Lenny Bruce

Provocative comedian

Modern influential 100 sayings

Sayings by Lenny Bruce

“I'm not trying to be offensive. I'm trying to be relevant.”

1960s — Performance, various shows
Controversial Unverifiable

“I'm not trying to be controversial. I'm trying to be honest.”

1960s — Performance, various shows
Controversial Unverifiable

“I'm not trying to be popular. I'm trying to be real.”

1960s — Performance, various shows
Controversial Unverifiable

“I'm not trying to be politically correct. I'm trying to be funny.”

1960s — Performance, various shows
Controversial Unverifiable

“I'm not trying to be a role model. I'm trying to be myself.”

1960s — Performance, various shows
Controversial Unverifiable

“I'm not trying to be offensive. I'm trying to be thought-provoking.”

1960s — Performance, various shows
Controversial Unverifiable

“I'm not trying to be a provocateur. I'm trying to be an artist.”

1960s — Performance, various shows
Controversial Unverifiable

“I'm not trying to be a revolutionary. I'm trying to be a comedian.”

1960s — Performance, various shows
Controversial Unverifiable

“I'm not trying to be a philosopher. I'm trying to be a human being.”

1960s — Performance, various shows
Controversial Unverifiable

“I'm not trying to be a guru. I'm trying to be a clown.”

1960s — Performance, various shows
Controversial Unverifiable

“I'm not trying to be a saint. I'm trying to be a sinner.”

1960s — Performance, various shows
Controversial Unverifiable

If you believe in God, you're a believer. If you don't, you're an infidel. If you don't know, you're an agnostic. If you don't give a damn, you're an atheist. If you don't know and you don't give a damn, you're a philosopher.

1965 — How to Talk Dirty and Influence People (autobiography)
Humorous Unverifiable

The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it. Resist it, and your soul will grow sick with longing for the things it has forbidden to itself.

1960s — Unidentified performance, often attributed to Oscar Wilde first but Bruce popularized it in his cont…
Humorous Unverifiable

Every day, people are dying. They're not dying because they're old, they're not dying because they're sick, they're dying because they're bored.

1960s — Unidentified performance
Humorous Unverifiable

A lot of people think I'm a dirty comedian. I'm not a dirty comedian. I'm a comedian who talks about dirty things.

1960s — Unidentified interview
Humorous Unverifiable

I'm not trying to be shocking. I'm just trying to be honest.

1964 — Court testimony
Humorous Unverifiable

If you live in a society where the truth is illegal, then you're a criminal.

1960s — Unidentified performance
Humorous Unverifiable

The only thing that's consistent in life is inconsistency.

1960s — Unidentified interview
Humorous Unverifiable

I'm not a role model. I'm a warning.

1960s — Unidentified performance
Humorous Unverifiable

The world is a joke. The only way to survive is to laugh at it.

1960s — Frequently attributed to Bruce
Humorous Unverifiable