54 Bo Burnham Quotes Full of Theatrical Humor and Self Reflection

Bo Burnham, known for his satirical, silly, and dark humor, is a millennial favorite, speaking to a generation looking for a voice to express their viewpoints with a tinge of comedy to take the edge off. Read his 54 quotes below to get to know him better.

Bo Burnham began his career in 2006, just after the birth of YouTube. Taking to the then-newborn platform, he shared comedic songs, which blew up, turning him into a viral sensation. His career has grown as people continue to listen to and attend his shows, that is full of laughter and melody.

His most recent release, aptly named "Inside," is a Netflix special released in 2021 during the COVID-19 lockdown. The somewhat dark yet hilarious musical comedy includes songs that were or are used consistently on TikTok, such as "Bezos I" and "All Eyes On Me." Read 54 of his quotes below.

Bo Burnham’s quote: "Don't worry, I'm hilarious." | Image: AmoDays

Bo Burnham Music and Comedy Quotes

"I was doing theater in my high school, and I started writing sort of silly songs on the piano backstage in summer theater. I eventually put them online and started getting this little following." — Bo Burnham

"There's a certain line between jokes and music and poetry that's a bit blurred in my mind." — Bo Burnham

"Music is really, really mathematical." — Bo Burnham

"Most of my songs make fun of myself." — Bo Burnham

"For me, if you distill comedy down, it is surprise and the unexpected. That has to be it on its most base level, in any form." — Bo Burnham

Bo Burnham’s quote: "There's a certain line between jokes and music and poetry that's a bit blurred in my mind." | Image: AmoDays

"I don't try to call myself a poet. But I know that my stuff is pretty literal, in that the themes are pretty simple and on the surface." — Bo Burnham

"I think the comedy clubs tend to homogenize the acts a little bit because they force them to be palatable in way too many environments." — Bo Burnham

"The thing is, I always thought I could do stand-up, and so I just stayed focused on the belief that I could succeed." — Bo Burnham

"The classic comedian says there's nothing that's taboo; if you laugh at one thing, you've got to laugh at everything; that comedy is taking people to dark areas and showing them the light." — Bo Burnham.

"I thought I had more of a European sense of humor than the average American comic." — Bo Burnham

Bo Burnham’s quote: "Music is really, really mathematical." | Image: AmoDays

"I don't want to put meaning on what I do because I don't know what it is." — Bo Burnham

"I've found nothing but support and generosity from older comics. I think comedians are a lot nicer than the stigma is, at least from my experience." — Bo Burnham

"I always loved bands who would try to change their sound radically album to album, an experiment in one album and revert back in another." — Bo Burnham

"Comedy should be a source of positivity. I don't want to bully people, and I don't want people to come to my show to feel terrible about something. So I'm actually very open to having a conversation about what I should or shouldn't say." — Bo Burnham

Bo Burnham’s quote: "I chose to do comedy instead of going to college." | Image: AmoDays

"I misdirect the audience, so they have no idea where they are or who they're listening to." — Bo Burnham

"I just like to write and then perform." — Bo Burnham

"I chose to do comedy instead of going to college." — Bo Burnham

Funny Bo Burnham Quotes

"When life gives you lemons, you probably just found lemons." ― Bo Burnham

Bo Burnham’s quote: "Laughter is the best medicine, y'know, besides medicine." | Image: AmoDays

"Was Einstein's theory good? Relatively." ― Bo Burnham

"I like to call everyone that I find slightly annoying a 'sociopath.'" ― Bo Burnham

"Once a week, I like to slip into a deep existential depression where I lose all my sense of oneness and self-worth." ― Bo Burnham

"Laughter is the best medicine, y'know, besides medicine." — Bo Burnham

"Don't worry, I'm hilarious." — Bo Burnham

Bo Burnham’s quote: "You got to take a deep breath and give up. The system is rigged against you." | Image: AmoDays

"What's a pirate minus the ship? Just a creative homeless guy." — Bo Burnham

"Your hard work and talent will not pay off." — Bo Burnham

"You got to take a deep breath and give up. The system is rigged against you." — Bo Burnham

Bo Burnham’s quote: "What's a pirate minus the ship? Just a creative homeless guy." | Image: AmoDays

"Quotes are for dumb people who can't think of something intelligent to say on their own." — Bo Burnham

Bo Burnham Quotes on Success and Fame

"Being famous is complete luck, and that's something you can't bank on." — Bo Burnham

"I would say don't take advice from people like me who have gotten very lucky. We're very biased. You know, like Taylor Swift telling you to follow your dreams is like a lottery winner telling you, 'Liquidize your assets; buy Powerball tickets—it works!'" — Bo Burnham

"I think it would collapse my heart if I was super famous. I don't have the nerve for it; I'm too anxious. I don't know how you're not obsessed with how people perceive you because they're real people, you know?" — Bo Burnham

"I remember being super young, like nine or ten years old, and thinking, 'Man, I wonder what famous people eat for breakfast. They must have some special kind of cereal!' My mind was so warped by the idea of fame." — Bo Burnham

Bo Burnham's quote: "Being famous is complete luck, and that's something you can't bank on." | Image: AmoDays

"I was definitely not the kid that just wanted to be famous for no reason whatsoever and then happened to find comedy. Fame and all that stuff have always been slightly terrifying to me, and it makes me very anxious." — Bo Burnham

Personal Bo Burnham Quotes

"I'm grateful for every stupid mistake and dumb joke I tried to make." — Bo Burnham

"I don't interact with people much." — Bo Burnham

"I think I wear my hypocrisy on my sleeve. I would never say I'm not a complete hypocrite." — Bo Burnham

Bo Burnham's quote: "I'm grateful for every stupid mistake and dumb joke I tried to make." | Image: AmoDays

"I do weird things, and people watch." — Bo Burnham

"I became good friends with Jack Whitehall. I think he's great, such a great dude, and really funny." — Bo Burnham

"A few people know me, and the few people that do know me only know me because they dig my stuff." — Bo Burnham

"I'm clearly doing what I want. I hope kids can see my act and feel like they can be slightly more comfortable in their own skin because I'm being so ridiculously comfortable in mine. I'm not that comfortable in my skin the moment I walk offstage. But I try to project that while I'm on it." — Bo Burnham

Bo Burnham’s quote: "I do weird things, and people watch." | Image: AmoDays

"In high school, I worked eight hours a day just so I could get into the college of my dreams and say that I got in— and I never went." — Bo Burnham

"I'm bored way too easily. I'm staring at screens half the day. I need to be overstimulated. And how will that express itself artistically." — Bo Burnham

Bo Burnham Insights and Advice Quotes

"Uncharted territory is a good place to be in." — Bo Burnham

"I love you just the way you are, but you don't see you like I do. You shouldn't try so hard to be perfect. Trust me; perfect should try to be you." — Bo Burnham

Bo Burnham’s quote: "Uncharted territory is a good place to be in." | Image: AmoDays

"Maybe life on earth could be heaven, doesn't just the thought of it make it worth a try?" — Bo Burnham

Bo Burnham Quotes Abput Social Media and the Internet

"The strange thing was when I was starting on YouTube, even the paradigm of YouTube and Internet sensation—or whatever—didn't really exist. So I didn't even know that that was a thing." — Bo Burnham

"The Internet is so crazy, and you're exposed to so many things. In an hour, you can really jump around." — Bo Burnham

"I've always liked the format of YouTube, sharing things for free, which is a nice exchange between people." — Bo Burnham

"I think the love-hate is fundamental. Everyone hates reality television, and everyone's watching it. Everyone hates Facebook, and everyone is on it." — Bo Burnham

Bo Burnham’s quote: "What's important is that you stay true to yourself. Because when you enter the real world, the most valuable thing you can bring is all your you-ness." | Image: AmoDays

Many do not expect performers to suffer from anxiety, but Burnham proves the opposite, confessing to having experienced nine panic attacks while on stage.

He has been open about his struggles with mental health, which is hopefully something that his audience and fans may find comforting if they are facing similar challenges.

While quotes and platitudes can not take away our anxiety, they may soothe it; Why not try reading these go-with-the-flow quotes?