Quotes from Bob Newhart

Jack Benny was, without a doubt, the bravest comedian I have ever seen work. He wasn't afraid of silence. He would take as long as it took to tell the story.

I made a record album in 1960 and it exploded, and I got all these offers for TV.

Comedians are never really on vacation because you're always at attention... that antenna is always out there.

When you're going for a joke, you're stuck out there if it doesn't work. There's nowhere to go. You've done the drum role and the cymbal clash and you're out on the end of the plank.

The best advice I could give someone trying to get into the comedy field is to take advantage of every opportunity you have to work to hone your skills.

I always hated when the studios just kind of said that anybody can act. You look at people like Spencer Tracy, Henry Fonda - and I'm just talking about the male actors - there aren't a lot who can act. It's a very special talent, and I wish it were recognized as a very special talent.

I don't have a stack of scripts that, when I get home, studios are clamoring, saying, 'Has Bob read ours yet?'

I can't remember the last live-action, non-animated Christmas movie.

There's a lot of cynicism. Let's really enjoy Christmas, with all that's going on in the world.

The giant superstars are people whose talent is so enormous that their death wish can't destroy it.

I don't know how to do a show not in front of a live audience.

I really don't know what makes a comedian. I think it's a family background and environment. Yet if you put the same ingredients in another person, he may never utter a funny line.

I don't like country music, but I don't mean to denigrate those who do. And for the people who like country music, denigrate means 'put down'