Bob Newhart Quotes

Powerful Bob Newhart for Daily Growth

About Bob Newhart

Robert Charles Newhart, born on September 5, 1929, in Oak Park, Illinois, is an American comedian, actor, and voice actor whose career spans over six decades. Known for his deadpan delivery, self-deprecating humor, and portrayal of uptight, often frazzled characters, Newhart's work has left a lasting impact on the entertainment industry. Newhart's love for comedy was ignited in his high school years, where he participated in school plays and radio broadcasts. He studied pre-med at Northwestern University but soon found himself drawn to theater, graduating with a degree in speech and drama in 1952. After working as a stand-up comedian in Chicago clubs, Newhart moved to New York City in 1958. In 1960, Newhart released his debut comedy album "The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart," which became the first comedy album to sell over two million copies and won a Grammy Award for Best Comedy Performance. His success led to numerous television appearances, including the groundbreaking sitcoms "The Bob Newhart Show" (1972-1978) and "Newhart" (1982-1990). Throughout his career, Newhart has been recognized for his contributions to comedy and television. In 1990, he was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame. He also received a Kennedy Center Honor in 2017. Despite retiring from full-time acting in 1995, Newhart continues to make occasional appearances on stage, screen, and voice acting roles. Today, Bob Newhart remains an influential figure in comedy, known for his timeless wit and humor that resonate with audiences across generations. His works serve as a testament to the power of observational comedy and the enduring appeal of relatable characters navigating everyday life.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"I'm very good at accepting weaknesses, but not acknowledging them."

This quote suggests that while the individual is cognizant of their own weaknesses, they choose to overlook or deny these shortcomings in practice, instead focusing on their strengths and capabilities. They may be able to intellectually accept or recognize their weaknesses but have not integrated this understanding into their actions or behavior. This can lead to a situation where they may struggle to improve in areas that need development due to a lack of consistent focus or effort.


"Ambition is a poor excuse for not having a life."

This quote by Bob Newhart highlights the importance of striking a balance between ambition and living a fulfilling life. Ambition, when pursued excessively or at the expense of personal well-being, can lead to an unhealthy lifestyle devoid of meaningful experiences and relationships. The quote encourages us to prioritize our overall life experience, ensuring that our goals don't overshadow the importance of enjoying the journey and savoring the moments along the way.


"The secret of happiness is this: let your interests be as wide as possible, and let your reactions to the things around you be as cool as you can make them."

This quote by Bob Newhart suggests that one should cultivate a diverse range of interests and maintain emotional balance in response to life's circumstances to foster happiness. By being open-minded and curious, an individual broadens their experiences and perspectives, enhancing personal growth and satisfaction. Emotional equilibrium, on the other hand, allows us to navigate the ups and downs of life with resilience, minimizing stress and maximizing contentment. In essence, Newhart's wisdom encourages a balanced approach to life by embracing its richness while maintaining inner peace.


"I was going to tell my doctor that I didn't have time to exercise, but he said it would only take five minutes."

This quote by Bob Newhart humorously highlights the irony of our modern lives where we often prioritize tasks over health. The doctor suggests a quick exercise routine instead of a lengthy one, implying that finding even a small amount of time for physical activity is essential to good health. It subtly critiques the tendency to view exercise as a time-consuming luxury rather than a necessary part of daily life.


"The older I get, the less I care about what people think about me. And the more I do what I want to do, and the less I care about doing what they expected."

This quote by Bob Newhart signifies a growing sense of self-awareness and autonomy as one matures. As individuals age, they tend to develop a deeper understanding of their own values, desires, and identity. Consequently, they become less concerned with societal expectations or the opinions of others, choosing instead to prioritize their personal fulfillment and authenticity over conforming to external pressures or norms. This shift allows for greater freedom, creativity, and overall happiness in life.


I don't know how many sacred cows there are today. I think there's a little confusion between humor and gross passing for humor. That's kind of regrettable.

- Bob Newhart

Think, I Think, Gross, Cows

I remember seeing a movie with Jose Ferrer and Rosemary Clooney where they were husband and wife, and they got in bed, and he had on polka-dot pajamas and she had on striped pajamas, and when they got up the next morning he had on the striped pajamas and she had the polka dot pajamas, and that was considered racy at that time!

- Bob Newhart

Bed, Next, Next Morning, Dot

I just don't think most people put myself and Robert Frost in the same category.

- Bob Newhart

Myself, People, Think, Robert

I made a record album in 1960 and it exploded, and I got all these offers for TV.

- Bob Newhart

Made, TV, Offers, Exploded

It was a decision to work clean. I just prefer to work that way. I have no problem with comedians who don't work that way. There was a temptation in the early '70s to reconsider. I decided against it.

- Bob Newhart

Work, Decision, Prefer, Temptation

I found the most difficult thing when you became successful - when I had the record album, it won Album of the Year - that you were cut off from the source of your material. Your material was everyday people, and you were kind of cut off from that, and you had to work at it.

- Bob Newhart

Year, Cut, Became, Most Difficult Thing

When I first started out, 'Time' magazine did an article on what it called 'the sick comics,' and they were myself, Shelley Berman, Nichols & May, Jonathan Winters, Lenny Bruce, and Mort Sahl. We were considered 'sick.'

- Bob Newhart

Lenny, Considered, Comics, Shelley

The schizophrenic has no sense of humor. His world is a constantly daunting, unfriendly place.

- Bob Newhart

Sense Of Humor, Unfriendly, Schizophrenic

I'm not what you'd call a Method actor.

- Bob Newhart

Actor, Call, Method, Method Actor

There isn't a comedian in the world that hasn't bombed.

- Bob Newhart

World, Comedian, Bombed

I would say I came from upper middle class family.

- Bob Newhart

Middle, Would, Upper, Class Family

When you're going for a joke, you're stuck out there if it doesn't work. There's nowhere to go. You've done the drum role and the cymbal clash and you're out on the end of the plank.

- Bob Newhart

Work, Role, Going, Plank

More and more, as I get older, people come up to me and say, 'Thank you for all the laughter.' And my standard answer is, 'It was my pleasure.' But that's the truth.

- Bob Newhart

Pleasure, More, Standard, Older People

I was an accountant in Chicago, and a friend of mine, Ed Gallagher, was in advertising. At 4:30 every day I'd be bored, and I would call him. He'd interview me.

- Bob Newhart

Every Day, Accountant, Mine, Interview

Comedians are innately programmed to pick up oddities like mispronounced words, upside-down books on a shelf, and generally undetectable mistakes in everyday life.

- Bob Newhart

Mistakes, Words, Like, Oddity

This stammer got me a home in Beverly Hills, and I'm not about to screw with it now.

- Bob Newhart

Beverly Hills, Stammer, Hills

I've been told to speed up my delivery when I perform. But if I lose the stammer, I'm just another slightly amusing accountant.

- Bob Newhart

Delivery, Been, Slightly, Stammer

Mark Twain gave us an insight into the life on the Mississippi at the turn of the century.

- Bob Newhart

Insight, Century, Gave, Twain

I think there's a little confusion between humor and 'gross' passing for humor. That's kind of regrettable, because they aren't the same thing.

- Bob Newhart

Think, I Think, Gross, Confusion

The highest of highs is to have a new routine that you're just breaking in and that's working, and that's - you're one step removed doing a situation comedy because you have a live audience there.

- Bob Newhart

Doing, New, Audience, Highs

I just made the decision that I was going to try comedy, and if didn't work, then I knew it didn't work. Then I would go back and do whatever. But at least I wouldn't torture myself the rest of my life, wondering whatever would have happened.

- Bob Newhart

My Life, Back, Least, Wondering

I was not influenced by Jack Benny, and people have remarked on my timing and Jack's timing, but I don't think you can teach timing. It's something you hear in your head.

- Bob Newhart

Think, Influenced, Benny, None

If you look at Jack Benny, George Burns, or Don Rickles, they've all had long, successful marriages. So, I think there's something about laughter and the durability of a marriage.

- Bob Newhart

I Think, About, Benny, None

Jack Benny was, without a doubt, the bravest comedian I have ever seen work. He wasn't afraid of silence. He would take as long as it took to tell the story.

- Bob Newhart

Work, Took, Benny, None

The greatest comedian I've ever seen is Jack Benny. He wasn't afraid of the silences.

- Bob Newhart

Comedian, Ever, Silences, None

I don't know how to do a show not in front of a live audience.

- Bob Newhart

Audience, How, Show, Live Audience

The first time I got up in front of an audience was terror, abject terror, which continued for another four or five years. There still is, a little bit.

- Bob Newhart

Audience, Which, Terror, Abject

With the stand-up comic on TV, whether it's Seinfeld or Cosby or Roseanne, more important than their knowledge of how to tell a joke is their knowledge of themselves, or the persona they've created as themselves. So that when you're in a room with writers, you can say, 'Guys, that's a funny line, but I wouldn't say it.'

- Bob Newhart

Tell, Line, TV, Cosby

I didn't know I was cool, but I was very flattered that some of the younger comedy writers came up to talk to me at the Emmys. I found that gratifying.

- Bob Newhart

Some, Very, Flattered, Gratifying

I don't think too much about age. Maybe if you're hurting, aching and arthritic, then you think about it a lot. But I don't.

- Bob Newhart

Think, Maybe, About, Aching

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