career, so I made it happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chord-overstreet/i-always-knew-i-wanted-to-have-a-good-career-so-i-made-it-happen/) [Chord Overstreet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chord-overstreet/) > [I am a very big fan of Brian Eno, of his work as an artist and making his music, and as a producer. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rostam-batmanglij/i-am-a-very-big-fan-of-brian-eno-of-his-work-as-an-artist-and-making/) [Rostam Batmanglij](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rostam-batmanglij/) > [If I can beat a proven champion like Canelo, that will take my career to a different level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennady-golovkin/if-i-can-beat-a-proven-champion-like-canelo-that-will-take-my-career/) [Gennady Golovkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennady-golovkin/) > [My non-career. My excuse for a career? Honestly, I never think about the word 'career.' I've had managers, the minute they say it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-verlaine/my-non-career-my-excuse-for-a-career-honestly-i-never-think-about-the/) [Tom Verlaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-verlaine/) > [“The vocation of a man lies in his vision.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/the-vocation-of-a-man-lies-in-his-vision/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [I started off as a model maker, so the first part of my career was a model maker and then a motion control camera…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-knoll/i-started-off-as-a-model-maker-so-the-first-part-of-my-career-was-a/) [John Knoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-knoll/) > [Growing up I did commercials and things like that, but nothing serious. As I got older, my family is really hardcore into academics. 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