seriousness quotes

If you’re serious, you really understand that it’s important that you laugh as much as possible and admit that you’re the funniest person you ever met. You have to laugh. Admit that you’re funny. Otherwise, you die in solemnity.

I’m always surprised when people respond positively to what I am saying, given its seriousnessness and strange nature.

I’m very, very serious – I’m serious enough not to take myself too seriously. That means I can be completely wedded to the moment. But when I leave that moment, I want to be completely wedded to the next moment.

When it comes to the qualifications that we should demand of our president, to start with, we need someone who will take the job seriously.

Nothing is worth doing unless the consequences may be serious.

At seventy-seven it is time to be in earnest.

Europeans are much more serious than we are in America because they think that a good place to discuss intellectual matters is a beer party.

I don’t need you to be funny. I don’t want to be entertained.

Seriousness is the only refuge of the shallow.

Even though I’m known as a pop musician, I have a seriousness about what I do.

He who is not just is severe, he who is not wise is sad.

If you pretend to be good, the world takes you very seriously. If you pretend to be bad, it doesn’t. Such is the astounding stupidity of optimism.

Life does not cease to be funny when people die any more than it ceases to be serious when people laugh.

Men are convinced of your arguments, your sincerity, and the seriousness of your efforts only by your death.