Elayne Boosler Quotes

Powerful Elayne Boosler for Daily Growth

About Elayne Boosler

Elayne Boosler is a renowned American stand-up comedian, writer, and animal rights activist, born on September 2, 1952, in Brooklyn, New York City. Raised in the Jewish faith, Boosler's family moved to Long Island when she was seven years old. Her childhood experiences, particularly growing up as a woman in a patriarchal society, significantly influenced her comedic perspective and became recurring themes in her work. Boosler began her comedy career in 1974, performing stand-up at clubs in Greenwich Village. She quickly rose to prominence in the male-dominated comedy scene of the 1970s and 1980s, gaining recognition for her biting wit and insightful social commentary. Some of her most famous routines include 'Party Lines' (1982), a comedic exploration of dating in New York City, and 'Talking Heads' (1985), a critique of the Reagan era. In 1986, Boosler made history as the first female comic to perform at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas. She has also appeared on numerous television shows, including Saturday Night Live and The Late Show with David Letterman. Boosler's work often addresses gender, politics, and animal rights issues, reflecting her commitment to social justice and environmental causes. Apart from stand-up comedy, Boosler wrote the off-Broadway play 'Sex, Death, and the American Girl,' published two memoirs ('Here's the Thing: An Autobiography' in 1987 and 'Let's Take This Outside' in 2006), and hosted the PBS television series 'Party Animals.' Her activism for animal rights led to her founding the non-profit organization TailFund, which provides grants to support spay/neuter programs. Elayne Boosler continues to perform stand-up comedy and advocate for social change, leaving a lasting impact on American comedy and culture.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"The person who doesn't know what they want wants to be filled with what someone else wants."

This quote suggests that a person who lacks self-awareness, or clarity about their desires, is open to being influenced by others, potentially leading them to adopt the goals or aspirations of another individual instead of defining and pursuing their own path. Essentially, it underscores the importance of understanding one's own needs, values, and passions in life to avoid drifting aimlessly towards someone else's vision for you.


"Iraq is not worth a single American life, but we're gonna send our kids over there anyway. Why? Oil and Israel."

This quote suggests that Elayne Boosler questions the motives behind the decision to send U.S. troops to Iraq during the invasion in 2003. She implies that the primary reasons for intervention were not altruistic (e.g., preserving freedom or democracy) but rather economic (oil interests) and political (support for Israel). It's a critique of decision-making in foreign policy, raising concerns about the potential human cost of such actions and suggesting that they may be driven by selfish or strategic interests rather than moral ones.


"In politics, if you want anything said, ask a man; if you want anything done, ask a woman."

This quote highlights two distinct observations about gender roles in politics: (1) Men are traditionally more verbose and expressive in their political opinions, while (2) women tend to be more action-oriented and focused on achieving tangible results. In essence, the quote suggests that if one seeks words or debate (as in expressing an opinion), ask a man; however, if one desires action or implementation (getting things done), ask a woman. The implication is that society often undervalues women's contributions to politics and underestimates their ability to effect change, as they are often judged by different standards than men.


"Animals don't lie. If they can help themselves, they do what they came here to do, then they leave."

This quote by Elayne Boosler highlights the inherent purity and purposefulness of animals. In contrast to humans who often engage in deception, animals are suggested to be straightforward in their actions, adhering to their instincts and natural tendencies without pretense or duplicity. The 'coming here' can be interpreted as fulfilling their biological role within the ecosystem or achieving their specific goals during their lifetime. Once they complete this purpose, they depart from life, signifying a simplicity, honesty, and respect for nature that many humans may aspire to emulate.


"Being a feminist is like being pregnant. If I am, it means I'm in on it. If I'm not, it doesn't mean I'm against it, it just means I don't feel the need to affiliate."

Elayne Boosler's quote emphasizes personal identification with feminism rather than a universal obligation. She suggests that being a feminist is like being pregnant – either you are one (i.e., identify as a feminist) or not, without any negative connotation towards those who do not self-identify. However, it does not mean that non-feminists are against feminism; they simply do not see the need to formally affiliate with the movement.


Calgary wins for my coldest New Year's Eve gig. That's when I learned Fahrenheit and Celsius cross at 40 below. I could see callers' breath coming out of my phone.

- Elayne Boosler

New, Year, Wins, Gig

My ancestors wandered lost in the wilderness for forty years because even in biblical times, men would not stop to ask for directions.

- Elayne Boosler

Years, Wandered, Times, Forty Years

I have no complaints about losing money I put in high-risk investments. I did some of that when I had real money; my informed choice, my measured gamble.

- Elayne Boosler

Some, Informed, Measured, Investments

The Vatican is against surrogate mothers. Good thing they didn't have that rule when Jesus was born.

- Elayne Boosler

Mom, Jesus, Mothers, Vatican

Why isn't the movie industry forced to open its shooting locations to an organization that is there to advocate for animal actors? The industry isn't allowed to pick and choose which movies using young children it will or won't allow to be monitored. The vulnerable should be protected.

- Elayne Boosler

Young, Movie, Allow, Pick And Choose

When I played the Sahara Hotel in Las Vegas on New Year's Eve, I got to bring Wiley, my 85-pound black lab. He's responsible for my favorite New Year's memory of all: At the end of the show, he ran onstage and then out across all the tables in the showroom, sending champagne glasses and gamblers flying.

- Elayne Boosler

Memory, Las Vegas, Gamblers, Eve

I have six locks on my door all in a row. When I go out, I lock every other one. I figure no matter how long somebody stands there picking the locks, they are always locking three.

- Elayne Boosler

Funny, Door, Other, Locks

I never minded flying cheap. I always said to myself, 'Taking this flight saves enough money to rescue four dogs, or six cats, or will let me make a difference to the one woman saving chimps in Cameroon.'

- Elayne Boosler

Woman, Flight, Cameroon, Enough Money

Pigs are smarter than dogs, and both are smarter than Congress.

- Elayne Boosler

Pigs, Congress, Than, Smarter

Wouldn't it be great if you could only get AIDS by giving money to television preachers?

- Elayne Boosler

Money, Television, Could, Preachers

Now that the Court has declared money to be speech, I say we replace the current Court with some Ben Franklins, Thomas Jeffersons, George Washingtons, a couple of Susan B. Anthony's, Roosevelts, Hamiltons, a Sacajawea or two, and an Abe Lincoln to cover Scalia in full.

- Elayne Boosler

Some, Replace, Couple, Susan

I am thankful the most important key in history was invented. It's not the key to your house, your car, your boat, your safety deposit box, your bike lock or your private community. It's the key to order, sanity, and peace of mind. The key is 'Delete.'

- Elayne Boosler

Thankful, Computers, Private, Key

While editors and newspaper owners currently fret over shrinking readership and lost profits, they do the one thing that insures cutting their own throats; they keep reducing space for the one feature that attracts new young readers in the first place; the comic strips.

- Elayne Boosler

Newspaper, Young, Own, Attracts

It doesn't bother me that I'm not a household word on the East Coast. Baton Rouge, Raleigh, Minneapolis - I'm so popular in these cities where you've never imagined an East Coast comedian working.

- Elayne Boosler

Bother, Cities, Imagined, Baton

For me, comedy is a day-to-day report on the human condition. It's what's happening right now. I get maybe 20 minutes of my act straight from the newspaper.

- Elayne Boosler

Newspaper, Human Condition, Report

Stand-up is like a movie every night. You write it, direct it, produce it, the audience votes, and you go home. There's nothing more satisfying.

- Elayne Boosler

Audience, Movie, Go Home, Satisfying

I personally cannot tell you how many times we rescuers put our names on animals to come to us as soon as they are eligible for release, only to find they have been senselessly killed by overzealous pound workers.

- Elayne Boosler

Tell, Release, Been, Eligible

Incredibly, almost every hotel I ever played in Vegas was blown up shortly afterward: The Dunes, The Sands, The Landmark, The Aladdin, The Frontier, The Hacienda, The Stardust - all were imploded.

- Elayne Boosler

Vegas, Frontier, Almost, Landmark

My belief is that guns are too easy to get in America. My belief is that the NRA has bought much of our congress, to the point that guns are actually the only unregulated consumer product in America. Think about that. It's stunning.

- Elayne Boosler

Think, Product, Guns, Consumer

I can't get married. I can't fake sleep for 30 years.

- Elayne Boosler

Sleep, Fake, Get, Get Married

I've never been married, but I tell people I'm divorced so they won't think something is wrong with me.

- Elayne Boosler

Funny, Think, Been, Divorced

Ever notice that Soup for One is eight aisles away from Party Mix?

- Elayne Boosler

Food, Soup, Ever, Mix

Designers don't put out the same sweater every year. They just keep creating.

- Elayne Boosler

Year, Same, Designers, Sweater

I have always put my own money into Tails of Joy. For years, every time a dog walked by, my husband would say, 'There goes our beach house.'

- Elayne Boosler

Goes, Always, My Own, Every Time

We've seen the uproars around the world concerning cartoons depicting the prophet Mohammad. Anyone who does not think comic strips are relevant never had a fatwa put on him/her for drawing a picture.

- Elayne Boosler

Prophet, Around, Had, Depicting

My breakup with AT&T is final, and I'm done with Skype as the rebound guy.

- Elayne Boosler

Skype, Final, Rebound, Breakup

A study last year showed that the page you turn to first in the newspaper can be a predictor of how long you will live. No surprise, turning first to the Comics Pages prolongs your life.

- Elayne Boosler

Surprise, Newspaper, Study, Predictor

When women are depressed, they eat or go shopping. Men invade another country. It's a whole different way of thinking.

- Elayne Boosler

Country, Another, Invade, Shopping

I wasn't funny as a kid. I remember enjoying comedians, but I never understood it was a job choice or a profession.

- Elayne Boosler

Kid, I Remember, Profession, Understood

You never see a man walking down the street with a woman who has a little potbelly and a bald spot.

- Elayne Boosler

Woman, Down, Never, Bald

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