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Bruce Eric Kaplan Quotes

Powerful Bruce Eric Kaplan for Daily Growth

About Bruce Eric Kaplan

Bruce Eric Kaplan (born September 19, 1957) is an American cartoonist, humorist, and author, renowned for his distinctive style and insightful observations about human nature. Born in Brooklyn, New York, Kaplan grew up in a working-class family that instilled a strong sense of social consciousness and a love for storytelling. Kaplan's artistic journey began early, with his first cartoon published at the age of 16 in High Times magazine. This initial success fueled his passion and led him to pursue a career in cartooning. After studying at Pratt Institute and The School of Visual Arts, Kaplan landed a job as a staff cartoonist for National Lampoon, where he honed his skills and established himself as a talented humorist. In the 1980s, Kaplan began contributing regularly to The New Yorker magazine, becoming one of its most prolific contributors with over 1,200 cartoons published to date. His work at The New Yorker often revolves around everyday situations and human interactions, offering a humorous yet insightful perspective on life. Beyond his cartooning career, Kaplan has authored several books, including "The Lost Kitten Chronicles" (1994), "Where's My Mummy?" (2003), and "My Dog Skip" (2005). The latter was adapted into a feature film in 2000. Throughout his career, Kaplan has been recognized for his contributions to the world of cartooning and humor. He has received multiple awards, including three Reuben Awards from the National Cartoonists Society and two Thurber Prizes for American Humor. Despite his success, Kaplan remains humble and dedicated to his craft, continuing to captivate audiences with his unique blend of wit and wisdom.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get." - Forrest Gump (Attributed to Tom Hanks' character, written by Bruce Joel Rubin)

The quote suggests that life, like an unopened box of chocolates, is unpredictable and full of surprises. Just as one can never know the flavor or type of chocolate they will get from a random piece, we cannot foresee the events or experiences that life will bring us. It encourages us to embrace the unexpected and live in the moment, as each day presents new possibilities and unknown outcomes.

"My mama always said, 'Life was like a box of chocolates.' You never know what you're gonna get." - Forrest Gump (Attributed to Forrest Gump, as written by Winston Groom)

This quote emphasizes the unpredictability of life, akin to opening a box of chocolates where each piece may be different. It suggests that we should approach life with an open mind and embrace its unexpected turns, as we never truly know what experiences or outcomes await us.

"If you liked pecan pie, I bet you'd really love coconut cream." - Forrest Gump (Attributed to Forrest Gump, as written by Bruce Joel Rubin)

The quote compares the enjoyment of two different things, using pecan pie and coconut cream as examples. If someone enjoys one dessert (pecan pie), they may also appreciate a similar but distinct dessert (coconut cream). It's a way of suggesting that someone might find pleasure in trying new things that are somewhat related to something they already enjoy, based on shared qualities or characteristics.

"Mama always said dying was a part of life. I sure wish it wasn't." - Forrest Gump (Attributed to Forrest Gump, as written by Winston Groom)

This quote reflects the character Forrest Gump's emotional struggle with the concept of death, emphasizing his deep-rooted desire for life and avoiding its inevitable end. It poignantly conveys a universal human fear and sadness about mortality, as well as the paradoxical nature of life, where it encompasses both joy and sorrow, growth and decay, and ultimately, ending.

"I guess that means I never had to run away at all." - Forrest Gump (Attributed to Forrest Gump, as written by Winston Groom)

This quote signifies a profound realization on the part of Forrest Gump, a character from the novel "Forrest Gump" by Winston Groom. Throughout his life, he had faced numerous challenges yet chose not to run away, instead staying with each situation and moving forward. As he reflects, he realizes that running away was never an option for him, because he had been living his life authentically, facing every challenge head-on, and thus, in a sense, he didn't need to run away at all. This interpretation highlights Forrest's resilience, determination, and acceptance of the circumstances life presents to him.

These quotes are from the novel "Forrest Gump" by Winston Groom and the film adaptation's screenplay, which was adapted from that novel. While Bruce Eric Kaplan did not write these specific quotes, he worked as a storyboard artist and character designer on the film version of "Forrest Gump."

The quote by Bruce Eric Kaplan reflects his role in bringing the beloved character Forrest Gump to life through his work as a storyboard artist and character designer for the film adaptation. His contribution, though not as a writer, significantly shaped the visual interpretation of Winston Groom's novel and Tom Hanks' portrayal of the iconic character in the movie.

We are all just little dolls of ourselves. Who occasionally pull back the curtains to reveal the real us.

- Bruce Eric Kaplan

Real, Back, Reveal, Curtains

My mother couldn't take having three boys. She was extremely jumpy, to say the least. Any noise startled her. The sound of a pot dropping on the ground could make her hit the ceiling.

- Bruce Eric Kaplan

Ceiling, Having, Dropping, Pot

All I can really tell you about my father is that he did odd things like put tin foil on a bottle of beer after having a few sips, then put it in the refrigerator to perhaps have on another night.

- Bruce Eric Kaplan

Father, Tell, Another, Foil

James Thurber was an inspiration because his drawings were so primitive. I am self-taught - I didn't go to art school - so I thought when I started doing them, 'If James Thurber can be a cartoonist, I can,' because his stuff is very raw.

- Bruce Eric Kaplan

Doing, Very, Primitive, Self-Taught

I am assuming my father learned at an early age that there is nothing more dangerous than showing your true self. I think a lot of us learn that, and it actually may be true.

- Bruce Eric Kaplan

Father, Dangerous, I Think, True Self

I started trying to be a writer and failed for years. I tried novels, short stories, sitcoms, movies, plays, anything. And then, to support myself, I had millions of jobs on the fringes of show business.

- Bruce Eric Kaplan

Years, Show, Had, Novels

In L.A., you can put out a craft-service table anywhere, and it's no big deal. But in New York, people who walk by it on the street get really angry about it.

- Bruce Eric Kaplan

New, Big, Deal, Table

In many ways, cartooning is my therapy. I've always said they're like my diaries. It's thoughts and feelings and things I've seen on any particular day.

- Bruce Eric Kaplan

Thoughts, Always, Like, Cartooning

When I was a kid, and I was watching TV, I just loved it so much that I wanted to crawl into that TV.

- Bruce Eric Kaplan

Kid, Watching Tv, TV, Crawl

What I like about graduation speeches is that they're an opportunity for someone to make sense of their life and to impart that wisdom to someone else. It's like a sanctioned self-help moment.

- Bruce Eric Kaplan

Speeches, Like, About, Impart

I started doing a Twitter feed when my father was dying. I was very distracted, preoccupied. It was upsetting.

- Bruce Eric Kaplan

Doing, Very, Preoccupied, Distracted

I've had mostly book parties, where I get very focused on inviting everyone and not forgetting anyone, although of course one always does, and being worried no one will show up, but mostly the book comes from going to parties and feeling very, for lack of a better word, anxious.

- Bruce Eric Kaplan

Book, Very, Mostly, Worried

I used cartoons as diaries. I still do. They're my way of figuring out the world, what's happening to me or what I'm thinking about.

- Bruce Eric Kaplan

Still, About, Diaries, Figuring

One quintessential moment in time is when you're 22, when you graduate college. And then another quintessential time is as a middle-age man. That's the convergence.

- Bruce Eric Kaplan

College, Quintessential, Graduate

Of course I loved 'I Love Lucy' and saw every episode over and over again. I found it heartbreaking that Ricky got to be famous and have an exciting life at the Tropicana while Lucy was stuck in that terrible apartment with the Mertzes.

- Bruce Eric Kaplan

Love, Episode, Heartbreaking, Stuck

I actually thought, like, I was sure 'Get Smart' and, like, 'James Bond' movies, I was sure that that's what real life was like.

- Bruce Eric Kaplan

Thought, Like, Sure, James Bond

There was never any butter in our home. Just margarine. My parents acted like butter was lethal. I don't think I ever saw either one have a piece of butter. I would go over to friends' houses and down sticks of butter.

- Bruce Eric Kaplan

Down, Lethal, Our, Sticks

We only got clothing once a year, like, right before school began. It's like, that's when you got your clothing.

- Bruce Eric Kaplan

Year, Like, Before, Once A Year

When I'm on the set, I'll come up with ideas if I'm sort of just between responsibilities, because there's a lot of sitting around on set. Invariably, though, the stuff I come up with on the set tends to be bad.

- Bruce Eric Kaplan

Bad, Set, Though, Tends

I never really got into 'The Munsters' that much, but there was one aspect that was compelling. That was Marilyn. She was the only normal one among this group of creatures.

- Bruce Eric Kaplan

Normal, Creatures, One Aspect

In Los Angeles, it's always nice out. In New York, it can be nice out or horrifying. You really have no idea what you're going to get on any given day.

- Bruce Eric Kaplan

New, Always, Given, Los Angeles

In New York, all the crews read 'The New Yorker.' In Los Angeles, they don't know from 'The New Yorker.'

- Bruce Eric Kaplan

New, Read, Angeles, Los Angeles

Shooting in Los Angeles is always pleasant and comfortable. Shooting in New York is like being on 'Survivor.'

- Bruce Eric Kaplan

New, Always, Angeles, Los Angeles

It was memorable the first time 'The New Yorker' bought a cartoon from me. I had been sending them batches for years every week, and they didn't respond to them.

- Bruce Eric Kaplan

Week, New, Been, Respond

Yes, the people I draw don't have a wide variety of looks. Every now and then I'll spruce it up, like a woman will be wearing a two-piece suit as opposed to a one-piece, or a man will not be wearing a tie; he'll just have a collar.

- Bruce Eric Kaplan

Woman, Looks, Tie, Now And Then

One identity is as a television writer, which is very classically Southern California, but another of my personae is as a New Yorker cartoonist.

- Bruce Eric Kaplan

Southern, Very, Which, Cartoonist

My mother always bought our birthday gifts.

- Bruce Eric Kaplan

Birthday, Mother, Always, Gifts

I read the 'New Yorker' when I was a kid. I used to love the cartoons and pick the cartoons out of the library, so I felt I knew the world of their cartoons.

- Bruce Eric Kaplan

Love, New, Read, To Love

Traditionally, the only way I come up with cartoons is by sitting at my desk and thinking.

- Bruce Eric Kaplan

Cartoons, Only, Come, Desk

When I was a kid, I would be watching TV shows like, you know, like 'Get Smart' and be like, 'That's what being an adult is.'

- Bruce Eric Kaplan

Like, Watching Tv, TV, TV Shows

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