Lenny Bruce Quotes

A collection of quotes by Lenny Bruce.

Lenny Bruce (1925-1966) was an American stand-up comedian, social satirist, and free speech advocate. Born in Mineola, New York, he began his career performing in burlesque clubs and small comedy venues. Bruce gained notoriety in the 1950s and 1960s for his controversial and provocative style, breaking social and political taboos of the time. He fearlessly tackled subjects such as religion, race, sex, and politics, often challenging societal norms.

Recognized for his groundbreaking approach to comedy, Bruce used his platform to critique hypocrisy and challenge censorship laws. His witty and intelligent humor combined with social commentary made him an influential figure within the counterculture movement. Bruce's performances were frequently met with legal troubles due to obscenity charges, which led to his reputation being tarnished and his career hindered.

Despite the challenges he faced, Bruce remains an icon of free speech activism. He played a significant role in paving the way for future comedians, as he demonstrated the power of comedy and satire to expose societal injustices. Bruce's life was cut short when he tragically died of a drug overdose on August 3, 1966, leaving behind a controversial and lasting legacy in comedy and the fight for First Amendment rights.

Life is a four-letter word

Life is a four-letter word

Life

Let me tell you the truth. The truth is what is, and what sh

Let me tell you the truth. The truth is what is, and what should be is a fantasy. A terrible, terrible lie that someone gave to the people long ago.

Truth People

There are never enough I Love You's.

There are never enough I Love You's.

Love

If Jesus had been killed twenty years ago, Catholic school c

If Jesus had been killed twenty years ago, Catholic school children would be wearing little electric chairs around their necks instead of crosses.

Capital Punishment

Miami Beach is where neon goes to die.

Miami Beach is where neon goes to die.

Funny

The only honest art form is laughter, comedy. You can't fake

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.

Art

Today's comedian has a cross to bear that he built himself.

Today's comedian has a cross to bear that he built himself. A comedian of the older generation did an act and he told the audience, This is my act. Today's comic is not doing an act. The audience assumes he's telling the truth. What is truth today may be a damn lie next week.

Comedy

Communism is like one big phone company.

Communism is like one big phone company.

Communism

The reason I'm in this business, I assume all performers are

The reason I'm in this business, I assume all performers are -- it's Look at me, Ma! It's acceptance, you know -- Look at me, Ma, look at me, Ma, look at me, Ma. And if your mother watches, you'll show off till you're exhausted; but if your mother goes, Ptshew!

Entertainment

Now a Jew, in the dictionary, is one who is descended from t

Now a Jew, in the dictionary, is one who is descended from the ancient tribes of Judea, or one who is regarded as descended from that tribe. That's what it says in the dictionary; but you and I know what a Jew is -- One Who Killed Our Lord. And although there should be a statute of limitations for that crime, it seems that those who neither have the actions nor the gait of Christians, pagan or not, will bust us out, unrelenting dues, for another deuce.

Religion

A lot of people say to me, Why did you kill Christ? I dunno.

A lot of people say to me, Why did you kill Christ? I dunno... it was one of those parties, got out of hand, you know. We killed him because he didn't want to become a doctor, that's why we killed him.

Christianity

The role of a comedian is to make the audience laugh, at a m

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

Humor

All my humor is based upon destruction and despair. If the w

All my humor is based upon destruction and despair. If the whole world were tranquil, without disease and violence, I'd be standing on the breadline right in back of J. Edgar Hoover.

Humor

The thing with Catholicism, the same as all religions, is th

The thing with Catholicism, the same as all religions, is that it teaches what should be, which seems rather incorrect. This is what should be. Now, if you're taught to live up to a what should be that never existed -- only an occult superstition, no proof of this should be -- then you can sit on a jury and indict easily, you can cast the first stone, you can burn Adolf Eichmann, like that!

Religion

The liberals can understand everything but people who don't

The liberals can understand everything but people who don't understand them.

Liberalism

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

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

Business

The only honest art form is laughter, comedy. You can

The only honest art form is laughter, comedy. You can

Comedy

I won't say ours was a tough school, but we had our own coro

I won't say ours was a tough school, but we had our own coroner. We used to write essays like 'What I'm going to be if I grow up'.

Fate & Destiny

Every day people are straying away from the church and going

Every day people are straying away from the church and going back to God.

Religion

In the Halls of Justice, the only justice is in the halls.

In the Halls of Justice, the only justice is in the halls.

Justice