10 Best Richard Pryor Quotes Ever

It has already been fifteen years since the world lost the wonderfully talented actor and comedian, Richard Pryor. He leaves behind plenty of albums with his comedy, and several beloved films, many of which he starred with Gene Wilder. Audiences can watch him again and again in classics like Stir Crazy, Moving, and Superman 3. 

However, those are not the only things he left behind for audiences to cherish. Pryor had plenty of things to say about a lot of subjects, including life itself. He had ample amounts of wisdom to share alongside his comedy.

10 “There’s Nothing Worse Than Being An Aging Young Person.”

Sometimes life’s woes drag a person down. There are just some things out of a person’s control. It’s unfortunate when bad things happen, or when someone is under a seemingly unending amount of stress, especially if they’re still young and should feel far more enthusiastic and positive about life. Pryor’s quote acknowledges this fact; someone who is young shouldn’t be weighed down by so many negatives in life.

9 “I Believe The Ability To Think Is Blessed. If You Can Think About A Situation, You Can Deal With It. The Big Struggle Is To Keep Your Head Clear Enough To Think.”

This quote of Pryor’s brings a hefty amount of wisdom with it. Basically, the ability to think anything through means that anyone can deal with anything. That’s a good thing. The quote unquestionably inspires confidence in audiences. If audiences manage to figure out a way to keep their heads clear, perhaps they could add onto this quote to offer others the secret to the ultimate success of thinking clearly, regardless of the situation at hand.

8 “When You Ain’t Got No Money, You Gotta Get An Attitude.”

When financial means aren’t available, Pryor’s quote instructs audiences to use whatever resources they do have to get to where they want to go. Namely, an attitude. It could mean the attitude to get things done, the attitude to not take no for an answer, or the attitude to have sheer perseverance and willpower for audiences to do what they have to, to survive, and to fulfill their dreams.

It takes hard work, but if audiences have the right attitude, things do get accomplished.

7 “I Know That If I Wasn’t Scared, Something’s Wrong, Because The Thrill Is What’s Scary.”

Taking chances and risks are a part of life. However, it’s definitely not easy to do those things, as audiences undeniably picture the worst case scenarios of those actions. Pryor’s quote points out an important fact, however. If there is no fear involved, chances are it wasn’t worth it to begin with. The fear is part of the thrill because it means taking a chance that could change anything, from a career to life in general. If this quote is anything to go by, it means that doing something without fear is worse than doing something that does scare audiences.

6 “If I Thought About It, I Could Be Bitter, But I Don’t Feel Like Being Bitter. Being Bitter Makes You Immobile, And There’s Too Much That I Still Want To Do.”

The quote above is one of the best perspectives audiences can have in life. Like everyone else, Richard Pryor had his struggles in life, but he chose to not reflect on the bad. Bitterness, resentment, and the like tend to hold people back, and by extension, the past holds them back from their future. Pryor knew that wasn’t how he wanted to live, and by sharing his quote, he offered audiences a valuable insight into perspectives and how they could also move on for the better in their own lives.

5 “What I’m Saying Might Be Profane, But It’s Also Profound.”

Sometimes controversial things bring out the biggest reactions from audiences, good or bad. The more profane, the more the reaction. However, at the root of it, there can be a lesson, and that’s what Richard Pryor was saying in the above quote.

He was saying that his profanity had a point. Next time audiences are listening to his comedy, they can probably pick out the lesson embedded in his words.

4 “Everyone Carries Around His Own Monsters.”

This is undoubtedly one of Richard Pryor’s best quotes. It’s an important reminder that audiences never know what may be going on in someone else’s life, or what demons they may be fighting. Pryor’s quote is a life lesson in that it’s important to be kind to others and refraining from taking out one’s own troubles on an innocent party. The world is a tough place, and no one gets through it unscathed, but things look better when someone shows another person thoughtfulness.

3 “All Humor Is Rooted In Pain.”

One of Pryor’s more somber quotes is a truthful observation, nonetheless. Audiences undoubtedly notice the pattern, especially among comedians, in some of their funniest jokes. They come from true stories; comics like Kevin Hart, Gabriel Iglesias, and others have used stories from their personal lives and turned them into jokes, and some comics have even referred to comedy as therapeutic for their pain. Comedy is a coping mechanism, trying to put a positive spin on pain, but that comedy is rooted somewhere.

2 “There’s A Thin Line Between To Laugh With And To Laugh At.”

Richard Pryor’s humor did contain its fair amount of wisdom, the above quote being one of the best examples. It’s difficult to determine the line between laughing at someone and laughing with them, and this quote is a reminder of that integral life lesson.

Knowing when it’s appropriate to laugh is important, especially when it could hurt someone’s feelings if things get too far. No one is perfect, but audiences can take this quote to heart by trying to remember the “thin line” Pryor was talking about.

1 “If You Want A Friend, You Don’t Buy A Friend. You Earn A Friend Through Love And Trust And Respect.”

Real friendships are genuine; friends don’t stick around for money or perks, they stick around because they want to because they care for that other person. Richard Pryor was a celebrity; it’s not unheard of for people to try to take advantage of celebrities and get them to think they’re a friend when they’re truly not. It’s an important lesson, regardless if someone has celebrity status or not. Friendship means more than what they can give one another materially or socially; it means being there for one another through good times and bad, and truly caring for their friend’s well-being.

About The Author

Kacie Lillejord
(373 Articles Published)

A Seattle native, Kacie has loved entertainment in the forms of books, films, television and music since day one. Inspired by a filmmaker relative, Kacie has been pursuing a career in the film and television industry in Los Angeles ever since. A graduate of The University of Arizona, Kacie has written for her college newspaper The Daily Wildcat, Harness Magazine, 25YL, and now has added Screen Rant to her resume. She loves writing and all things pop culture.

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