--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think a lot of the instincts you have…" description: "\"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. The way I approach ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/719/will-ferrell-2019_approach_i-think-a-lot-of-the-instincts-you-have_275642.jpg" --- # I think a lot of the instincts you have doing comedy are… ![“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. The way I approach comedy, is you have to commit to everything as if it's a dramatic role, meaning you play it straight.” quote by Will Ferrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/719/will-ferrell-2019_approach_i-think-a-lot-of-the-instincts-you-have_275642.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/719/will-ferrell-2019_approach_i-think-a-lot-of-the-instincts-you-have_275642.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/719/will-ferrell-2019_approach_i-think-a-lot-of-the-instincts-you-have_275642.jpg) > “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. The way I approach comedy, is you have to commit to everything as if it's a dramatic role, meaning you play it straight.” [Will Ferrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-ferrell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Ferrell explains that both comedy and drama rely on deep listening and committing fully to the role, treating comedic moments with dramatic seriousness. **In simple terms:** Comedy and drama need listening and full commitment. Key Takeaway Apply seriousness to humor. Themes performance listening commitment Mood insightful inspirational Type educational motivational When to use this quote - stand‑up - theater - film acting - improv workshops Key Concepts acting technique improvisation Questions to Reflect On - How does listening shape comedic timing? - Can drama techniques improve comedy? A Different Perspective May oversimplify differences between genres. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Approach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approach/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Drama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drama/) [Dramatic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dramatic/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [I love doing drama as much as I love doing comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-smart/i-love-doing-drama-as-much-as-i-love-doing-comedy/) [Jean Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-smart/) > [I'll do whatever I can do to remain employed. I'm just not precious about doing comedy or doing drama. I never want to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-carell/i-ll-do-whatever-i-can-do-to-remain-employed-i-m-just-not-precious/) [Steve Carell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-carell/) > [I enjoy doing drama, and I enjoy doing comedy equally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-brie/i-enjoy-doing-drama-and-i-enjoy-doing-comedy-equally/) [Alison Brie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-brie/) > [When I'm doing a drama, I like to find the comedy; when I'm doing a comedy, I like to find the heart and drama.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-messina/when-i-m-doing-a-drama-i-like-to-find-the-comedy-when-i-m-doing-a/) [Chris Messina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-messina/) > [I enjoy doing drama, and I enjoy doing comedy equally. They're both amazing to me, and it's such an honor to be recognized for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-brie/i-enjoy-doing-drama-and-i-enjoy-doing-comedy-equally-they-re-both/) [Alison Brie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-brie/) > [Doing drama is, in a sense, easier. In doing comedy, if you don't get that laugh, there's something wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-white/doing-drama-is-in-a-sense-easier-in-doing-comedy-if-you-don-t-get/) [Betty White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-white/) > [ I think as an actress before I was on Twitter I thought, I'm only doing drama \[and dramatic roles\]... but then as soon I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-mollen/i-think-as-an-actress-before-i-was-on-twitter-i-thought-i-m-only/) [Jenny Mollen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-mollen/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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 like to approach comedy from character, to have the stakes for the individuals in the story be very high.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-gordon/i-like-to-approach-comedy-from-character-to-have-the-stakes-for-the/) [Seth Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-gordon/) > [ 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/) > [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/) > [I was always the guy who made jokes and ribbed people at parties. After I went to the American Academy of Dramatic Arts I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-rickles/i-was-always-the-guy-who-made-jokes-and-ribbed-people-at-parties/) [Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rickles/) ## More by Will Ferrell > [Alcohol is like Photoshop for real life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-ferrell/alcohol-is-like-photoshop-for-real-life/) [Will Ferrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-ferrell/) > [On the set of an independent film you can tell that nobody is doing it for the money. Everyone is there because they love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-ferrell/on-the-set-of-an-independent-film-you-can-tell-that-nobody-is-doing/) [Will Ferrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-ferrell/) > [I often don't think a lot about the ramifications of anything I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-ferrell/i-often-don-t-think-a-lot-about-the-ramifications-of-anything-i-do/) [Will Ferrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-ferrell/) > [There's always going to be someone as funny as you or funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-ferrell/there-s-always-going-to-be-someone-as-funny-as-you-or-funnier/) [Will Ferrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-ferrell/) > [Why did Autograph Magazine list me as one of the worst autograph signers? Oh, I don't know. It's probably because I punched some 8-year-old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-ferrell/why-did-autograph-magazine-list-me-as-one-of-the-worst-autograph/) [Will Ferrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-ferrell/) > [I just Fell Down the Stairs Holding a Guitar and Accidentally Wrote a One Direction Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-ferrell/i-just-fell-down-the-stairs-holding-a-guitar-and-accidentally-wrote-a/) [Will Ferrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-ferrell/) > [Well, I could be wrong, but I believe diversity is an old, old wooden ship that was used during the Civil War era.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-ferrell/well-i-could-be-wrong-but-i-believe-diversity-is-an-old-old-wooden/) [Will Ferrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-ferrell/) > [I've always wanted to sail around the world in a handmade boat, and I built a boat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-ferrell/i-ve-always-wanted-to-sail-around-the-world-in-a-handmade-boat-and-i/) [Will Ferrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-ferrell/) > [I left 'Saturday Night Live' without a film to go to, and I'd filmed 'Old School' while I was in my last season of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-ferrell/i-left-saturday-night-live-without-a-film-to-go-to-and-i-d-filmed-old/) [Will Ferrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-ferrell/) > [You did it! Congratulations! World's best cup of coffee! Great job, everybody! It's great to be here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-ferrell/you-did-it-congratulations-world-s-best-cup-of-coffee-great-job/) [Will Ferrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-ferrell/) > [I don't even consider myself an impressionist, really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-ferrell/i-don-t-even-consider-myself-an-impressionist-really/) [Will Ferrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-ferrell/) > [There are a lot of really funny guys who are very natural in what they do: Jonah Hill, Michael Cera, Seth Rogen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-ferrell/there-are-a-lot-of-really-funny-guys-who-are-very-natural-in-what/) [Will Ferrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-ferrell/) > [Once a person has a child, the first question everyone asks is: "Are you going to have more children?" But it basically means: "Are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-ferrell/once-a-person-has-a-child-the-first-question-everyone-asks-is-are-you/) [Will Ferrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-ferrell/) > [I love playing the macho guy who looks like an idiot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-ferrell/i-love-playing-the-macho-guy-who-looks-like-an-idiot/) [Will Ferrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-ferrell/) > [Niggas every where](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-ferrell/niggas-every-where/) [Will Ferrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-ferrell/) [Explore all 191 Will Ferrell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-ferrell/) ## 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 think a lot of the instincts you have doing comedy are really the same for doing drama, in that it's essentially about listening. The way I approach comedy, is you have to commit to everything as if it's a dramatic role, meaning you play it straight.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Will Ferrell" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-ferrell/i-think-a-lot-of-the-instincts-you-have-doing-comedy-are-really-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Approach" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-ferrell/i-think-a-lot-of-the-instincts-you-have-doing-comedy-are-really-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/719/will-ferrell-2019_approach_i-think-a-lot-of-the-instincts-you-have_275642.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/719/will-ferrell-2019_approach_i-think-a-lot-of-the-instincts-you-have_275642.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/719/will-ferrell-2019_approach_i-think-a-lot-of-the-instincts-you-have_275642.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think a lot of the instincts you have doing comedy are really the same for doing drama, in that it's…” — Will Ferrell", "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": "Will Ferrell", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-ferrell/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I think a lot of the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-ferrell/i-think-a-lot-of-the-instincts-you-have-doing-comedy-are-really-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-ferrell/i-think-a-lot-of-the-instincts-you-have-doing-comedy-are-really-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 } } ] } ```