Humor is an undeniably positive force that illuminates and brings joy to our lives. In addition to making us laugh, comedy can also provide profound guidance in the most unlikely of places. In fact, many of the world’s funniest people are also the most insightful.
Some of us may turn to humor to help us find a glimmer of light in hard times, while others simply want to smile. No matter how we incorporate humor into our lives, it’s important to embrace laughter as one of humanity’s most powerful and beneficial expressions of emotion.
In celebration of all things comedy, we’ve compiled a list of the most laugh-out-loud hilarious lines from a few of the world’s most esteemed comedians. Here are 50 quotes from 50 of the funniest people of all time.
You know you’re getting old when the candles cost more than the cake.
I haven’t got the slightest idea how to change people, but still I keep a long list of prospective candidates just in case I should ever figure it out.
If variety is the spice of life, marriage is the big can of leftover Spam.
My timing is so precise, a heckler would have to make an appointment just to get a word in.
Before you marry a person, you should first make them use a computer with slow internet to see who they really are.
I like an escalator, man. Because an escalator cannot break. It just becomes stairs.
When you see the handwriting on the wall, you’re in the toilet.
I feel sorry for short people, you know. When it rains, they’re the last to know.
The secret of staying young is to live honestly, eat slowly, and lie about your age.
Some people have a way with words, and other people … oh, uh, not have way.
Money can’t buy you happiness, but it helps you look for it in a lot more places.
I hate housework. You make the beds, you do the dishes — and six months later, you have to start all over again.
Nice to be here? At my age it’s nice to be anywhere.
Isn’t it a bit unnerving that doctors call what they do “practice”?
Maybe there is no actual place called hell. Maybe hell is just having to listen to our grandparents breathe through their noses when they’re eating sandwiches.
I used to play sports. Then I realized you can buy trophies. Now I’m good at everything.
Obviously, if I was serious about having a relationship with someone long-term, the last people I would introduce him to would be my family.
Why do dogs always race to the door when the doorbell rings? It’s almost never for them.
Please accept my resignation. I don’t want to belong to any club that will accept me as a member.
My grandmother is over 80 and still doesn’t need glasses. Drinks right out of the bottle.
I once dated an apostrophe. Too possessive.
I’ve never been married, but I tell people I’m divorced so they won’t think something is wrong with me.
When it comes to raising children, I believe in give and take. I give orders and they take ’em.
I don’t deserve this award, but I have arthritis and I don’t deserve that either.
There’s no business like show business, but there are several businesses like accounting.
I never feel more alone than when I’m trying to put sunscreen on my back.
For fast-acting relief, try slowing down.
I’m one of the worst drivers I’ve ever seen, and I just want you all to know that if you’re ever on the highway behind me, I hear you honking, and I also don’t want me to be doing what I’m doing. I don’t like that I’m in that lane either, and I sure would like to get out of it.
Don’t wear fur. Did you know that a single fur coat takes 14 trees just for the protest signs?
Trying on pants is one of the most humiliating things a man can suffer that doesn’t involve a woman.
Don’t ever make the same mistake twice, unless it pays.
When angry, count to four; when very angry, swear.
If at first you don’t succeed, try, try, and try again. Then give up. There’s no use being a damned fool about it.
Marriage is really tough because you have to deal with feelings and lawyers.
Room service is great if you want to pay $500 for a club sandwich.
Breaking up is like knocking over a Coke machine. You can’t do it in one push; you got to rock it back and forth a few times, and then it goes over.
The fast-food chain Sonic is now offering a 1,700-calorie peanut butter bacon milkshake, which explains Sonic’s new slogan, “Tell my wife I loved her.”
I have a lot of growing up to do. I realized that the other day inside my fort.
When you’re in love, it’s the most glorious two-and-a-half days of your life.
Before you judge a man, walk a mile in his shoes. After that, who cares? … He’s a mile away and you’ve got his shoes!
Doing nothing is very hard to do … you never know when you’re finished.
I’m not for everyone. I’m barely for me.
I wish airport security also ran the lottery because then I’d have a better chance of “randomly” winning.
When my kids grow up, I’m gonna invite myself to dinner at their houses, demand mac ‘n’ cheese, then tell them it’s gross.
Chip card readers are the hand dryers of financial transactions.
There should be a children’s song “If you’re happy and you know it, keep it to yourself and let your dad sleep.”
I spend a lot of time thinking about the hereafter. Each time I enter a room, I wonder what I’m here after.
My dad goes through war novels like I go through boxes of Cinnamon Toast Crunch.
You can’t be friends with people who call after 11 p.m.
I have learned from my mistakes, and I am sure I can repeat them exactly.
Featured Image Credit: Donaldson Collection/ Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images
Bennett Kleinman
Bennett is a staff writer at Optimism as well as a freelance comedy writer. He's based in New York City.
