Paula Pell Quotes

Powerful Paula Pell for Daily Growth

About Paula Pell

Paula Pell is an acclaimed American actress, writer, and producer, best known for her work on Saturday Night Live (SNL) and 30 Rock. Born on March 6, 1965, in Dayton, Ohio, Pell developed a passion for comedy early in life, influenced by her parents' love for humor and the local improv scene. After graduating from Northwestern University with a degree in Speech and Communication, Pell landed a writing job at SNL in 1995. Over the next decade, she wrote for numerous comedians, including Cheri Oteri, Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, and Amy Poehler. In 2006, Pell transitioned to television writing full-time and joined the writing team of 30 Rock, where she worked until its conclusion in 2013. In addition to her writing accomplishments, Pell has appeared in various roles on SNL, including sketches with her fellow writers, and had recurring roles on Parks and Recreation and The Office. In 2015, she made her directorial debut with the Netflix original film A Futile and Stupid Gesture, a biopic of National Lampoon co-founder Douglas Kenney. Quotes from Paula Pell reflect her unique sense of humor and wisdom: - "I learned that in improv class you have to say 'Yes, and...' instead of shutting things down." - "Comedy can be a powerful force for change, but it's also just funny. And we need the funny." - "If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude." Paula Pell continues to be a significant figure in comedy, balancing her roles as writer, actress, and producer with grace and humor. Her impact on television and comedy will undoubtedly continue for years to come.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"I think laughter is just the best medicine."

This quote by Paula Pell suggests that humor or laughter has a significant therapeutic effect on individuals. It implies that laughter, similar to actual medicine, can alleviate distress, improve mood, and foster healing in emotional or psychological situations. The quote highlights the power of laughter in uplifting spirits, reducing tension, and promoting a positive outlook on life.


"It's not about how hard you hit; it's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward."

This quote by Paula Pell emphasizes resilience in the face of adversity or challenges. It suggests that the true measure of strength is not just one's ability to strike, but also their capacity to absorb blows, learn from them, and continue forward with determination. The underlying message encourages individuals to maintain a strong spirit, adaptability, and perseverance in the face of setbacks, ultimately promoting personal growth and success over time.


"If something makes you laugh, do more of it."

The quote emphasizes that engaging in activities or pursuits that bring joy and laughter into our lives is valuable and should be prioritized. Laughter has numerous mental and physical benefits, such as reducing stress, boosting the immune system, and fostering connections with others. Therefore, if we find something enjoyable, it's suggested to continue to engage with it, as it can positively impact our overall well-being.


"Life is a lot like improv: You have to be open to the unexpected and go with the flow."

This quote suggests that life, similar to improvisational theater, requires flexibility, adaptability, and an openness to change. In improv, performers must respond spontaneously to unforeseen circumstances, just as in life where we encounter unexpected events daily. The message encourages us to embrace the unexpected, go with the flow, and make the best of each moment, rather than rigidly sticking to a predetermined plan or outlook.


"You don't have to be perfect. Just show up and try your best."

Paula Pell's quote, "You don't have to be perfect. Just show up and try your best," conveys the importance of effort over perfection in personal growth, relationships, and achieving goals. The message encourages individuals to prioritize participation and dedication rather than striving for an unattainable ideal of perfection. By simply showing up and doing their best, people demonstrate resilience, commitment, and a willingness to learn from mistakes – qualities that foster personal development and foster strong connections with others. Essentially, it's about embracing the journey towards self-improvement rather than focusing solely on the destination.


I was a very earthly, matronly, plus-size little girl with a pure heart.

- Paula Pell

Girl, Very, Pure Heart, Earthly

Young, handsome men never flirt with me. I get heat from old dudes that run the parking garages.

- Paula Pell

Heat, Handsome, Parking, Flirt

Starting probably with Janeane Garofalo and that era of stand-up ladies who were starting to be more brainy and strong and clever, guys started noticing those girls as sexy smart. I always called it smarxy.

- Paula Pell

Strong, More, Always, Ladies

At my confirmation, where you get the Holy Spirit, I came down the stairs at my party and had torn, like, 80 holes in my pantyhose and said I had the Holy Spirit, and just would do things like that all the time.

- Paula Pell

Stairs, Torn, Pantyhose, Confirmation

Tina Fey is a very old friend of mine, and I adore her.

- Paula Pell

Her, Very, Mine, Tina

I went to college at University of Tennessee.

- Paula Pell

College, University, Tennessee

My sister's journal was the romantic one with boys, and mine was talking about my rock tumbler. We were so different and so similar.

- Paula Pell

Similar, About, Mine, Journal

I'm a big hit at parties. Friends ask me to sing B-I-N-G-O all the time. I'm thinking, you know, of maybe putting out a Christmas album or something.

- Paula Pell

Big, Maybe, Putting, Christmas Album

I'm a late bloomer, so I'm going to embrace it all.

- Paula Pell

Late, Embrace, Going, Bloomer

I think it helps in any comedy room for a woman to have very strong, respected convictions, because then it opens the door up a little bit for other women to have that.

- Paula Pell

Door, Think, Very, Convictions

I was born in Joliet, Illinois. It was totally Midwestern - small, little house, two great parents, and a sister and a beagle.

- Paula Pell

Small, Born, I Was Born, Midwestern

I've always loved the use of the word 'thick' when it comes to heavy because it's always a positive thing.

- Paula Pell

Positive, Always, Use, Positive Thing

Twitter is really - I got very addicted to it just because it's so simple, and it's like a video game for comedy writers to just do a one-liner about something.

- Paula Pell

Game, Addicted, Very, Video Game

My sister was three years older than me, and she was like the stone-cold '70s fox. I looked like a short Polish farm woman, and so our journals were wildly different.

- Paula Pell

Woman, Like, Looked, Journals

I've always felt, even with sketches, that if you don't care about these people, then it doesn't matter.

- Paula Pell

Always, About, Felt, Sketches

I grew up where the repercussion of you having an opinion was being 'cocky,' or people would be mad at you. And I have finally learnt that it is better for them to be mad at you and disagree than you be so mad at yourself all of the time for not speaking up.

- Paula Pell

Cocky, Finally, Having, Learnt

Some children challenge themselves to maybe run a marathon or something. I challenged myself to stay up for two days and make cinnamon toast and watch the Jerry Lewis Telethon and laugh and cry.

- Paula Pell

Marathon, Some, Maybe, Toast

If you're hired to be a funny person, you have to trust your judgment but also be open because sometimes you think something's funny, and the next day you read it and go, 'Oh, my God.'

- Paula Pell

Trust, Think, Next, Hired

When I finally finished writing 'Sisters,' I started getting hired for lots of rewrites.

- Paula Pell

Finally, Getting, Lots, Hired

'Hudson Valley Ballers' is just the joy of my life.

- Paula Pell

Joy, My Life, Valley, Hudson

I think women are taking charge of the origins of a production, which is the most important part. Because you can't be a victim of whatever people ask you to do.

- Paula Pell

Think, I Think, Which, Women Are

All the women I've grown up with at 'SNL' and other areas, and even the women that work with Judd Apatow, all those women are powerful, assertive women that have great material, and they just produce themselves.

- Paula Pell

Work, Other, Assertive, Women Are

I went to a Catholic girls' school before we moved to Florida when I was 15.

- Paula Pell

School, Florida, Before, Catholic

You're under the gun at all times because it's live TV. A lot of time, between dress and air, you're having to come with an entire ending to your sketch that gets an even better, bigger laugh - which is terrifying... People are filing into the audience, and you're writing a new joke for the end of it.

- Paula Pell

Dress, Gun, Terrifying, Live Tv

I was always a bit of a class clown.

- Paula Pell

Clown, Always, Class Clown, Class

I have worked with many, many talented and dedicated people.

- Paula Pell

Dedicated, Worked, Many, Talented

I think, as a woman, you have to really make sure that you're taking care of yourself and make sure that you're covered and you have enough material written for you.

- Paula Pell

Woman, Think, I Think, Covered

I'd always be loaning my sister money, knowing full well I wasn't going to get it back. But she had the kids, and that paid me back.

- Paula Pell

Back, Always, Going, Sister

My sister is three years older and super foxy, and I always looked like a 50 year old woman.

- Paula Pell

Woman, Always, Looked, Sister

My specialty at 'SNL' was doing triage. There was always a great need for someone to say, 'Make this funnier. Give me an ending for this. What's a better big laugh for this towards the end? What's a better physical joke in this?' And I just really, over time, honed that specific thing so well.

- Paula Pell

Doing, Big, Specialty, Give Me

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