--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I do like to make people cringe. That…" description: "\"I do like to make people cringe. That discomfort, tension, embarrassment, pain - all of those things interest me, and not through some sort of masochis..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/984/steve-coogan-2910_embarrassment_i-do-like-to-make-people-cringe-that-dis_2160438.jpg" --- # I do like to make people cringe. That discomfort, tension… ![“I do like to make people cringe. That discomfort, tension, embarrassment, pain - all of those things interest me, and not through some sort of masochistic or sadistic impulse. It illuminates what being a human being is. It taps into what it is to be human more incisively than stuff that's just…” quote by Steve Coogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/984/steve-coogan-2910_embarrassment_i-do-like-to-make-people-cringe-that-dis_2160438.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/984/steve-coogan-2910_embarrassment_i-do-like-to-make-people-cringe-that-dis_2160438.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/984/steve-coogan-2910_embarrassment_i-do-like-to-make-people-cringe-that-dis_2160438.jpg) > “I do like to make people cringe. That discomfort, tension, embarrassment, pain - all of those things interest me, and not through some sort of masochistic or sadistic impulse. It illuminates what being a human being is. It taps into what it is to be human more incisively than stuff that's just very pedestrian.” [Steve Coogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-coogan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker finds value in discomfort because it reveals deep aspects of humanity, not out of cruelty but curiosity. **In simple terms:** Discomfort reveals humanity. Key Takeaway Explore uncomfortable topics to understand people. Themes human nature psychology artistic expression empathy boundary-pushing Mood provocative introspective analytical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - theatrical performance - comedy writing - social commentary - psychological research Key Concepts existential insight social dynamics creative risk Questions to Reflect On - What ethical lines should creators respect? - How does discomfort foster connection? A Different Perspective Discomfort can alienate audiences or cause harm if mishandled. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cringe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cringe/) [Cringe Discomfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cringe-discomfort-4581846/) [Discomfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discomfort/) [Embarrassment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/embarrassment/) [Impulse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impulse/) [Interest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interest/) [Masochistic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/masochistic/) [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Cringe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-cringe-2454467/) [Sadistic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sadistic/) [Tension](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tension/) [Tension Embarrassment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tension-embarrassment-4581847/) ## Related quotes > [Whenever I see pretty people, I cringe for being unattractive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/whenever-i-see-pretty-people-i-cringe-for-being-unattractive/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It makes a lot of people cringe, the idea of being a team player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dervla-kirwan/it-makes-a-lot-of-people-cringe-the-idea-of-being-a-team-player/) [Dervla Kirwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dervla-kirwan/) > [Most people cringe at the thought of a casserole.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-samuelsson/most-people-cringe-at-the-thought-of-a-casserole/) [Marcus Samuelsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-samuelsson/) > [I love sex... It should be animalistic, it should be sadistic, it should at times be masochistic. There are few rules and moral conventions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jayne-mansfield/i-love-sex-it-should-be-animalistic-it-should-be-sadistic-it-should/) [Jayne Mansfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jayne-mansfield/) > [The sadistic person is as dependent on the submissive person as the latter is on the former; neither can live without the other. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-sadistic-person-is-as-dependent-on-the-submissive-person-as-the/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [I want to be stereotyped. I want to be classified. I want to be a clone. I want to be masochistic. I want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milo-aukerman/i-want-to-be-stereotyped-i-want-to-be-classified-i-want-to-be-a-clone/) [Milo Aukerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milo-aukerman/) > [Pain makes me grow. Growing is what I want. Therefore, for me pain is pleasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-schwarzenegger/pain-makes-me-grow-growing-is-what-i-want-therefore-for-me-pain-is/) [Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/) > [“and only much later, when Mascha wanted a child, did I realize that love is a deadly poison, a vice, a vice that one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-cendrars/and-only-much-later-when-mascha-wanted-a-child-did-i-realize-that/) [Blaise Cendrars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-cendrars/) > [“When it comes to love, I realize that I am masochistic. They might consider me crazy for loving you despite everything that we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-megan-varnadore/when-it-comes-to-love-i-realize-that-i-am-masochistic-they-might/) [Jennifer Megan Varnadore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-megan-varnadore/) > [I love the masochistic aspect of eating seething, real Sichuan food in Sichuan Province.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-bourdain/i-love-the-masochistic-aspect-of-eating-seething-real-sichuan-food-in/) [Anthony Bourdain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-bourdain/) > [“I poured myself another glass of wine (white, now warm and disgusting, but I was in a masochistic mood)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-gillard/i-poured-myself-another-glass-of-wine-white-now-warm-and-disgusting/) [Linda Gillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-gillard/) > [“The sexual fantasies of masochistic women have another curious and, unfortunately, predictable element. They almost always focus on the woman imagining how she can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-shainess/the-sexual-fantasies-of-masochistic-women-have-another-curious-and/) [Natalie Shainess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-shainess/) > [As I see it, our revolutionary task is to destroy phallic identity in men and masochistic non-identity in women--that is, to destroy the polar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-dworkin/as-i-see-it-our-revolutionary-task-is-to-destroy-phallic-identity-in/) [Andrea Dworkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-dworkin/) > [To decide to film a movie again shot by shot, you must be masochistic to a certain degree because it is a much greater…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-haneke/to-decide-to-film-a-movie-again-shot-by-shot-you-must-be-masochistic/) [Michael Haneke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-haneke/) > [The only way to be a champion is by going through these forced reps and the torture and pain. That's way I call it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-schwarzenegger/the-only-way-to-be-a-champion-is-by-going-through-these-forced-reps/) [Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/) ## More by Steve Coogan > [As soon as I see period costume, I turn off. It's like hearing drama on Radio 4.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-coogan/as-soon-as-i-see-period-costume-i-turn-off-it-s-like-hearing-drama-on/) [Steve Coogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-coogan/) > [A woman wearing a revealing dress will always be sexier than a naked woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-coogan/a-woman-wearing-a-revealing-dress-will-always-be-sexier-than-a-naked/) [Steve Coogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-coogan/) > [I like to do movies that provoke rather than reinforce conservative values.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-coogan/i-like-to-do-movies-that-provoke-rather-than-reinforce-conservative/) [Steve Coogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-coogan/) > [I'm gonna hump ya. Like Deputy Dog... Would hump ya.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-coogan/i-m-gonna-hump-ya-like-deputy-dog-would-hump-ya/) [Steve Coogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-coogan/) > [What terrifies me is that I might somehow endorse that view so people think they don't have to read books anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-coogan/what-terrifies-me-is-that-i-might-somehow-endorse-that-view-so-people/) [Steve Coogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-coogan/) > [I am lucky to be in a profession that is not age dependent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-coogan/i-am-lucky-to-be-in-a-profession-that-is-not-age-dependent/) [Steve Coogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-coogan/) > [I think there's as much profundity and wisdom in Shakespeare, more so in fact, than those in the Bible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-coogan/i-think-there-s-as-much-profundity-and-wisdom-in-shakespeare-more-so/) [Steve Coogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-coogan/) > [I don't apologize for my behavior anymore. Whatever I do or don't do shouldn't matter. Moral certainty is dangerous. Moral certainty is what makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-coogan/i-don-t-apologize-for-my-behavior-anymore-whatever-i-do-or-don-t-do/) [Steve Coogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-coogan/) > [A womb with a view.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-coogan/a-womb-with-a-view/) [Steve Coogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-coogan/) > [I'm really encouraged by Pope Francis, because I think his attitude is totally laudable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-coogan/i-m-really-encouraged-by-pope-francis-because-i-think-his-attitude-is/) [Steve Coogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-coogan/) > [Knowing about comedy has helped me with the drama. To see people laugh, it's like there are moments of catharsis in the middle of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-coogan/knowing-about-comedy-has-helped-me-with-the-drama-to-see-people-laugh/) [Steve Coogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-coogan/) > [I happen to have a public profile. Ditto newspaper editors. It's a result of what I do, not an end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-coogan/i-happen-to-have-a-public-profile-ditto-newspaper-editors-it-s-a/) [Steve Coogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-coogan/) > [The fundamentalists are insistent that they know best. It's a dictatorial attitude towards personal morality, which is a modern creation that came about in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-coogan/the-fundamentalists-are-insistent-that-they-know-best-it-s-a/) [Steve Coogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-coogan/) > [I use improvisation as a writing tool to help produce material that goes into a script, but a well-crafted script shouldn't sound scripted, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-coogan/i-use-improvisation-as-a-writing-tool-to-help-produce-material-that/) [Steve Coogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-coogan/) > [If the person who can effectively sanction ill-conceived wars can play the electric guitar, which is a symbol of rebellion, then that whole worldview…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-coogan/if-the-person-who-can-effectively-sanction-ill-conceived-wars-can/) [Steve Coogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-coogan/) [Explore all 145 Steve Coogan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-coogan/) ## More Cringe quotes > [Some of the things I've done, like getting Justin Edinburgh sent off in the cup final by going down, I'm embarrassed - I cringe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robbie-savage/some-of-the-things-i-ve-done-like-getting-justin-edinburgh-sent-off/) [Robbie Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robbie-savage/) > [I think the first person to call me 'Britain's Obama' was Martin Bright at the New Statesman. Harriet Harman made the comparison once at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuka-umunna/i-think-the-first-person-to-call-me-britain-s-obama-was-martin-bright/) [Chuka Umunna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuka-umunna/) > [You can't knock somebody for how they got into the business. I'm sure I'm gonna look back at 'Roswell' and some of my first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-hanks/you-can-t-knock-somebody-for-how-they-got-into-the-business-i-m-sure/) [Colin Hanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-hanks/) > [Whenever I write lyrics and an Americanism slips in, I always cut it straight out. I can't use the word 'babe,' for instance. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-o-sullivan/whenever-i-write-lyrics-and-an-americanism-slips-in-i-always-cut-it/) [Gilbert O'Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-o-sullivan/) > [People can see that we are part of a tradition of absurd comedy, stretching from Spike Milligan and Peter Cook through to Monty Python…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-barratt/people-can-see-that-we-are-part-of-a-tradition-of-absurd-comedy/) [Julian Barratt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-barratt/) > [You make mistakes as a parent. Then you wish you hadn't said that, or you wish you hadn't told them how to dress. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-connelly/you-make-mistakes-as-a-parent-then-you-wish-you-hadn-t-said-that-or/) [Jennifer Connelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-connelly/) > [When I look at pictures when I was younger, I do the quintessential cringe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-roy/when-i-look-at-pictures-when-i-was-younger-i-do-the-quintessential/) [Rachel Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-roy/) > [In terms of hardline right-wing people on television, there's some people that make me cringe when I change the channel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-carmack/in-terms-of-hardline-right-wing-people-on-television-there-s-some/) [Chris Carmack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-carmack/) > [I'll look at photos of myself, when I'm at awards or something, and kind of cringe because I can see myself trying to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-kerr/i-ll-look-at-photos-of-myself-when-i-m-at-awards-or-something-and/) [Sam Kerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-kerr/) > [Like anybody who grew up in the Eighties, I cringe at the thought of these movies being remade, because of the corniness and cheesiness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omari-hardwick/like-anybody-who-grew-up-in-the-eighties-i-cringe-at-the-thought-of/) [Omari Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omari-hardwick/) > [There was some real bad alternative - 'alternative' - stuff that came out in the '90s that's completely cringe-worthy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-skiba/there-was-some-real-bad-alternative-alternative-stuff-that-came-out/) [Matt Skiba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-skiba/) > [Do not cringe and make yourself small if you are called the black sheep, the maverick, the lone wolf. Those with slow seeing say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarissa-pinkola-estes/do-not-cringe-and-make-yourself-small-if-you-are-called-the-black/) [Clarissa Pinkola Estes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarissa-pinkola-estes/) > [Sometimes I look back at myself and remember things I used to say, or my hairstyle, and I cringe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madonna-ciccone/sometimes-i-look-back-at-myself-and-remember-things-i-used-to-say-or/) [Madonna Ciccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madonna-ciccone/) > [I get embarrassed saying what I do. If you're chatting to a cabbie, and they don't know you're an actor, I cringe because it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-rundle/i-get-embarrassed-saying-what-i-do-if-you-re-chatting-to-a-cabbie-and/) [Sophie Rundle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-rundle/) > [I have a hard time watching the shows now. It is like opening up a yearbook when you were in junior high. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-paul-gosselaar/i-have-a-hard-time-watching-the-shows-now-it-is-like-opening-up-a/) [Mark-Paul Gosselaar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-paul-gosselaar/) [Browse all 194 Cringe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cringe/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I do like to make people cringe. That discomfort, tension, embarrassment, pain - all of those things interest me, and not through some sort of masochistic or sadistic impulse. It illuminates what being a human being is. 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