Mel Brooks Quotes

Comedy is when you fall into an open sewer and die.

I was never able to write seriously. Just couldn’t do it. It’s like one of my many character flaws.

Hope for the best and expect the worst. Never a dull moment.

Tragedy is when I cut my finger. Comedy is when you fall into an open sewer and die.

Humor is just another defense against the universe.

I’m not a philosopher, I’m not a movie director, I’m just Mel Brooks, and I make them laugh.

I prefer the laughs.

When you make fun of something serious, you’re taking its power away.

I’m a human being, I get scared and I get nervous.

I made my way, step by step, usually by fumbling and stumbling, until I got where I am today

Good taste is the enemy of comedy.

If the humor stays with you, there is no expiration date on laughter.

Life literally abounds in comedy if you just look around you.

Life is too short to be taken seriously. Laugh at yourself.

The more you’re taking on the heavy subjects, the more important it is to do comedy.

My movies rise below vulgarity.

There’s only one thing to do when you’re sitting on a grenade: smile.

I’m Mel Brooks and I want you to know if you’re living right now — you are!

Look for the ridiculous in everything and you will find it.

I’m not a genius. But I’m smart in spots, and I stay around those spots.

God slipped my mind.

You gotta laugh. Because laughter, as you know, is God’s most precious gift.

Love your parody and don’t let anyone take it away from you.

The best satire comes from your ability to be your own hero.

We mock the things we are to become them.

The key to creativity, in short, is making yourself your own audience. And then your work will rise.

I don’t want to be remembered. I want the nice words now.

I always think that there’s really no thing that I won’t talk about or make fun of.

I’m not against humor in the movies, but I don’t go out of my way to make funny movies.

A lot of people like lollipops. I don’t like lollipops.

There is comic relief in most tragedies, you know.

Tragedy is the real comedy.

There’s no line in the cinema between comedy and tragedy.

I have always loved villains because they represent the forces that challenge the best part of us.

Be yourself – it’s the only one you can do and live with.

I love whipping out my camera and capturing serendipitous moments.

If you’re alive, you can be active.

Once a pickle, never a cucumber again.

I’m the only lion in the Lions Club that’s had any dentistry.

I have some very sophisticated taste.

It’s good to be the king!

I don’t try to be funny. I am funny.

I try to just make very timeless stuff.

The scary or beautiful thing about comedy is that it’s not subjective.

You must be in tune with the times and prepared to break with tradition.