Don Rickles Quotes

Powerful Don Rickles for Daily Growth

About Don Rickles

Don Rickles, born on May 8, 1926, in Queens, New York City, was an American comedian, actor, and singer who revolutionized the art of insult comedy, earning him the moniker "Mr. Warmth." His sarcastic wit, biting humor, and improvisational skills made him a prominent figure in American entertainment. Raised by Jewish parents Mary and Max Rickles, Don was influenced by Vaudeville performances he saw as a child, inspiring his early aspirations to become a comedian. After serving in the Navy during World War II, he began his comedy career in the late 1940s, initially working as a nightclub emcee and later performing stand-up at venues like New York's Copacabana and Hollywood's Ciro's. In the 1950s, Rickles developed his trademark style of "insult comedy" that was both controversial and wildly popular. His ability to mock celebrities with impunity, often with razor-sharp one-liners, led to numerous appearances on talk shows and variety programs such as "The Ed Sullivan Show," "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson," and "Saturday Night Live." Rickles's major works include his comedy albums, including "Hello, Dummy!" (1968) and "Don Rickles Talking Olden Goldie" (1970), which cemented his reputation as a master of insult humor. He also gained widespread recognition for his roles in films like "Kelly's Heroes" (1970) and "Casino" (1995). Throughout his 60-year career, Rickles received numerous accolades, including multiple Grammy Awards, the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, and a Kennedy Center Honor. He passed away on April 6, 2017, leaving behind a lasting legacy as one of the most influential comedians in American history.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"I don't have any secrets. If I had any secrets, the first person I would tell is my psychiatrist - and he doesn't remember."

This quote suggests that Don Rickles has a humorous perspective on his own life, implying transparency and openness, as he claims to share everything except what his psychiatrist may have forgotten. It also implies that even if there were secrets, they wouldn't be kept for long due to their forgetfulness. The quote serves to emphasize his honesty and the light-hearted nature of his personality.


"My wife and I were happy for twenty-five years. Then we met."

This quote by Don Rickles humorously highlights the complexities and paradoxes in human relationships. On one hand, the statement suggests that his marriage was once content and peaceful for a long period of time; on the other, it implies an unexpected change or tension when they encountered each other again, possibly suggesting renewed passion or disagreement, which can often be found in long-term relationships. In essence, it's a comedic expression of the unpredictable dynamics that can unfold within a marriage over time.


"You mother was a Neanderthal!"

This quote, attributed to Don Rickles, is an example of comedic insult comedy. The phrase "Your mother was a Neanderthal" is used as a humorous way to belittle someone by suggesting their mother belonged to an extinct species known for being crude and brutish, implying the person being addressed has less-than-desirable traits or characteristics inherited from their mother. However, it's important to note that such humor can be offensive and is not suitable in all contexts.


"I don't have a glass jaw, I have a jaw of fists."

This quote by Don Rickles suggests that he is not someone who is easily defeated or intimidated. Instead, he is ready to fight back, implying strength, resilience, and confidence in his ability to stand up for himself. The use of the phrase "jaw of fists" humorously indicates physical toughness as well as a quick wit, suggesting that Rickles' defense against adversity comes not only from his strength but also his words.


"Dinner was delicious. The food had me begging for more - your forgiveness."

The quote humorously implies that the food was so tasty it made the speaker want seconds, but they also felt guilty for wanting more, as if overindulging or being rude by asking for additional servings. It showcases Don Rickles' unique comedic style of self-deprecating sarcasm and clever wordplay.


Famous people are deceptive. Deep down, they're just regular people. Like Larry King. We've been friends for forty years. He's one of the few guys I know who's really famous. One minute he's talking to the president on his cell phone, and then the next minute he's saying to me, 'Do you think we ought to give the waiter another dollar?'

- Don Rickles

Down, Years, Been, Famous

An insult is mean or unkind. Milton Berle called me the Sultan of Insult, and I was called the King of Insult. But the guy that gave me the best title - and I use it to this day - was Johnny Carson. He called me Mr. Warmth.

- Don Rickles

King, Use, Mr, Warmth

I like to think I'm like the guy who goes to the office Christmas party Friday night, insults some people, but still has his job Monday morning.

- Don Rickles

Think, Some, Still, Monday Morning

Who picks your clothes - Stevie Wonder?

- Don Rickles

Funny, Stevie Wonder, Picks, Stevie

Las Vegas is the boiling pot of entertainment.

- Don Rickles

Vegas, Pot, Las Vegas, Boiling

The thing I love about Vegas is that it's a melting pot. It's like working Ellis Island.

- Don Rickles

Love, Vegas, Melting Pot, Pot

Room service is great if you want to pay $500 for a club sandwich.

- Don Rickles

Service, Want, Club, Room Service

The highlight of my career was being at the inaugural gala of Ronald Reagan, and I owe that to Mr. Sinatra.

- Don Rickles

Career, Reagan, Mr, Highlight

The girls, like, in we'll say Hooters, have less clothing than the girls I worked with in those days. We thought it was wild when they just wore little bells and so forth. But today, in restaurants, some of the waitresses almost work in the nude, you know, to get business.

- Don Rickles

Thought, Some, Bells, Clothing

I don't walk into a dinner party and say, 'You're an idiot; give me my coat.'

- Don Rickles

Idiot, Give, Say, Dinner Party

When you first start out with something new, you're always a little uptight.

- Don Rickles

Start, New, Always, Uptight

Why should I retire? I'm like a fighter. The bell rings, and you come out and fight.

- Don Rickles

Why, Like, Come, Rings

Eddie Fisher married to Elizabeth Taylor is like me trying to wash the Empire State Building with a bar of soap.

- Don Rickles

Like, Elizabeth, Taylor, Empire State

I cannot tell a joke. But I can do a situation, that it becomes a joke.

- Don Rickles

Situation, Tell, Cannot, Joke

My father was an insurance man and a small-time gambler. He was a good man, but he had an eye for the racehorses, and I saw how it used to bother my mother. I've never gambled a dime. Never, in all those years in Vegas.

- Don Rickles

Father, Insurance, Had, Dime

Yeah, I make fun of blacks, and why not? I'm not a black.

- Don Rickles

Black, Why, Yeah, Blacks

I shouldn't make fun of the blacks: President Obama is a personal friend of mine. He was over to the house yesterday, but the mop broke.

- Don Rickles

Over, Broke, Mine, Blacks

When I walk down the street in New York, I swear to God, the building constructor, the guy pounding cement and what not, will yell, 'Hey, you hockey puck!'

- Don Rickles

Hockey, New, Will, Cement

I used to work over a bar. That was - there was no stage. I stood over a tiny bar. Louis Prima, rest his soul, he worked there. I was the guy that filled in when he was off the stage.

- Don Rickles

Work, Rest, Over, Prima

Herb Solo at that time was the head of MGM. I said, 'I want to live like Clint Eastwood.' Did I know at that time Clint Eastwood, to him, Heaven was a truck, a dog, and a picnic basket for food or something?

- Don Rickles

Basket, Eastwood, Clint, MGM

The man I adored, and miss him terribly, was Johnny Carson.

- Don Rickles

Man, Johnny Carson, Terribly, Johnny

Johnny Carson was a big influence on me - all of those shows I did with him over the years, like, 100 of them, they made a bit of a name for me at the time, so that part of my life was very good.

- Don Rickles

My Life, Big, Very, Johnny

Johnny Carson was king of the kings, in my opinion.

- Don Rickles

King, In My Opinion, Johnny

I mean, in my - and I'm not trying to do spilled milk, but in those days it was a little - I think it was much tougher, because you got an image, and you were in a saloon. And it was tough to come out of a saloon and to get in films, and to maintain an image, you know.

- Don Rickles

I Think, Maintain, Got, Saloon

The average person pushes an elevator button 6 or 7 minutes before realizing it's not working. I did a study on this, you know.

- Don Rickles

Study, Average, Before, Realizing

I exaggerate all our selves, our beings. I make fun of everything: of our life and what we are. But I don't tell jokes, really. I just exaggerate life, and it comes out funny.

- Don Rickles

Life, Tell, Our, Selves

Struggling is hard because you never know what's at the end of the tunnel.

- Don Rickles

Never, Know, Struggling, End Of The Tunnel

I don't drink much anymore, but when I traveled with Frank Sinatra, God rest his soul, I used to drink like I could do it. He made it a test. In Vegas, the Rat Pack, which I was a little part of, drank all night and slept most of the day. Then, about 5 o'clock, we'd meet in the hotel steam room, lock the door, and steam our brains out.

- Don Rickles

Soul, Door, Frank, Drank

At 90, I'm still working a couple of dates a month. My mind is very sharp on the stage, so why not? This may sound corny, but I do it because people - young and old - still come to see me, and they're very enthusiastic about my work. They treat me like the Godfather.

- Don Rickles

Treat, Very, Couple, Sharp

You got to have a lot of courage. Secondly, whatever it is you're doing, you have to believe in it wholeheartedly. Thirdly, you have to be able to stand up in front of people and know that they'll laugh.

- Don Rickles

Believe, Doing, Got, Wholeheartedly

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