--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I believe it is important for comedians…" description: "\"I believe it is important for comedians to know who came before them.\" — Shelley Berman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55a/shelley-berman-19973_believe_i-believe-it-is-important-for-comedians_2171543.jpg" --- # I believe it is important for comedians to know who came… ![“I believe it is important for comedians to know who came before them.” quote by Shelley Berman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55a/shelley-berman-19973_believe_i-believe-it-is-important-for-comedians_2171543.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55a/shelley-berman-19973_believe_i-believe-it-is-important-for-comedians_2171543.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55a/shelley-berman-19973_believe_i-believe-it-is-important-for-comedians_2171543.jpg) > “I believe it is important for comedians to know who came before them.” [Shelley Berman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelley-berman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Comedians should honor their predecessors to preserve humor’s lineage. **In simple terms:** Know comedy history. Key Takeaway Study past comedians. Themes history respect learning Mood reflective educational Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - stand‑up routines - writing workshops - mentor meetings - creative retrospectives Key Concepts cultural legacy artistic influence Questions to Reflect On - Who inspired your comedic voice? - How can you blend tradition with innovation? A Different Perspective Over‑reliance on past styles may stifle originality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Believe Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe-important/) [Comedian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedian/) [Comedians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedians/) [Comedians Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedians-know-386810/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [I believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-believe/) [Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important/) [Important Comedians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important-comedians-1437965/) ## Related quotes > [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/) > [I think it's important for comedians to do our little part. I don't do it carelessly. I do it thoughtfully. I don't try to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-ross/i-think-it-s-important-for-comedians-to-do-our-little-part-i-don-t-do/) [Jeff Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-ross/) > [I have wanted to expand not only my comedy but also build a world with the many talented comedians I know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-bargatze/i-have-wanted-to-expand-not-only-my-comedy-but-also-build-a-world/) [Nate Bargatze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-bargatze/) > [Stand-up comedians know how to walk into a room, even if you're not performing, just read the temperature of a room, and can easily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-kamau-bell/stand-up-comedians-know-how-to-walk-into-a-room-even-if-you-re-not/) [W. Kamau Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-kamau-bell/) > [At comedy festivals, we always get grouped with other musical comedians, so you can get to know them and see what everyone is doing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-micucci/at-comedy-festivals-we-always-get-grouped-with-other-musical/) [Kate Micucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-micucci/) > [It's important that comedians talk about difficult and dangerous subjects; you have to be very careful that you don't just hear the subject heading…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-skinner/it-s-important-that-comedians-talk-about-difficult-and-dangerous/) [Frank Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-skinner/) > [I believe that comedians do what they do, and then they get credit or criticism for doing it. There's nothing planned about this.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/i-believe-that-comedians-do-what-they-do-and-then-they-get-credit-or/) [Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/) > [I'm not a comedian, but I love the comedians who know when to get off the stage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/topher-grace/i-m-not-a-comedian-but-i-love-the-comedians-who-know-when-to-get-off/) [Topher Grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/topher-grace/) > [Most comedians I know are quite serious, anxious people who find life rather difficult. As a consequence, they make people laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robyn-hitchcock/most-comedians-i-know-are-quite-serious-anxious-people-who-find-life/) [Robyn Hitchcock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robyn-hitchcock/) > [I think I'm accidentally funny more so than thinking of it as a craft. I'm in awe of those comedians that know how to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-hahn/i-think-i-m-accidentally-funny-more-so-than-thinking-of-it-as-a-craft/) [Kathryn Hahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-hahn/) > [I'm friends with a lot of comedians, but we don't talk about material. Most comedians I know don't watch a lot of other comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/i-m-friends-with-a-lot-of-comedians-but-we-don-t-talk-about-material/) [Bo Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/) > [Really good comedians, you know, when they go on stage, they don't really care what the audience - they're fearless, you know? They're so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aziz-ansari/really-good-comedians-you-know-when-they-go-on-stage-they-don-t/) [Aziz Ansari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aziz-ansari/) > [I wasn't even a big comedy nerd. A lot of the comedians I know - a lot of my friends are comedians - they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetri-martin/i-wasn-t-even-a-big-comedy-nerd-a-lot-of-the-comedians-i-know-a-lot/) [Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/) > [I believe that it's important to not just shy away from confrontation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-kaulitz/i-believe-that-it-s-important-to-not-just-shy-away-from-confrontation/) [Bill Kaulitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-kaulitz/) > [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/) ## More by Shelley Berman > [A hotel is a place that keeps the manufacturers of 25-watt bulbs in business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelley-berman/a-hotel-is-a-place-that-keeps-the-manufacturers-of-25-watt-bulbs-in/) [Shelley Berman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelley-berman/) > [I quit smoking well over twenty years ago.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelley-berman/i-quit-smoking-well-over-twenty-years-ago/) [Shelley Berman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelley-berman/) > [I am careful with my material and presentation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelley-berman/i-am-careful-with-my-material-and-presentation/) [Shelley Berman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelley-berman/) > [Unquestionably, standup comedy is and has always been an art form.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelley-berman/unquestionably-standup-comedy-is-and-has-always-been-an-art-form/) [Shelley Berman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelley-berman/) > [I am presently in my thirteenth year of teaching a graduate course at the University of Southern California.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelley-berman/i-am-presently-in-my-thirteenth-year-of-teaching-a-graduate-course-at/) [Shelley Berman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelley-berman/) > [Incidentally, I'm still looking for acting work, my first love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelley-berman/incidentally-i-m-still-looking-for-acting-work-my-first-love/) [Shelley Berman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelley-berman/) > [My whole act is confession.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelley-berman/my-whole-act-is-confession/) [Shelley Berman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelley-berman/) > [Outside came in '60. The Edge in '61. All three made Gold, but the biggest seller was Inside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelley-berman/outside-came-in-60-the-edge-in-61-all-three-made-gold-but-the-biggest/) [Shelley Berman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelley-berman/) > [So that this thing that aired in 1963 would result a few years later in personal bankruptcy, would result in having people be on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelley-berman/so-that-this-thing-that-aired-in-1963-would-result-a-few-years-later/) [Shelley Berman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelley-berman/) > [I developed several comedy phone calls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelley-berman/i-developed-several-comedy-phone-calls/) [Shelley Berman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelley-berman/) > [I will always love to perform standup comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelley-berman/i-will-always-love-to-perform-standup-comedy/) [Shelley Berman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelley-berman/) > [Inside was the second LP album of a comedian's performance before an audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelley-berman/inside-was-the-second-lp-album-of-a-comedian-s-performance-before-an/) [Shelley Berman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelley-berman/) > [Though it sold very well, I hated The Edge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelley-berman/though-it-sold-very-well-i-hated-the-edge/) [Shelley Berman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelley-berman/) > [My first job was at a Chicago night club called Mr. Kelly's.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelley-berman/my-first-job-was-at-a-chicago-night-club-called-mr-kelly-s/) [Shelley Berman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelley-berman/) > [I don't know the accident of still being married. I was the worst human being. But we were, I guess, in love. So much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelley-berman/i-don-t-know-the-accident-of-still-being-married-i-was-the-worst/) [Shelley Berman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelley-berman/) [Explore all 31 Shelley Berman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelley-berman/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) [Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I believe it is important for comedians to know who came before them.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Shelley Berman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelley-berman/i-believe-it-is-important-for-comedians-to-know-who-came-before-them/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Believe" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelley-berman/i-believe-it-is-important-for-comedians-to-know-who-came-before-them/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55a/shelley-berman-19973_believe_i-believe-it-is-important-for-comedians_2171543.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55a/shelley-berman-19973_believe_i-believe-it-is-important-for-comedians_2171543.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55a/shelley-berman-19973_believe_i-believe-it-is-important-for-comedians_2171543.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I believe it is important for comedians to know who came before them.” — Shelley Berman", "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": "Shelley Berman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelley-berman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I believe it is important for...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelley-berman/i-believe-it-is-important-for-comedians-to-know-who-came-before-them/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelley-berman/i-believe-it-is-important-for-comedians-to-know-who-came-before-them/#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 } } ] } ```