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93 Notable Quotes By Lenny Bruce That Are Good For A Laugh

Famous As: American Stand-Up Comedian and Social Critic
Born On: October 13, 1925
Died On: August 3, 1966
Born In: Mineola, New York, United States
Died At Age: 40

Lenny Bruce was a celebrated American satirist, stand-up comedian, and social critic. Born Leonard Alfred Schneider, Bruce was well-known for his critical, free-style, and open form of comedy which fused religion, satire, sex, vulgarity, and politics. In 2017, he was ranked third on the list of ’50 best Stand-up Comedians of All Time’ by ‘Rolling Magazine.’ In 1964, he was convicted in an obscenity trial but was pardoned posthumously. He paved the way for counterculture-era comedians. We bring to you a treasure trove of quotes and sayings by Lenny Bruce, which have been excerpted from his shows, performances, thoughts, works, interviews, writings, and public utterances. Zoom through the thought-provoking and inspiring quotes and thoughts by Lenny Bruce on law, government, politics, sex, marijuana, criminals, poverty, war, religion, violence, etc.

I want to perform an unnatural act.

I want to perform an unnatural act.

Leonard Alfred Schneider
The crooks downtown figured out that comedy is like a hammer. It can put up a barn and it can knock down a wall. So they bought it outright and marketed it as Comedy Central.

The crooks downtown figured out that comedy is like a hammer. It can put up a barn and it can knock down a wall. So they bought it outright and marketed it as Comedy Central.

Leonard Alfred Schneider
If you can take the hot lead enema, then you can cast the first stone.

If you can take the hot lead enema, then you can cast the first stone.

Leonard Alfred Schneider
If I get busted in New York, the freest city in the world, that will be the end of my career.

If I get busted in New York, the freest city in the world, that will be the end of my career.

Leonard Alfred Schneider
Even if you are Catholic, if you live in New York you're Jewish. If you live in Butte, Montana, you are going to be goyish even if you are Jewish.

Even if you are Catholic, if you live in New York you're Jewish. If you live in Butte, Montana, you are going to be goyish even if you are Jewish.

Leonard Alfred Schneider
I was a Jew talking about Goyim religion. If I had just stuck to Moses, everything would have been cool. But, copping to being part of the whole Christ murder conspiracy got everyone goose-stepping again.

I was a Jew talking about Goyim religion. If I had just stuck to Moses, everything would have been cool. But, copping to being part of the whole Christ murder conspiracy got everyone goose-stepping again.

Leonard Alfred Schneider
You can't just run out and start the car until some cat invents a car.

You can't just run out and start the car until some cat invents a car.

Leonard Alfred Schneider
I credit the motion picture industry as the strongest environmental factor in molding the children of my day.

I credit the motion picture industry as the strongest environmental factor in molding the children of my day.

Leonard Alfred Schneider
There's always a down side with any freedom. It's not just homosexual freedom, but any sexual freedom comes at a price, and that is usually art.

There's always a down side with any freedom. It's not just homosexual freedom, but any sexual freedom comes at a price, and that is usually art.

Leonard Alfred Schneider
There is only what is and that's it. What should be is a dirty lie.

There is only what is and that's it. What should be is a dirty lie.

Leonard Alfred Schneider
What you end up with is outrageousness without the laugh - comedy as electro shock therapy.

What you end up with is outrageousness without the laugh - comedy as electro shock therapy.

Leonard Alfred Schneider
I'm sure that half the buzz from smoking grass was the fact that it was so illegal.

I'm sure that half the buzz from smoking grass was the fact that it was so illegal.

Leonard Alfred Schneider
I've talked to biblical cats, and Neanderthals who been here since day one. No one here has even seen the Big Boss. Ever.

I've talked to biblical cats, and Neanderthals who been here since day one. No one here has even seen the Big Boss. Ever.

Leonard Alfred Schneider
The role of a comedian is to make the audience laugh, at a minimum of once every fifteen seconds.

The role of a comedian is to make the audience laugh, at a minimum of once every fifteen seconds.

Leonard Alfred Schneider
Communism is just one big telephone company.

Communism is just one big telephone company.

Leonard Alfred Schneider
Miami Beach is where neon goes to die.

Miami Beach is where neon goes to die.

Leonard Alfred Schneider
If you live in New York, even if you're Catholic, you're Jewish

If you live in New York, even if you're Catholic, you're Jewish

Leonard Alfred Schneider
Communism is like one big phone company.

Communism is like one big phone company.

Leonard Alfred Schneider
The only honest art form is laughter, comedy. You can't fake it... try to fake three laughs in an hour - ha ha ha ha ha - they'll take you away, man. You can't.

The only honest art form is laughter, comedy. You can't fake it... try to fake three laughs in an hour - ha ha ha ha ha - they'll take you away, man. You can't.

Leonard Alfred Schneider
Once you sleep on feathers you can't go back to sleeping on the floor.

Once you sleep on feathers you can't go back to sleeping on the floor.

Leonard Alfred Schneider
I'm not a comedian. I'm Lenny Bruce.

I'm not a comedian. I'm Lenny Bruce.

Leonard Alfred Schneider
Sex and obscenity are not synonymous.

Sex and obscenity are not synonymous.

Leonard Alfred Schneider
Anyone who does anything for pleasure to indulge his selfish soul will surely burn in Hell.

Anyone who does anything for pleasure to indulge his selfish soul will surely burn in Hell.

Leonard Alfred Schneider
I'll die young, but it's like kissing God.

I'll die young, but it's like kissing God.

Leonard Alfred Schneider
Satire is tragedy plus time.

Satire is tragedy plus time.

Leonard Alfred Schneider
Certain things are complete superstition and have no validity at all in the Bible. Yeah. They're just the antithesis of everything that is correct intellectually.

Certain things are complete superstition and have no validity at all in the Bible. Yeah. They're just the antithesis of everything that is correct intellectually.

Leonard Alfred Schneider
TV is just advertising for your live gig, so I'm playing whichever show is gonna get me the biggest crowd.

TV is just advertising for your live gig, so I'm playing whichever show is gonna get me the biggest crowd.

Leonard Alfred Schneider
All my humor is based upon destruction and despair.

All my humor is based upon destruction and despair.

Leonard Alfred Schneider
When you're eight years old, nothing is any of your business.

When you're eight years old, nothing is any of your business.

Leonard Alfred Schneider
You got to pay your dues to get the joke. Besides, laughter is cheap and very portable. If there's a pogrom, or they're blaming you for the plague, nothing is easier to pack than a sense of humor.

You got to pay your dues to get the joke. Besides, laughter is cheap and very portable. If there's a pogrom, or they're blaming you for the plague, nothing is easier to pack than a sense of humor.

Leonard Alfred Schneider