Richard Claxton Gregory was an American comedian and civil rights, activist. Gregory became popular among the African-American communities in the United States due to his nuanced humor that poked fun at the bigotry and racism in the United States. In 1961 he became a notable performer in the comedy clubs, even appearing on television, and officially releasing comedy record albums.
Gregory was born in St. Louis, Missouri. Gregory grew up in crippling poverty. In 1954, his college career was interrupted for two years when he was drafted into the United States Army. Gregory got his big break performing as a stand-up comedian at the Playboy Club in the early 1960s. He quickly rose to fame due to his layered and nuanced humour. He was at the forefront of activism when he protested against the Vietnam War and racial injustice. He had been arrested multiple times too. He died of heart failure at the age of 84 in August 2017.
1 I never learned hate at home, or shame, I had to go to school for that. -Dick Gregory
Our homes are the best places we’ll ever be in. We learn only love from our homes. Hate, shame and prejudice we encounter only when we are thrown into the real world.
2 Once I realized the value of making people laugh, I got very good at it, Fast. -Dick Gregory
Humour is one of the most alluring qualities in a person. People are naturally drawn to those who have a decent sense of humour.
3 To me, seeing a really great comedian is a bit like watching a musician or a poet. -Dick Gregory
Comedy is an art in itself. It takes real skill to be able to effortlessly make people laugh. Comedy, infact, is a much more difficult art, mainly because of how subjective humor is.
4 My belief is, you know, certain things have to be explained that’s never been explained. -Dick Gregory
We take some very important things for granted. Some things cannot be left unsaid. They have to be explained and understood well enough.
5 I used to get letters saying, ‘I didn’t know black children and white children were the same.’ -Dick Gregory
Prejudice and hate are deep rooted in most people’s minds. Sometimes people are so racist that they cannot even comprehend the possibility of equality.
6 If it wasn’t for Abe Lincoln, I’d still be on the open market. -Dick Gregory
Slavery was an utterly immoral practice that prevailed for centuries. If it wasn’t for great men like Abraham Lincoln who stood up for what is right, slavery would still be in practice.
7 In America, with all of its evils and faults, you can still reach through the forest and see the sun. -Dick Gregory
No matter how bad a country may seem to be, there’s always some good left. And these good things give you the hope for a better tomorrow.
8 Riches do not delight us so much with their possession, as torment us with their loss. -Dick Gregoory
All that wealth does is bring agony and suffering to us. We’re blinded by the illusion of happiness when we acquire wealth. But upon losing all of that, all we experience is pain.
9 We don’t know yet whether the sun is rising or setting for our country. -Dick Gregory
There’s so much rot and dirt in the country that it has become almost impossible to see any hope. We do not know what path our country is going down in.
10 Just being a Negro doesn’t qualify you to understand the race situation any more than being sick makes you an expert on medicine. -Dick Gregory
Just because you belong to an oppressed group does not mean you know the full extent of oppression. You need to experience it firsthand to understand it. Sometimes, you are so blinded by privilege that you wouldn’t understand what oppression is.
11 I’m not a comic, I’m a humorist. -Dick Gregory
It takes great skill to make people laugh. Humour is a form of art. It is a study in itself because a lot of research has to be done in order to understand your audience and their humor.
11 Witty Dick Gregory Quotes to Make Your Day!
1. I never learned hate at home, or shame, I had to go to school for that. -Dick Gregory
2. Once I realized the value of making people laugh, I got very good at it, Fast. -Dick Gregory
3. To me, seeing a really great comedian is a bit like watching a musician or a poet. -Dick Gregory
4. My belief is, you know, certain things have to be explained that’s never been explained. -Dick Gregory
5. I used to get letters saying, ‘I didn’t know black children and white children were the same.’ -Dick Gregory
6. If it wasn’t for Abe Lincoln, I’d still be on the open market. -Dick Gregory
7. In America, with all of its evils and faults, you can still reach through the forest and see the sun. -Dick Gregory
8. Riches do not delight us so much with their possession, as torment us with their loss. -Dick Gregoory
9. We don’t know yet whether the sun is rising or setting for our country. -Dick Gregory
10. Just being a Negro doesn’t qualify you to understand the race situation any more than being sick makes you an expert on medicine. -Dick Gregory
11. I’m not a comic, I’m a humorist. -Dick Gregory
