Marshall Brickman Quotes

Powerful Marshall Brickman for Daily Growth

About Marshall Brickman

Marshall Brickman (born June 13, 1940) is an American playwright, screenwriter, novelist, and television writer, known for his poignant and philosophical work that explores the human condition in various contexts. Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Brickman's early life was heavily influenced by the vibrant cultural scene of 1950s New York City. He attended the University of Miami, where he studied psychology before transitioning to creative writing at the University of Iowa. However, his education was cut short when he dropped out to pursue a career in comedy. Brickman's breakthrough came in the late 1960s as a writer for the groundbreaking television series "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour." His work on this show earned him two Emmy Awards and solidified his reputation as a talented and thought-provoking writer. In 1973, Brickman co-wrote the screenplay for Woody Allen's classic film "Sleeper," which blended science fiction, comedy, and social commentary in a unique and enduring way. The following year, he wrote the script for "Catch-22," based on Joseph Heller's novel, demonstrating his versatility as a writer across genres. Brickman continued to work in television and film throughout the 1970s and 1980s, contributing to shows like "The Muppet Show," "M*A*S*H," and "Tales from the Darkside." He also wrote the screenplay for the critically acclaimed film "Annie Hall" in 1977. Throughout his career, Marshall Brickman has been celebrated for his ability to infuse humor and philosophy into his work, creating characters and situations that resonate with audiences and spark deep thought about life, love, and the human experience.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"The secret of life is to appreciate the pleasure of being terribly, terribly lost."

This quote by Marshall Brickman suggests that the true essence of life lies in embracing the feeling of being profoundly and delightfully disoriented. It encourages us to appreciate the adventure and discovery inherent in our journey through life, where we may not always know the direction or the destination, but find joy in the process of figuring it out. Essentially, it's a reminder that sometimes, getting lost can lead us to the most remarkable experiences and self-discoveries.

"Life is a series of commas, not periods."

This quote implies that life is a continuous journey rather than a set of distinct, separate events. It suggests that we should view our lives as ongoing experiences with many opportunities for growth, change, and learning, instead of fixed endpoints or accomplishments. In essence, it encourages us to embrace the flow of life and appreciate each moment as part of a larger, evolving story.

"A cynic is a man who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing."

This quote suggests that a cynic has a practical, often negative view of things due to excessive experience or disillusionment. They are able to assign monetary values to items and events accurately, but they lack an appreciation for their intrinsic worth or meaning. In other words, a cynic focuses primarily on the tangible aspects of life while overlooking the intangible, such as love, beauty, or purpose. This perspective can lead to feelings of bitterness and detachment from the world around them.

"The only time you really live fully is from thirty to sixty. The young are permanently on parole. The old are in detention for the crime of evading it."

This quote by Marshall Brickman suggests that the most vibrant, fulfilling period of life occurs between the ages of 30 and 60. During these years, individuals are generally past their youthful responsibilities (youth are "permanently on parole") and still have the energy, freedom, and resources to explore and enjoy life to its fullest ("in detention for the crime of evading it"). The young are often bound by obligations such as education or family commitments, while the old may be constrained by physical limitations or societal expectations. Thus, this period is considered the prime time for living fully and freely.

"To expect the world to treat you fairly because you are a good person is a silly expectation. The world doesn't treat anyone 'fairly'. It treats everyone according to what advantage they can derive from them."

This quote by Marshall Brickman emphasizes that one should not rely on moral superiority or goodness alone to navigate the world, as fairness is a concept often unattainable in social interactions. Instead, people tend to interact based on what they can gain from each other, regardless of personal virtues. It suggests that it's important to be aware of self-interest and negotiate relationships accordingly while upholding personal values and integrity.

I don't believe in jogging. It extends your life - but by exactly the amount of time you spend jogging.

- Marshall Brickman

Believe, Amount, Spend, Jogging

O.K., helplessness is repugnant to me, as a father, as a piece of protoplasm. My parents were activists. I don't believe you can't do anything.

- Marshall Brickman

Father, Believe, Repugnant, Activists

I secrete jokes like the pancreas secretes... whatever the pancreas secretes.

- Marshall Brickman

Whatever, Like, Jokes

Music pulled me like a gravitational force. I entered college as a physics major but left as a Bachelor of Music, a degree with the same practical application as, say, one in the History of Chinese Poetry.

- Marshall Brickman

College, Like, Practical, Gravitational

Comedy comes easily to me, and so for me, comedy is suspect.

- Marshall Brickman

Me, Comedy, Easily, Suspect

I now believe that there's only a certain amount of good luck in the world, and so if something good happens to me, that means something bad has to happen to somebody, somewhere.

- Marshall Brickman

Happen, Means, Amount, Something Good

New York and Los Angeles are really one city, and the rest of the country is America.

- Marshall Brickman

Rest, New, Country, Los Angeles

There is a pool of references in New York and Los Angeles that are almost exclusively drawn from the media, from the world of television and advertising.

- Marshall Brickman

New, References, Angeles, Los Angeles

As I started to develop as a director, I wanted to do projects that were inherently more cinematic, where the freight was not so much in the dialogue, where it would be carried more by the camera.

- Marshall Brickman

Director, Projects, Carried, Freight

I think there's just too much comedy. Sometimes I get requests from people: 'How do I get into comedy?' And I always say that what we need is more people in health care. And less people in comedy.

- Marshall Brickman

Sometimes, I Think, Requests, Health Care

After college, rather than pursue real work, I joined a folk group and sang in coffee houses and nightclubs, an occupation that does little for the intellect and even less for the complexion.

- Marshall Brickman

College, Rather, Occupation, Folk

You can't really think about more than one movie at a time. You're thinking about it consciously, and the subconscious is working too, and if you cram too much into your head, you don't get any ideas in the shower.

- Marshall Brickman

Shower, Movie, About, Subconscious

Wanting to be a screenwriter is like wanting to be a co-pilot.

- Marshall Brickman

Like, Wanting, Screenwriter

If I weren't a film maker, I'd probably be a handyman.

- Marshall Brickman

Film, Were, Maker

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