--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I like to approach comedy from character…" description: "\"I like to approach comedy from character, to have the stakes for the individuals in the story be very high.\" — Seth Gordon" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec9/seth-gordon-26410_approach_i-like-to-approach-comedy-from-character_969246.jpg" --- # I like to approach comedy from character, to have the… ![“I like to approach comedy from character, to have the stakes for the individuals in the story be very high.” quote by Seth Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec9/seth-gordon-26410_approach_i-like-to-approach-comedy-from-character_969246.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec9/seth-gordon-26410_approach_i-like-to-approach-comedy-from-character_969246.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec9/seth-gordon-26410_approach_i-like-to-approach-comedy-from-character_969246.jpg) > “I like to approach comedy from character, to have the stakes for the individuals in the story be very high.” [Seth Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-gordon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Comedy should arise from deep character stakes, making humor rooted in personal investment. **In simple terms:** Comedy from character stakes. Key Takeaway Build strong characters for funnier stories. Themes comedy character storytelling Mood playful analytical Type creative instructional When to use this quote - screenwriting - improv - theatre workshops Key Concepts dramatic tension empathy Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance stakes with silliness? - What character traits amplify humor? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on stakes can limit absurdist humor. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Approach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approach/) [Approach Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approach-comedy-400487/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Character Stakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character-stakes-1849667/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Comedy Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy-character-845241/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual/) [Stakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stakes/) [Stakes Individuals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stakes-individuals-1849668/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) ## Related quotes > [I approach a comedy the same way I do a drama. I try to make it as real as possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-wahlberg/i-approach-a-comedy-the-same-way-i-do-a-drama-i-try-to-make-it-as/) [Mark Wahlberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-wahlberg/) > [I think a lot of the instincts you have doing comedy are really the same for doing drama, in that it's essentially about listening.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-ferrell/i-think-a-lot-of-the-instincts-you-have-doing-comedy-are-really-the/) [Will Ferrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-ferrell/) > [I'm in the middle of an existential crisis in how I approach comedy about these big issues. I sometimes find, when I get drawn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nish-kumar/i-m-in-the-middle-of-an-existential-crisis-in-how-i-approach-comedy/) [Nish Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nish-kumar/) > [If you try to go for a laugh, it's death to the comedy. Personally, that's how I approach comedy. But I'm no expert.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-weisz/if-you-try-to-go-for-a-laugh-it-s-death-to-the-comedy-personally-that/) [Rachel Weisz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-weisz/) > [I always approach comedy roles pretending they aren't funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-fraser/i-always-approach-comedy-roles-pretending-they-aren-t-funny/) [Brendan Fraser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-fraser/) > [I never approach comedy thinking 'I know it all.' Comedy is tough. To make people laugh is not easy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diljit-dosanjh/i-never-approach-comedy-thinking-i-know-it-all-comedy-is-tough-to/) [Diljit Dosanjh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diljit-dosanjh/) > [ Most books that come out with a comedy label seem to be, Eric \[Wareheim\] and I could have written, "This is our story, and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-heidecker/most-books-that-come-out-with-a-comedy-label-seem-to-be-eric-wareheim/) [Tim Heidecker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-heidecker/) > [The tendency in comedy is to have a character who's stupid get more stupid, because you're trying to top yourself and not just repeat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-groening/the-tendency-in-comedy-is-to-have-a-character-who-s-stupid-get-more/) [Matt Groening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-groening/) > [A comedy isn't about being funny," said Mrs. Baker. "We talked about this before." "A comedy is about character who dare to know that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-d-schmidt/a-comedy-isn-t-about-being-funny-said-mrs-baker-we-talked-about-this/) [Gary D. Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-d-schmidt/) > [Firstly, I am not a comedian. I have a sense of doing comedy but I am a character artist. If the character in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashok-saraf/firstly-i-am-not-a-comedian-i-have-a-sense-of-doing-comedy-but-i-am-a/) [Ashok Saraf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashok-saraf/) > [Approaching a comedy character is fun because you get to sit down with the director and ask, "What makes you laugh?" Then you end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-lewis/approaching-a-comedy-character-is-fun-because-you-get-to-sit-down/) [Matthew Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-lewis/) > [Comedy is all about the character. When you're too focused on the gags, the character suffers, and you don't get the laugh. Comedy has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-gelman/comedy-is-all-about-the-character-when-you-re-too-focused-on-the-gags/) [Brett Gelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-gelman/) > [It's very weird trying to imagine yourself as a 'comedy character.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-martin/it-s-very-weird-trying-to-imagine-yourself-as-a-comedy-character/) [Mae Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-martin/) > [In comedy, you have to do all of the same stuff you do in drama and then put the comedy on top of it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-lovitz/in-comedy-you-have-to-do-all-of-the-same-stuff-you-do-in-drama-and/) [Jon Lovitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-lovitz/) > [I like grown-up comedy, where it's about character and attitude and life as opposed to obvious gross-out and jokes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/i-like-grown-up-comedy-where-it-s-about-character-and-attitude-and/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) ## More by Seth Gordon > [People who can't afford their mortgages and have to renegotiate with the bank or something gets repossessed after you worked your whole life. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-gordon/people-who-can-t-afford-their-mortgages-and-have-to-renegotiate-with/) [Seth Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-gordon/) > [Some of the best ideas come sort of out of nowhere and when you're not expecting it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-gordon/some-of-the-best-ideas-come-sort-of-out-of-nowhere-and-when-you-re/) [Seth Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-gordon/) > [We're all vulnerable, and it's all hackable. If someone wants you and has targeted you, you can be taken down, and that fact is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-gordon/we-re-all-vulnerable-and-it-s-all-hackable-if-someone-wants-you-and/) [Seth Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-gordon/) > [I think that having comedy where people talk the way they really talk, when you talk with your friends and whatever, it's really, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-gordon/i-think-that-having-comedy-where-people-talk-the-way-they-really-talk/) [Seth Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-gordon/) > [My folks are economists and have taught economics and social science so I grew up with those kind of conversations around the dinner table.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-gordon/my-folks-are-economists-and-have-taught-economics-and-social-science/) [Seth Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-gordon/) > [I'm a bit of a hacker fanatic and know a fair bit about that industry and cyber crime and cyber warfare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-gordon/i-m-a-bit-of-a-hacker-fanatic-and-know-a-fair-bit-about-that-industry/) [Seth Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-gordon/) > [I think politicians know how to misrepresent data in order to support a political agenda. Politicians and the people that work for them -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-gordon/i-think-politicians-know-how-to-misrepresent-data-in-order-to-support/) [Seth Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-gordon/) > [There's a dangerous bottom-lining, and super-summarizing that happens in a lot of our press and our media, and sort of our politicians' talking points,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-gordon/there-s-a-dangerous-bottom-lining-and-super-summarizing-that-happens/) [Seth Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-gordon/) > [I love the unexpected and I think that's why documentary is an attractive genre to me because you don't know where it's going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-gordon/i-love-the-unexpected-and-i-think-that-s-why-documentary-is-an/) [Seth Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-gordon/) > [I have a healthy amount of humility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-gordon/i-have-a-healthy-amount-of-humility/) [Seth Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-gordon/) > [In film, you get to take your time and make it right. In TV, it's all about the schedule. The train is moving and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-gordon/in-film-you-get-to-take-your-time-and-make-it-right-in-tv-it-s-all/) [Seth Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-gordon/) > [I feel like my own background in improv and doing documentaries makes me really comfortable with a situation where you're letting things unfold and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-gordon/i-feel-like-my-own-background-in-improv-and-doing-documentaries-makes/) [Seth Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-gordon/) > [I think unintentionally I gravitate towards concepts and topics that hit home or are something real we can all relate to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-gordon/i-think-unintentionally-i-gravitate-towards-concepts-and-topics-that/) [Seth Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-gordon/) > [I think Melissa McCarthy is a force of nature. She's just incredible. And it's purely her talent that has rocketed her in such little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-gordon/i-think-melissa-mccarthy-is-a-force-of-nature-she-s-just-incredible/) [Seth Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-gordon/) > [I discovered shooting and filmmaking around the time all of the software became affordable to anyone with a PC.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-gordon/i-discovered-shooting-and-filmmaking-around-the-time-all-of-the/) [Seth Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-gordon/) [Explore all 21 Seth Gordon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-gordon/) ## More Approach quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [I'm in a business where there's complete anarchy. You can't control it - you can only react to it. The control that people traditionally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-sorrell/i-m-in-a-business-where-there-s-complete-anarchy-you-can-t-control-it/) [Martin Sorrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-sorrell/) > [When you approach something to photograph it, first be still with yourself until the object of your attention affirms your presence. Then don't leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minor-white/when-you-approach-something-to-photograph-it-first-be-still-with/) [Minor White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/minor-white/) > [We do not want to be reminded that it is we, the indigenous people, who are poor and exploited in the land of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-biko/we-do-not-want-to-be-reminded-that-it-is-we-the-indigenous-people-who/) [Steven Biko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-biko/) > [One of the things I regret about not putting in that book or I think it's there but I didn't really elaborate on it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-warner/one-of-the-things-i-regret-about-not-putting-in-that-book-or-i-think/) [Brad Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-warner/) > [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/) > [I don't have any particular method, my approach is very simple. I try to understand the emotional graph of the character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pratik-gandhi/i-don-t-have-any-particular-method-my-approach-is-very-simple-i-try/) [Pratik Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pratik-gandhi/) > [“But young men have not only this frivolous ambition of being thought masters of execution, inciting them on the one hand, but also their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-young-men-have-not-only-this-frivolous-ambition-of-being-thought/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everything, every part that you approach has to be somehow rooted in yourself. You have to somehow root everything so that it's not just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judi-dench/everything-every-part-that-you-approach-has-to-be-somehow-rooted-in/) [Judi Dench](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judi-dench/) > [Literature transforms and intensifies ordinary language, deviates systematically from everyday speech. If you approach me at a bus stop and murmur Thou still unravished…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-eagleton/literature-transforms-and-intensifies-ordinary-language-deviates/) [Terry Eagleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-eagleton/) > [The whole secret to mastering the game of golf - and this applies to the beginner as well as the pro - is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-palmer/the-whole-secret-to-mastering-the-game-of-golf-and-this-applies-to/) [Arnold Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-palmer/) > [The essence of Christianity...is an ever-new encounter with... the God who speaks to us, who approaches us and who befriends us!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/the-essence-of-christianity-is-an-ever-new-encounter-with-the-god-who/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [Like a morning dream, life becomes more and more bright the longer we live, and the reason of everything appears more clear. What has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul/like-a-morning-dream-life-becomes-more-and-more-bright-the-longer-we/) [Jean Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul/) > [What begins as a Utopian vision, always - always - ends in bloodshed. Because you have to force a utopia on a free people.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-gutfeld/what-begins-as-a-utopian-vision-always-always-ends-in-bloodshed/) [Greg Gutfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-gutfeld/) > [The only two good words that can be said for a hurricane are that it gives sufficient warning of its approach, and that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-atherton/the-only-two-good-words-that-can-be-said-for-a-hurricane-are-that-it/) [Gertrude Atherton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-atherton/) [Browse all 3,949 Approach quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approach/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I like to approach comedy from character, to have the stakes for the individuals in the story be very high.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Seth Gordon" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-gordon/i-like-to-approach-comedy-from-character-to-have-the-stakes-for-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Approach" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-gordon/i-like-to-approach-comedy-from-character-to-have-the-stakes-for-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec9/seth-gordon-26410_approach_i-like-to-approach-comedy-from-character_969246.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec9/seth-gordon-26410_approach_i-like-to-approach-comedy-from-character_969246.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec9/seth-gordon-26410_approach_i-like-to-approach-comedy-from-character_969246.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I like to approach comedy from character, to have the stakes for the individuals in the story be very high.” — Seth Gordon", "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": "Seth Gordon", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-gordon/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I like to approach comedy from...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-gordon/i-like-to-approach-comedy-from-character-to-have-the-stakes-for-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-gordon/i-like-to-approach-comedy-from-character-to-have-the-stakes-for-the/#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 } } ] } ```