Todd Barry Quotes

After a moment, he turned sharply to me. 'Are you quite all right?' 'Yes, perfectly. Why do you ask?' 'Because I have just called you contrary and you did not bother to contradict me. I thought you might be ill.

Stand-up comics reflect less of a visual humor and more of a commentary.

I want to write a book that makes people debate, and makes people think, interact with each other and exchange ideas... I write because I'm engaged in this big conversation.

My humor is my creativity, and my skepticism is a gift.

Logic and fact keep interfering with the easy flow of conversation.

All our knowledge begins with the senses, proceeds then to the understanding, and ends with reason. There is nothing higher than reason.

Small is the number of people who see with their eyes and think with their minds.

Where the senses fail us, reason must step in.

Less judgment than wit is more sail than ballast.

Being a good observer is a great tool to have as a writer, just taking the world in.

You have to have some kind of power of observation, almost like a trained observer.

I've been called funny. I assume my wife thinks I'm funny. But generally, if you bumped into me and said hello, I would say hello back, politely. And that would be it.

Discussion: A method of confirming others in their errors

When we wish to correct with advantage, and to show another that he errs, we must notice from what side he views the matter, for on that side it is usually true, and admit that truth to him, but reveal to him the side on which it is false. He is satisfied with that, for he sees that he was not mistaken, and that he only failed to see all sides. Now, no one is offended at not seeing everything; but one does not like to be mistaken, and that perhaps arises from the fact that man naturally cannot see everything, and that naturally he cannot err in the side he looks at, since the perceptions of our senses are always true.

Ability to discern that what is true is true, and that what is false is false, is the characteristic of intelligence.

The very essence of modern life is the opportunity for people everywhere to speak, hear, persuade, change their minds, know what others are thinking, and think for themselves.

When I am contradicted it arouses my attention, not my wrath. I move toward the man who contradicts me: he is instructing me. The cause of truth ought to be common to both of us.

If somebody tells you that you have ears like a donkey, pay no attention. But if two people tell you so, buy yourself a saddle.

Philosophy is a performance sport - you have to play it with somebody back and forth.

Criticism is fine and conversation is fine, but the person who's criticizing should know what they're saying and whom they're criticizing.

I think it's important to have conversation about things instead of shutting things down.

Whenever people speak, you give the opposition the opportunity to use those words as they see fit.

My lines are witty in nature and I love to be surrounded by people who are witty.

If I'm saying something with an intelligent background, then at least it is creating conversation. Whether that conversation is people agreeing or disagreeing, I'm happy.

I enjoy people who talk intelligently.