John Mulaney Quotes

Powerful John Mulaney for Daily Growth

About John Mulaney

John Mulaney, born on August 26, 1982, is an American comedian, writer, actor, and producer renowned for his intelligent wit and insightful humor. Raised in Chicago, Illinois, Mulaney developed a love for comedy at a young age, inspired by the likes of Steve Martin, George Carlin, and Richard Pryor. After graduating from Georgetown University, Mulaney moved to New York City to pursue his comedic dreams. He quickly made a name for himself in the underground comedy scene, performing at clubs like Carolines on Broadway. In 2008, he was hired as a writer for 'Saturday Night Live' (SNL), where he created memorable characters and wrote sketches. Mulaney's stand-up career took off with his Comedy Central specials 'New in Town' (2009) and 'The Comeback Kid' (2015). His third special, 'Kid Gorgeous at Radio City' (2018), earned him a Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album. In addition to stand-up, Mulaney has co-created and starred in the critically acclaimed Netflix series 'Master of None' with Aziz Ansari, and created and voiced the character of Puppy in the animated series 'Big Mouth.' Mulaney's humor often revolves around his experiences growing up Catholic, his struggles with addiction, and observations on everyday life. His ability to find humor in the ordinary and the profound has resonated with audiences worldwide. In 2021, Mulaney returned to stand-up after a hiatus due to personal issues, solidifying his status as one of the most influential comedians of his generation. His unique style and sharp wit continue to inspire and entertain fans around the world.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"I'm not a cradle robber, but if I were, I would prefer a walnut cradle."

This quote by John Mulaney humorously references an unconventional preference in romantic partners, implying he would rather date someone older (comparable to the durability of a walnut). The "walnut cradle" is his humorous choice of a cradle for his hypothetical younger partner, reinforcing the idea that he prefers older dates. This quote showcases Mulaney's unique comedic perspective on relationships and age gaps.


"In high school I was found 'guilty with an explanation,' which is like the 'not guilty by reason of temporary insanity' for 16-year-olds."

This quote suggests that, during his high school years, John Mulaney was formally judged to have done something wrong ('guilty'), but the judgment acknowledged that there was a valid explanation for his actions (the 'with an explanation'). Essentially, he was found guilty, yet the circumstances warranted a more nuanced understanding of his behavior. This might reflect a less severe punishment or leniency due to youthful indiscretion, similar to the legal term "not guilty by reason of temporary insanity", which applies to adults who commit crimes under certain conditions of mental instability. For 16-year-olds, though, this might simply mean that they were given an opportunity to explain themselves and have their actions contextualized, rather than being judged solely on the surface-level behavior itself.


"I used to do drugs. I still do drugs. But I used to, too."

This quote, by comedian John Mulaney, humorously conveys a sense of habitual drug use, suggesting that he continues to use drugs not as a new behavior, but rather something he has been accustomed to doing for an extended period. It implies a pattern or routine in his life regarding drug usage. The tone is light-hearted and self-deprecating, reflecting Mulaney's comedic style.


"I think my parents thought if they named me John, I would be responsible. 'John, your report card is on fire.' 'I'll put it out, Mom.'"

This quote by John Mulaney humorously suggests that his parents may have assumed, due to his traditional name "John", he would inherently exhibit a sense of responsibility. However, the joke implies that this assumption was not borne out in reality; instead, John is portrayed as someone who might respond casually or with minimal concern when faced with a problem, such as ignoring a burning report card. This quote amusingly highlights the gap between parental expectations and the actual behavior of their children.


"I don't have a baby; I have a toddler. Which is just a baby in a very specific phase of development where they are too old to be held but too young to do anything fun."

This quote by John Mulaney humorously expresses the stage of parenting where children, often referred to as "toddlers," have outgrown the infant stage but are still unable to participate in activities that adults might consider fun. They are too heavy for carrying around comfortably yet lack the skills and understanding to engage in more interactive, age-appropriate activities, making the parenting experience both challenging and rewarding at the same time.


My dad is and was very funny and had a really dry sense of humor, which, as a kid, seemed un-fun. But in retrospect, it's kind of hilarious.

- John Mulaney

Sense Of Humor, Very, Which, Hilarious

I look back on being 17 and think, 'Oh my God, how did I not die?'

- John Mulaney

Die, Think, Back, Oh My God

As I got into high school and after puberty, I was a little more inward. I was a real extrovert when I was little, but I don't know, I just got quieter... With my friends, I was still an extrovert.

- John Mulaney

Real, More, Still, Inward

Nick Kroll, A.D. Miles, Chelsea Peretti - those were the people I was always doing open mics with.

- John Mulaney

Doing, Always, Chelsea, Nick

It's been very funny to try to act like an adult. Even getting dressed. Every day, I'm like, 'Should I wear a blazer and walk around with an umbrella? Do I carry a briefcase?' Because I'm trying to be some image of the adults I saw on TV growing up.

- John Mulaney

Some, Been, Very, Blazer

Bill Clinton fascinates me because, at the time, it seemed like his shenanigans and the people after him were the biggest political stories you could ever imagine. I remember when the 'Starr Report' was published in the newspaper, all of us were reading it in the high-school cafeteria, and a dean started taking the newspapers away from us.

- John Mulaney

Newspaper, I Remember, Dean, Report

If something is very, very funny but possibly controversial, if it's truly funny, then it's worth doing. Things aren't worth doing for the sake of being controversial.

- John Mulaney

Doing, Very, Then, Controversial

I plan to join the 'SNL' band as a maraca player and stand behind saxophonist Lenny Pickett. That way they will at least cut to me before commercial breaks. I'll be sure to look right into camera.

- John Mulaney

Behind, Commercial, Lenny, Pickett

I never turn on the crowd. Sometimes, you think it's a terrible show, and then afterward, sometimes people say they really liked it. So turning on the crowd is only going to alienate the few people who might like it. What do I do in that situation? Get through it.

- John Mulaney

Sometimes, Through, Crowd, Alienate

Going on the road for long stretches can seem daunting, and I certainly miss being home sometimes, but the chance to see so many different cities, let alone perform in them, is something I am really grateful for.

- John Mulaney

Long, Sometimes, Seem, Daunting

You can do good work simply staying up all night and eating nothing but junk food, but probably not in the long term.

- John Mulaney

Work, Good Work, Staying, Junk Food

I'm pretty self-critical about everything I've ever done: stand-up, 'SNL.'

- John Mulaney

Pretty, SNL, Ever, Self-Critical

I like making fun of myself a lot. I like being made fun of, too. I've always enjoyed it. There's just something really, really funny about someone tearing into me.

- John Mulaney

Always, Making, Like, Just Something

I've seen most of the major, important shows, but I watch them all at once, like movies, so my TV relationships are still with shows like 'Law And Order: SVU,' 'Shark Tank,' and HGTV.

- John Mulaney

Movies, Seen, TV, Law And Order

When you have something that you did so many jobs on and were so front and center on, and then people dislike it, you want to learn lessons from it, and you want to move on, and you want to move on too fast.

- John Mulaney

Learn, Dislike, Move, Lessons

Sometimes I - with comedy, it's like someone liking you in high school. They either do, or they don't. And when they don't, they don't. And that's it. There are no appeals. You show up, and you're like, 'Hi! I'm -' and you stumble, and they're like, 'It's over.'

- John Mulaney

Stumble, Over, Hi, Appeals

All my money is in a savings account. My dad has explained the stock market to me maybe 75 times. I still don't understand it.

- John Mulaney

Maybe, Still, Dad, Savings

It's important to remember that life is a joke, and that outlook grants a lot of perspective, but I don't think comedy should change and become political due to other things. It should just laugh at that cosmic joke that life is all the time.

- John Mulaney

Life, Political, Other, Outlook

I have too many influences to name. I like a wide variety of stuff, which I think has been helpful. I liked every comedian I saw on TV growing up in the '80s. Every comedian.

- John Mulaney

Think, Which, Wide Variety, Helpful

If someone had written a review saying, ''Oh, Hello' is stupid,' we would have said, 'Yeah, it is. You're absolutely right.' That people liked it was extremely cool.

- John Mulaney

Stupid, Cool, Had, Review

Stand-up for me is just my opinions on things, so it wouldn't be as fun translated into a sketch. Nor would a sketch be as fun if it were me standing there saying it.

- John Mulaney

Standing, Stand-Up, Nor, Translated

My childhood was completely dominated by Bill Clinton and the OJ trial. I don't think we had a family dinner where one didn't come up.

- John Mulaney

Childhood, Think, Bill, Dominated

The difficulty of getting a movie made through a major studio is so extreme that when a movie comes out, everyone should give it four stars because it was accomplished.

- John Mulaney

Give, Through, Studio, Extreme

I just watched a ton of comedy and saw a ton of different styles, and eventually you think, 'Oh, yeah, I could be like that.'

- John Mulaney

Think, Different Styles, Oh Yeah

You can't always see both sides of the story. Eventually, you have to pick a side and stick with it. No more equivocating. You have to commit.

- John Mulaney

Both Sides, Always, Side, Sides

I never knew you were supposed to push off of your feet when you walked. And I tried it, and I walked much faster.

- John Mulaney

Feet, Knew, Your, Walked

I don't make plans anymore. So I'm not living minute to minute.

- John Mulaney

Living, Plans, Anymore, Minute

I love comedians that dive into politics. I personally don't feel comfortable, with my background, weighing in unless I have a take that I think is funny enough that I would put it in front of an audience.

- John Mulaney

Love, Politics, Think, Dive

I like to pace onstage.

- John Mulaney

Pace, Like, Onstage

The more you do stuff, the better you get at dealing with how you still fail at it a lot of the time.

- John Mulaney

Better, How, Lot, Stuff

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