Lily Tomlin
I think my politics are just inclined to be empathetic and humanistic. I grew up with so many different kinds of people with different politics, different religion, no religion, no politics, education, no education, and I was infatuated with all of them.Collection: Education
If truth is beauty, how come no one has their hair done in the library?Collection: Funny
You don't really need to get married, but marriage is awfully nice. Everybody I know who got married, they say it really makes a difference. They feel very, very happy about it.Collection: Marriage
Many times I sit back and say, 'I can't believe that this is my life!' Other times, I feel self-satisfied. I mean, there's a lot to be proud and thankful for but, nonetheless, it's just a life!Collection: Thankful
The trouble with the rat race is that even if you win, you're still a rat.Collection: Society
Sometimes I feel like a figment of my own imagination.Collection: Imagination
If love is the answer, could you please rephrase the question?Collection: Love
Sometimes I worry about being a success in a mediocre world.Collection: Success
Ninety eight percent of the adults in this country are decent, hardworking, honest Americans. It's the other lousy two percent that get all the publicity. But then, we elected them.Collection: Government
Don't be afraid of missing opportunities. Behind every failure is an opportunity somebody wishes they had missed.Collection: Failure
I always wanted to be somebody, but now I realize I should have been more specific.Collection: Funny
I like a teacher who gives you something to take home to think about besides homework.Collection: Teacher
Remember we're all in this alone.Collection: Alone
I always wondered why somebody doesn't do something about that. Then I realized I was somebody.
Reality is nothing but a collective hunch.
No matter how cynical you become, it's never enough to keep up.
Things are going to get a lot worse before they get worse.
Man invented language to satisfy his deep need to complain.
Why is it that when we talk to God we're said to be praying but when God talks to us we're schizophrenic?
What is reality, anyway? Just a collective hunch.
For fast-acting relief try slowing down.
Reality is the leading cause of stress among those in touch with it.
We don't care. We don't have to. We're the phone company.
I personally think we developed language because of our deep need to complain.
I worry that the person who thought up Muzak may be thinking up something else.
If I had known what it would be like to have it all - I might have been willing to settle for less.
If you read a lot of books, you're considered well-read. But if you watch a lot of TV, you're not considered well-viewed.
If you read a lot of books you are considered well read. But if you watch a lot of TV, you're not considered well viewed.
There's so much plastic in this culture that vinyl leopard skin is becoming an endangered synthetic.
I've always wanted to be somebody, but I see now I should have been more specific.
We are all in this together, by ourselves.
It's my belief we developed language because of our deep inner need to complain.
The best mind-altering drug is the truth.
When I was 9 or 10, I had a ten-cent business: I would walk your dog for a dime, go to the store for a dime, empty your garbage for a dime - and then I could use the money to buy tricks at the magic store.
Instead of working for the survival of the fittest, we should be working for the survival of the wittiest - then we can all die laughing.
But there are too many people that make so much money at the cost of lives of other humans and for no reason but to make the money.
I guess if people couldn't profit from war I don't think there would be war.
Why isn't there a special name for the tops of your feet?
We're all in this alone.
What if it's boring - or if it's not boring, it might be too revealing, or worse, it might be too revealing and still be boring.
You know being relevant or coming up with something interesting, funny to say about what's current is just as hard as it might ever be depending on the serendipity of it all.
I mean yes to act out something or take chances in the performance is one thing. But in terms of a camera, whatever's captured is captured so that's a little more daunting.
I especially love 'Web Therapy' and I did 'Eastbound and Down' too. I had a lot of fun doing that.
I was always drawn to more the social-expression-of-culture types.
What I appreciate is acknowledging to the audience that I think they have brains.
Creating characters is just another way to express a type and put that type to use.
I guess that's one of the reasons that you do it - work all the time - because it's sort of a high to find something that really works.
I grew up in a time when women didn't really do comedy. You had to be homely, overweight, an old maid, all that. You had to play a stereotype, because very attractive women were not supposed to be funny - because it's powerful; it's a threat.
I never officially came out in any kind of really public way. I just always lived very simply and openly, but the press has never made a big fuss about me or said anything to me.
Maybe if people started to listen, history would stop repeating itself.Collection: People