Tommy Chong Quotes

Powerful Tommy Chong for Daily Growth

About Tommy Chong

Tommy Chong is a Canadian-American comedian, actor, musician, and marijuana advocate, born on May 29, 1938, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Known for his counterculture comedy with Cheech Marin as the comedy duo Cheech & Chong, Chong's career spans over five decades. Raised in a musical family, Chong's interest in music led him to play harmonica and guitar. He moved to Los Angeles in 1963, where he met Richard "Cheech" Marin, and they formed the comedy duo Cheech & Chong. Their humor, often centered around drug culture, was a significant influence on the stoner genre in popular media. The duo released several albums, starting with 'Big Bambu' in 1972, which gained them mainstream success. Their film debut, 'Up in Smoke,' released in 1978, became a cult classic and solidified their place in comedy history. In the late 1990s, Chong faced legal trouble when he was indicted by the U.S. Department of Justice for selling bongs (water pipes) through his company, Chong Glass. He served nine months in prison in 2003 and nine months on house arrest. Post-prison, Chong continued to work in comedy, music, and advocacy for marijuana legalization. His books 'The Idiot's Guide to Cannabis Culture' and 'Chewed Up: How I Lost My Smile Trying to Bring Out Katt Williams' showcase his humorous take on these subjects. Chong continues to perform stand-up comedy, act in films, and advocate for marijuana legalization. His impact on counterculture comedy and cannabis culture is undeniable, earning him the title of a comedic icon.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Always choose a job you love, so you can spend as much time as possible doing what you love."

The quote emphasizes the importance of pursuing a career that brings joy and satisfaction, as it allows an individual to devote more time to their passion. By choosing a job one loves, work becomes less of a chore and more of a fulfilling activity, enhancing overall happiness and life balance. This perspective encourages people to find a meaningful occupation, fostering personal growth and contentment.


"If you're not getting high, you're wasting your life."

This quote suggests that living a life devoid of enjoyment, relaxation, or indulgence in leisure activities can be seen as a waste, especially if those pursuits bring joy and pleasure to an individual, such as recreational substances like marijuana for Tommy Chong. It's important to remember that interpretations may vary; this perspective highlights the importance of finding happiness, relaxation, and meaningful pastimes in one's life.


"I think pot should be legal in every state, and I think everybody who wants to smoke it should have a joint in their pocket."

This quote by Tommy Chong advocates for the legalization of marijuana (often colloquially referred to as "pot") across all states in the U.S., emphasizing accessibility for those who wish to use it. Essentially, he is expressing a strong belief that personal choice and freedom should include the right to legally consume cannabis, as evidenced by his suggestion of having a joint (a rolled marijuana cigarette) on one's person.


"I never smoked marijuana before coming to America, but I smoked enough while I was there to last me the rest of my life."

The quote suggests that, prior to moving to America, Tommy Chong had no experience with marijuana. However, upon arriving in America, he discovered and consumed marijuana to such an extent that he feels his lifetime's supply was exhausted during his time there. This could symbolize a cultural difference or an unusual encounter with a substance that was new to him. It also hints at the impact of America on his life, particularly in relation to marijuana use.


"When you smoke the herb, it reveals you to yourself."

This quote by Tommy Chong suggests that using marijuana (or "the herb") can facilitate self-discovery and understanding. The mind-altering effects of cannabis can help individuals tap into their inner thoughts, feelings, and perspectives, thereby offering a unique perspective on oneself. It implies a journey of introspection and personal growth through the exploration of one's consciousness.


The thing is about Cheech & Chong, we've brought more families together than Dr. Phil.

- Tommy Chong

More, Than, Brought, Dr

When you hit a groove, it's not you; it's the spirit world. The spirits whisper the ideas in your brain and prod you along. They're the ones that are really happy.

- Tommy Chong

Happy, Prod, Spirit World, Groove

Awakening your spiritual side is really what artists do. When you hit a groove, it's not you; it's the spirit world.

- Tommy Chong

Spirit, Side, Spirit World, Groove

We won a contest at the teen fair in Vancouver and the first prize was a recording contract and we recorded at a radio station on the stairway, and we did a record and it got put out.

- Tommy Chong

Fair, Contest, Recording, Contract

I never did smoke that much pot; never was a big pothead.

- Tommy Chong

Smoke, Never, Big, Pot

I was about sixteen when I discovered that music could get you laid, so I got into music boy, didn't matter what you looked like either, you could be a geeky looking guy but if you played music, whoa, you'd get the girls.

- Tommy Chong

Guy, Discovered, About, Sixteen

You look at Cheney, Rumsfeld, Karl Rove, and Bush - if you saw them on Halloween, they wouldn't need a costume. You'd give them a treat and compliment them on what great-looking demons they were. They are demons. There's no doubt about it.

- Tommy Chong

Treat, About, Bush, Halloween

Once you're a felon you're a target.

- Tommy Chong

You, Once, Target

I'm as clean as a whistle.

- Tommy Chong

Clean, Whistle

People try to put ownership on things: 'That's mine, that's my joke.' No such thing. Like if you tripped or stumbled and people go, 'Oh, that's Charlie Chaplin.' You know what I mean? You can't own a joke. You can be the guy that tells it the best, but you can't own a joke. Nowhere can you own a laugh.

- Tommy Chong

Best, Own, Guy, Chaplin

'That '70s Show' was one of the highlights of my life. I didn't expect to be on it as long as I was.

- Tommy Chong

My Life, Expect, Show, Highlights

Unfortunately, the American justice system is just riddled with lies and inconsistencies.

- Tommy Chong

System, Unfortunately, Riddled

You can't become a dictator through checks and balances.

- Tommy Chong

Through, Checks, Dictator, Balances

My incarceration was actually a positive thing from the beginning. I needed a gimmick to get my act going again, it gave me material.

- Tommy Chong

Beginning, Incarceration, Positive Thing

I'm just glad I can make a difference in someone's life.

- Tommy Chong

Someone, Glad, Difference, Make A Difference

Cigarettes, I won't do cigarettes, nicotine will kill ya.

- Tommy Chong

Will, Ya, Cigarettes

Maybe once in a while, you know, after a hard day of shooting or something like that, I'd kick back.

- Tommy Chong

Shooting, Like, Maybe, Hard Day

Every time I get tested, I ask questions about it, and I watch how they do it.

- Tommy Chong

Watch, How, Tested, Every Time

One night all the James Brown band was playing on stage and I look in the back and I could see Mick Jagger and Keith Richards trying to get in the club and they couldn't get in cause it was to crowded.

- Tommy Chong

Back, Cause, James, None

No. Maceo played sax, didn't he, well they used to sit in.

- Tommy Chong

Well, Used, Sax, Sit

Life, especially in America, is ruled by corporations.

- Tommy Chong

Life, America, Ruled, Corporations

The Shades never recorded anything, Little Daddy and the Bachelors recorded a couple of records, ya.

- Tommy Chong

Never, Shades, Bachelors, Daddy

I used to joke for years that I was a black man. I adopted the black culture, the black race. I married a black woman, and I had black kids. I always considered myself a 'brother.'

- Tommy Chong

Woman, Race, Always, Adopted

What made me a comedian was that I wasn't really a songwriter, I was more of a poet.

- Tommy Chong

More, Made, Comedian, Songwriter

Activism, to me, I don't know if it really works. It may work for somebody else, but it does not work for me.

- Tommy Chong

Work, May, Works, Activism

The way jazz works is that we take a theme, and then we write using the same structure, same chord changes, and then we can do different tunes.

- Tommy Chong

Using, Tunes, Works, Structure

I've always been into improvisation.

- Tommy Chong

Always, Been, Improvisation

The smartest billionaires I know never finished high school. I got my degree and my doctorate on the street and an advanced degree in jail.

- Tommy Chong

Billionaires, Advanced, Smartest

The funny thing is, Dennis Miller got me back into comedy.

- Tommy Chong

Me, Comedy, Funny Thing, Miller

The trouble when you're doing something illegal is that you know what you're doing. You're lying to your parents, you're lying to your kids. The only person you can't lie to is yourself.

- Tommy Chong

Lie, Doing, Your, Illegal

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