53 Clown Quotes That Will Make You See Past Their Funny Facade

Some people find clowns boring, funny, or even incredibly cunning, but what are clowns? What message do they convey hiding behind their masks? Read these clown quotes to know who they are, how they think, and what they are all about.

A clown is introduced to parties to enlighten the mood. They bring with them fun, laughter, and hearty cheers. But do we know everything about these heavily and colorfully made-up characters?

Certainly, a clown gives the best laughs. From the costume worn to the details of their makeup, disposition, and jokes, a clown is the embodiment of cheer. But behind that facade are contrasting layers that tell us clowns are only human. Delve into the following quotes to find out more about the layers behind the comic.

Red Skelton's quote"If by chance some day you're not feeling well and you should remember some silly thing I've said or done and it brings back a smile to your face or a chuckle to your heart, then my purpose as your clown has been fulfilled." | Source: Unsplash.com

Interesting Clown Quotes

"I was always kind of a loudmouth and a class clown, and that kind of led to doing all the school plays and trying out all kinds of different stuff." — Dustin Milligan

"The artist, like the idiot or clown, sits on the edge of the world, and a push may send him over it." — Osbert Sitwell

"I was painfully shy, until fifth grade when I transferred to another school and befriended the class clown. And one day he was sick and I kinda stepped in for the class clown and I said, 'Wow, this is exciting, I'm a little bit nervous.'" — Nathan Fillion

"Give a clown your finger, and he will take your hand." — George Herbert

Terry Pratchett's quote "No clowns were funny. That was the whole purpose of a clown. People laughed at clowns, but only out of nervousness." | Source: Unsplash.com

"The cleverest character in comedy is the clown, for he who would make people take him for a fool, must not be one." — Miguel de Cervantes

"We've become so glorified in the movie-star system that it's become this artificial royalty. The truth is that we're circus clowns." — Nicolas Cage

"No clowns were funny. That was the whole purpose of a clown. People laughed at clowns, but only out of nervousness." ― Terry Pratchett, 'Men At Arms'

"It's kind of fun to be a clown. I've always played the clown." — Roger Bart

"You know how they say that clowns are very funny in public and are really sad at home? I'm really kind of stupid at home and more serious in public." — Roland Joffe

Charlie Chaplin"S quote "I remain just one thing, and one thing only - and that is a clown. It places me on a far higher plane than any politician." | Source: Unsplash.com

Famous Clown Quotes

"Writers are a little below clowns and a little above trained seals." — John Steinbeck

"You never turned around to see the frowns on the jugglers and the clowns when they all did tricks for you." — Bob Dylan

"It's really easy with makeup to look like you're trying too hard, like a clown. That's not what you want!" — Becky G

"All the world loves a clown." — Cole Porter

"I remain just one thing, and one thing only - and that is a clown. It places me on a far higher plane than any politician." — Charlie Chaplin

Becky G's quote "It's really easy with makeup to look like you're trying too hard, like a clown. That's not what you want!" | Source: Unsplash.com

"People who know me, they know I have a sense of humor, I'm a bit of a joker, a bit of a clown really, and I would love someone to exploit that side of me and send me a romantic comedy." — Gary Oldman

"The clowns come on, get the biggest, juiciest laughs, and then leave." — Roger Bart

"I'm a comedian. I'm not a clown." — Bernie Mac

"When fighting clowns, always go for the juggler." — Darynda Jones

Dr. John Donne's quote "Who are a little wise the best fools be." | Source: Unsplash.com

Quotes on Being a Clown

"The point of clowns was that, after watching them, anything else that happened seemed enjoyable." ― Terry Pratchett, 'Men At Arms'

"Smart kid too, straight-A student, I was just a class clown." — Adrien Broner

"Clowns are the pegs on which the circus is hung." — P. T. Barnum

"I was afraid of clowns." — Haley Bennett

"Though the clown is often deadpan, he is a connoisseur of laughter." — Mel Gussow

Fanny Brice's quote "Being a funny person does an awful lot of things to you... You're not entitled to be serious, you're a clown." | Source: Unsplash.com

"I think a lot of people assume from my music and stuff I'm constantly talking about deep and meaningful things, but then with my friends I'm just a class clown." — Ella Henderson

"Clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right, here I am." — Bob Dylan, 'Stuck In The Middle With You'

"Who are a little wise the best fools be." — Dr. John Donne, 'The Triple Fool'

"I would borrow my mom's red Borghese lipstick and smear it on like a clown!" — Brooke Burns

"Making my class laugh and getting in trouble. I was the class clown." — R.L. Stine

Hugh Jackman's quote "I just love making a fool out of myself. I made my living as a clown at kids' parties for about three years." | Source: Unsplash.com

"I am a clown, just without the painted smile." — Chevy Chase.

"I don't care about how I look; I'm dedicated to the laughs. You know, I used to be a clown, so - my name was Smoothie the Clown. All the training I had, all my training is geared toward making people laugh, and I didn't care about being cool." — Bernie Mac

"Being a funny person does an awful lot of things to you... You're not entitled to be serious, you're a clown." — Fanny Brice

"We are all here for a spell, get all the good laughs you can." — Will Rogers

"I suppose that I'm fairly comfortable with the clown hat on." — Nick Rhodes

Jim Morrison's quote "I see myself as an intelligent, sensitive human, with the soul of a clown which forces me to blow it at the most important moments." | Source: Unsplash.com

"I just love making a fool out of myself. I made my living as a clown at kids' parties for about three years." — Hugh Jackman

"I see myself as an intelligent, sensitive human, with the soul of a clown which forces me to blow it at the most important moments." — Jim Morrison

"My son has been a class clown and it sort of ran in the family." — Robert Klein

"I think we all have the urge to be a clown, whether we know it or not." — Ernest Borgnine

Bernie Mac's quote "I don't care about how I look; I'm dedicated to the laughs. You know, I used to be a clown, so - my name was Smoothie the Clown. All the training I had, all my training is geared toward making people laugh, and I didn't care about being cool." | Source: Unsplash.com

Thoughtful Clown Quotes

"Never underestimate a clown with a book." — Rawi Hage

"The clown may be the source of mirth, but - who shall make the clown laugh?" — Angela Carter

"When the heroes go off the stage, the clowns come on." — Heinrich Heine

"Everything's a lot tougher when it's for real." — Stephen King, 'It'

"A clown needn't be the same out of the ring as he has to be when he's in it." ― Enid Blyton, "Five Go Off In A Caravan"

Bob Dylan's quote "Clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right, here I am." | Source: Unsplash.com

"Does the clown ever cry? He does, alone but!" — Kazeronnie Mak

"To truly laugh, you must be able to take your pain and play with it!" — Charlie Chaplin

"Kings kill; clowns don't; therefore the clowns of the kings are more valuable than the kings!" — Mehmet Murat Ildan

"Laughter is the shortest distance between two people." — Victor Borge

Malcolm X's quote "A wise man can play the part of a clown, but a clown can't play the part of a wise man." | Source: Unsplash.com

"Is it true that cannibals don't eat clowns because they taste funny?" — Steven Wright

"I'm gonna be a new kind of clown. I'm gonna stand in the middle of the ring and laugh at the folks." — Harper Lee, "To Kill a Mockingbird"

"The child's laughter is pure until he first laughs at a clown." ― Angela Carter

"Good humor is one of the best articles of dress one can wear in society." — William Thackeray

"A wise man can play the part of a clown, but a clown can't play the part of a wise man." — Malcolm X

William Thackeray's quote "Good humor is one of the best articles of dress one can wear in society." | Source: Unsplash.com

Undoubtedly, these clown quotes gave you a better understanding of a clown's life, and what it means to be one when in character and behind the makeup.

If you enjoyed reading these quotes about clowns, here's one famous clown whose quotes may interest you. This dark villain known as The Joker and Batman's arch nemesis is famous for his mind-blowing, thought-provoking quotes, a compilation of which you will find here.