--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's not until you develop your own…" description: "\"It's not until you develop your own voice, your own persona onstage that you become your own comic, who you really are.\" — Wanda Sykes" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72f/wanda-sykes-3827_comic_it-s-not-until-you-develop-your-own-voic_917675.jpg" --- # It's not until you develop your own voice, your own… ![“It's not until you develop your own voice, your own persona onstage that you become your own comic, who you really are.” quote by Wanda Sykes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72f/wanda-sykes-3827_comic_it-s-not-until-you-develop-your-own-voic_917675.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72f/wanda-sykes-3827_comic_it-s-not-until-you-develop-your-own-voic_917675.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72f/wanda-sykes-3827_comic_it-s-not-until-you-develop-your-own-voic_917675.jpg) > “It's not until you develop your own voice, your own persona onstage that you become your own comic, who you really are.” [Wanda Sykes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wanda-sykes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Developing a unique comedic voice requires personal authenticity and stage presence, allowing true self‑expression. **In simple terms:** Find your own comic voice by being authentic onstage. Key Takeaway Cultivate personal authenticity in performance. Themes comedy self‑expression authenticity performance Mood humorous motivational Type artistic inspirational When to use this quote - stand‑up shows - writing workshops - personal branding - creative confidence Key Concepts identity creative development stagecraft Questions to Reflect On - What steps help you discover your comedic persona? - How does authenticity affect audience connection? A Different Perspective Finding a voice can be hindered by audience expectations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Comic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comic/) [Persona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persona/) [Voice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voice/) ## Related quotes > [In underground music, there seems to be this real inability for people to express themselves in any kind of heroic or mythological way. There's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-svenonius/in-underground-music-there-seems-to-be-this-real-inability-for-people/) [Ian Svenonius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-svenonius/) > [I believe the best persona to be onstage is the one that comes naturally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-sheehan/i-believe-the-best-persona-to-be-onstage-is-the-one-that-comes/) [Billy Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-sheehan/) > [I have a big persona onstage sometimes, but offstage, I'm super shy. Like, I don't want to perform for people - I'd rather die…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-mendez/i-have-a-big-persona-onstage-sometimes-but-offstage-i-m-super-shy/) [Lindsay Mendez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay-mendez/) > [I definitely do have a persona onstage. I definitely am a completely different person, but I'm still having a lot of fun and there's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finn-wolfhard/i-definitely-do-have-a-persona-onstage-i-definitely-am-a-completely/) [Finn Wolfhard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finn-wolfhard/) > [When you listen and read one thinker, you become a clone… two thinkers, you become confused… ten thinkers, you’ll begin developing your own voice……](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/when-you-listen-and-read-one-thinker-you-become-a-clone-two-thinkers/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [It took me quite a long time to develop a voice, and now that I have it, I am not going to be silent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/it-took-me-quite-a-long-time-to-develop-a-voice-and-now-that-i-have/) [Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/) > [Don't hole up in your apartment and just write jokes, be a real human being and develop your own voice. Then you will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bert-kreischer/don-t-hole-up-in-your-apartment-and-just-write-jokes-be-a-real-human/) [Bert Kreischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bert-kreischer/) > [My commodity as a writer, whatever I'm writing about, is me. And your commodity is you. Don't alter your voice to fit the subject.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-zinsser/my-commodity-as-a-writer-whatever-i-m-writing-about-is-me-and-your/) [William Zinsser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-zinsser/) > [You develop a voice and a process that's unique to yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pitt/you-develop-a-voice-and-a-process-that-s-unique-to-yourself/) [Michael Pitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pitt/) > [There's no one on the road that I tried to pattern myself after. There's no one in history that I tried to pattern myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-murphy/there-s-no-one-on-the-road-that-i-tried-to-pattern-myself-after-there/) [Charlie Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-murphy/) > [Wouldn't want to write the X-Men, and I suppose the X-Men is the ultimate Marvel comic, and I really wouldn't want to go anywhere…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garth-ennis/wouldn-t-want-to-write-the-x-men-and-i-suppose-the-x-men-is-the/) [Garth Ennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garth-ennis/) > [ I don't know if I could \[do a TV show\]. I would if it had nothing to do with the comic. It would be… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerard-way/i-don-t-know-if-i-could-do-a-tv-show-i-would-if-it-had-nothing-to-do/) [Gerard Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerard-way/) > [I didn't know the comic at all, which is really funny because I grew up here and I had friends who worked at all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-pill/i-didn-t-know-the-comic-at-all-which-is-really-funny-because-i-grew/) [Alison Pill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-pill/) > [Ditko isn't a direct influence, but I really admire his work and how his personality always comes through the drawing. There's a honest and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cliff-chiang/ditko-isn-t-a-direct-influence-but-i-really-admire-his-work-and-how/) [Cliff Chiang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cliff-chiang/) > [Every comic is really a frustrated rock star.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-borstein/every-comic-is-really-a-frustrated-rock-star/) [Alex Borstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-borstein/) ## More by Wanda Sykes > [If you don't believe in same-sex marriage, then don't marry somebody of the same sex.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wanda-sykes/if-you-don-t-believe-in-same-sex-marriage-then-don-t-marry-somebody/) [Wanda Sykes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wanda-sykes/) > [There are just so many more laws and rules that apply with marriage that do not come with domestic partnership and also to me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wanda-sykes/there-are-just-so-many-more-laws-and-rules-that-apply-with-marriage/) [Wanda Sykes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wanda-sykes/) > [I hate when women compare men to dogs. Men are not dogs. Dogs are loyal. I've never found any strange panties in my dog's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wanda-sykes/i-hate-when-women-compare-men-to-dogs-men-are-not-dogs-dogs-are-loyal/) [Wanda Sykes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wanda-sykes/) > [I have a funny family, but none of them are remotely in show business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wanda-sykes/i-have-a-funny-family-but-none-of-them-are-remotely-in-show-business/) [Wanda Sykes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wanda-sykes/) > [I have a well-balanced show. It's 50/50 on men/women, and also African-American/white writers, it's the same thing. I have four African-American writers, and four…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wanda-sykes/i-have-a-well-balanced-show-it-s-50-50-on-men-women-and-also-african/) [Wanda Sykes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wanda-sykes/) > [A woman would pitch a joke. Nothing. Then a guy would pitch it and everybody would laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wanda-sykes/a-woman-would-pitch-a-joke-nothing-then-a-guy-would-pitch-it-and/) [Wanda Sykes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wanda-sykes/) > [The government shouldn't be involved in this because it's very simple. If you don't believe in same-sex marriage, then don't marry somebody of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wanda-sykes/the-government-shouldn-t-be-involved-in-this-because-it-s-very-simple/) [Wanda Sykes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wanda-sykes/) > [When my parents send me emails the first 3 are blank.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wanda-sykes/when-my-parents-send-me-emails-the-first-3-are-blank/) [Wanda Sykes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wanda-sykes/) > [It's easier to rip somebody to shreds while you're making them laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wanda-sykes/it-s-easier-to-rip-somebody-to-shreds-while-you-re-making-them-laugh/) [Wanda Sykes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wanda-sykes/) > [Yeah, I had top-secret clearance and everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wanda-sykes/yeah-i-had-top-secret-clearance-and-everything/) [Wanda Sykes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wanda-sykes/) > [I knew something was wrong with the economy when the shampoo girl at my salon closed on a six bedroom house.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wanda-sykes/i-knew-something-was-wrong-with-the-economy-when-the-shampoo-girl-at/) [Wanda Sykes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wanda-sykes/) > [If you're passionate about your work, it makes the people around you want to be involved too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wanda-sykes/if-you-re-passionate-about-your-work-it-makes-the-people-around-you/) [Wanda Sykes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wanda-sykes/) > [I watch Jay. I watch 'Letterman'. I flip back and forth between 'Conan' and 'Letterman', especially the top of the show for those guys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wanda-sykes/i-watch-jay-i-watch-letterman-i-flip-back-and-forth-between-conan-and/) [Wanda Sykes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wanda-sykes/) > [I always had one goal, and that was to be a real funny stand-up comic, and that's pretty much what I'm doing. And everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wanda-sykes/i-always-had-one-goal-and-that-was-to-be-a-real-funny-stand-up-comic/) [Wanda Sykes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wanda-sykes/) > [I watched a lot of comedy growing up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wanda-sykes/i-watched-a-lot-of-comedy-growing-up/) [Wanda Sykes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wanda-sykes/) [Explore all 121 Wanda Sykes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wanda-sykes/) ## More Comic quotes > [Any incarnation of 'Batman' I am delighted to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-west/any-incarnation-of-batman-i-am-delighted-to-do/) [Adam West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-west/) > [I always loved as a kid reading 'Spider-Man,' and the 'Fantastic Four' would show up... it was all about that larger universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peyton-reed/i-always-loved-as-a-kid-reading-spider-man-and-the-fantastic-four/) [Peyton Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peyton-reed/) > [One of the key characteristics of the comic book medium is that it is not brought to life by just one voice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-lee/one-of-the-key-characteristics-of-the-comic-book-medium-is-that-it-is/) [Jim Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-lee/) > [I identify with Superman. I am adopted, I am an only child, and I love the idea that he comes from another world, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-singer/i-identify-with-superman-i-am-adopted-i-am-an-only-child-and-i-love/) [Bryan Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-singer/) > [Before World War II, I was living a very cloistered existence, as most cartoonists do. The work I was pouring out did not come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-eisner/before-world-war-ii-i-was-living-a-very-cloistered-existence-as-most/) [Will Eisner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-eisner/) > [If you look at Marvel Comics, there are very few Marvel characters I would like to write.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garth-ennis/if-you-look-at-marvel-comics-there-are-very-few-marvel-characters-i/) [Garth Ennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garth-ennis/) > [The big problem for comic art is you don't want to overwork it. If a drawing is overworked it isn't funny. It's the spontaneity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-sorel/the-big-problem-for-comic-art-is-you-don-t-want-to-overwork-it-if-a/) [Edward Sorel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-sorel/) > [Leslie Stein's comics give readers privileged access to a complete and wholly original world of gently skewed wonders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-woodring/leslie-stein-s-comics-give-readers-privileged-access-to-a-complete/) [Jim Woodring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-woodring/) > [I've certainly seen a lot of my cartoonist friends embrace 'Little Lulu' in a much deeper way because their kids love it so much.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth/i-ve-certainly-seen-a-lot-of-my-cartoonist-friends-embrace-little/) [Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth/) > [Batman doesn't have any superpowers. He's not superhuman. He's not super. So therefore he can't be a superhero.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-silvey/batman-doesn-t-have-any-superpowers-he-s-not-superhuman-he-s-not/) [Craig Silvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-silvey/) > [When I was writing 'Black Panther,' on one level, I was angry because DC would never let me write 'Batman,' so I was doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-priest/when-i-was-writing-black-panther-on-one-level-i-was-angry-because-dc/) [Christopher Priest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-priest/) > [I was really into the first 'Spider-Man' films with Tobey Maguire, so it's pretty cool how it all came full circle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-batalon/i-was-really-into-the-first-spider-man-films-with-tobey-maguire-so-it/) [Jacob Batalon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-batalon/) > [Most men are secretly still mad at their mothers for throwing away their comic books. They would be valuable now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-rudner/most-men-are-secretly-still-mad-at-their-mothers-for-throwing-away/) [Rita Rudner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-rudner/) > [I'll only diet for a Marvel movie. I will give up bacon and waffles to be Storm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-james/i-ll-only-diet-for-a-marvel-movie-i-will-give-up-bacon-and-waffles-to/) [Janelle James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-james/) > [You've seen the first issue and what happened in the last page. Some pretty awful stuff. I don't know why I seem to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declan-shalvey/you-ve-seen-the-first-issue-and-what-happened-in-the-last-page-some/) [Declan Shalvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/declan-shalvey/) [Browse all 5,841 Comic quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comic/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's not until you develop your own voice, your own persona onstage that you become your own comic, who you really are.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Wanda Sykes" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wanda-sykes/it-s-not-until-you-develop-your-own-voice-your-own-persona-onstage/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Comic" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wanda-sykes/it-s-not-until-you-develop-your-own-voice-your-own-persona-onstage/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72f/wanda-sykes-3827_comic_it-s-not-until-you-develop-your-own-voic_917675.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72f/wanda-sykes-3827_comic_it-s-not-until-you-develop-your-own-voic_917675.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72f/wanda-sykes-3827_comic_it-s-not-until-you-develop-your-own-voic_917675.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It's not until you develop your own voice, your own persona onstage that you become your own comic, who you…” — Wanda Sykes", "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": "Wanda Sykes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wanda-sykes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It's not until you develop your...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wanda-sykes/it-s-not-until-you-develop-your-own-voice-your-own-persona-onstage/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wanda-sykes/it-s-not-until-you-develop-your-own-voice-your-own-persona-onstage/#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 } } ] } ```