Quote

I don't like the phrase shock value. Surprise is essential in comedy, and if people are shocked by what I consider merely surprising, then that's their shock. But there is no joke without surprise.

George Carlin

Change background

T
T
T

Change font

TAGS & TOPICS

George Carlin
Age: 71 †
Born: 1937
Born: May 12
Died: 2008
Died: June 22
Actor
Comedian
Composer
Film Actor
Film Producer
Humorist
Journalist
Manufacturer
Radio Personality
Screenwriter
Stand-Up Comedian
New York City
New York
George Denis Patrick Carlin
Like
Surprise
Phrase
People
Jokes
Shocked
Consider
Surprising
Merely
Phrases
Value
Joke
Comedy
Shock
Values
Essential
Without
Essentials

More quotes by George Carlin

Image
Death is caused by swallowing small amounts of saliva over a long period of time.
George Carlin
Image
People always tell me Have a nice day. Well what if I don't want to? What if I want to have a crappy day?
George Carlin
Image
Here’s a bumper sticker I’d like to see: “We are the proud parents of a child who’s self-esteem is sufficient that he doesn’t need us promoting his minor scholastic achievements on the back of our car.
George Carlin
Image
I had no shoes, and I felt sorry for myself until I met a man who had no feet. I took his shoes. Now I feel better.
George Carlin
Image
The things that matter in this country have been reduced in choice, there are two political parties, there are a handful insurance companies, there are six or seven information centers.. but if you want a bagel there are 23 flavors. Because you have the illusion of choice!
George Carlin
Image
Boxing is a more sophisticated form of hockey.
George Carlin
Image
But then you turn 30. Oooohh, what happened there? Makes you sound like bad milk! He TURNED we had to throw him out. There's no fun now, you're Just a sour-dumpling. What's wrong? What's changed?
George Carlin
Image
The ritual was very important to me: cleaning the pot, rolling the pot.
George Carlin
Image
Baseball begins in the spring, the season of new life. Football begins in the fall, when everything's dying.
George Carlin
Image
With the proper training, I could've been an evil genius.
George Carlin
Image
I recently bought a book of free verse. For twelve dollars.
George Carlin
Image
The rebellious mood of the country during those [60th] years allowed me to plug right back into my old hatreds. I could scream and holler, as I did on the albums, against religion, government, big business - all those assholes and their values. That hatred was very real.
George Carlin
Image
There are two types of people: One strives to control his environment, the other strives not to let his environment control him. I like to control my environment.
George Carlin
Image
We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values.
George Carlin
Image
I like Florida. Everything is in the 80s. The temperatures, the ages and the IQ's.
George Carlin
Image
One good reason to only maintain a small circle of friends is that three out of four murders are committed by people who know the victim.
George Carlin
Image
Writing books isn't a drastic departure from writing for the stage.
George Carlin
Image
I am not a complete vegetarian. I eat only animals that have died in their sleep.
George Carlin
Image
There are an awful lot of things in the cut of street drugs that eventually make you sick. I reached a point where the skin around the edges of my fingernails used to hurt all the time. And it would peel away easily. Now, that must have been from some poison in the cut.
George Carlin
Image
If a movie is described as a romantic comedy, you can usually find me next door playing pinball.
George Carlin