An older man with a bald head, wearing a tan blazer, red sweater, and white shirt, sits smiling on a wooden chair against a dark gray background.
Mark Mainz / Getty Images

Don Rickles wasn’t just the king of the razor-sharp comeback; he was a craftsman, a workhorse, and, yes, “Mr. Warmth”. These 20 hand-picked Don Rickles quotes show the comic behind the barbs: the blue-collar grind of show business, the humility under the swagger, and the way he turned attitude into art.

1. “Show business is my life. When I was a kid, I sold insurance, but nobody laughed.”

Black and white portrait of a young man in a U.S. Navy sailor uniform, smiling, wearing a white sailor hat and a dark neckerchief.
competitive_Swan_130 / via reddit.com

2. “Some people say funny things, but I say things funny.”

Three men in suits sit and laugh together on a vintage talk show set, with one host at a desk and two guests seated on chairs, surrounded by retro decor and plants in the background.
humblymybrain / via reddit.com

3. “An insult comic is the title I was given. What I do is exaggeration.”

A man in a suit and tie looks surprised or confused, with raised eyebrows and a slightly open mouth, standing in front of a beige background with yellow shapes.
vintagetv / via reddit.com

4. “You can’t study comedy; it’s within you. It’s a personality. My humor is an attitude.”

A man with a receding hairline wearing a checkered jacket and red shirt looks surprised or animated, sitting indoors.
funvoid / via Youtube

5. “I think if I took therapy, the doctor would quit. He’d just pick up the couch and walk out of the room.”

An older man in a suit sits and talks with a younger man in a suit on a late-night talk show set. A book with the older man's photo and name is displayed on the desk between them.
conan / via reddit.com

6. “When you enter a room, you have to kiss his ring. I don’t mind, but he has it in his back pocket.”

An older man in a suit and striped tie sits on a couch, smiling with a slightly raised eyebrow, against a background of green plants.
donrickles / via youtube.com

7. “Smartphones. Who cares?… I only have dummy phones.”

Two men stand indoors in front of movie posters. One man wears a red vest and blue shirt, smiling and gesturing, while the other man wears a red jacket and looks serious.
curb / via reddit.com

8. “Room service is great if you want to pay $500 for a club sandwich.”

A man in a tuxedo holds a microphone and speaks on stage, appearing expressive and serious. The background is dark and blurred.
funvoid / via Youtube

9. “Every night when I go out on stage… I’m always afraid there’s one person in the audience that I’m not going to offend!”

A man in a tuxedo and bow tie stands at a podium with two microphones, in front of a large sign with bold red letters on a tan background. He has a serious expression on his face.
humor / via reddit.com

10. “Whatever you do to gain success, you have to hang in there and hope good things happen. Always think positive.”

A man in a tuxedo holds a microphone and speaks on stage, appearing expressive and engaged in his performance.
letterman / via Youtube

11. “When you stand alone and sell yourself, you can’t please everyone. But when you’re different, you can last.”

Three men sit on a late-night talk show set; one man is at a desk, while the other two sit on a couch, engaged in conversation with a nighttime cityscape backdrop.
letterman / via Youtube

12. “You throw your best punch; otherwise, don’t do it.”

An older man with a bald head and light complexion smiles at the camera. He is wearing a tan blazer over a cream shirt and red sweater, set against a plain gray background.
filmsyoperation5107 / via reddit.com

13. “If I were to insult people and mean it, that wouldn’t be funny.”

An older man in a tuxedo with a pink pocket square holds a microphone and looks forward with a serious, slightly frowning expression. The background is blurred, showing several people.
hypercube_100 / via reddit.com

14. “It’s very sweet to have people say nice things about you, and I always accept that.”

A smiling man in a white shirt and suspenders holds a glass, standing on stage. Behind him, a musician plays a string instrument in a dark setting.
thedonrickleschannel / Youtube

15. “Famous people are deceptive. Deep down, they’re just regular people.”

A man in a tuxedo stands at a podium with two microphones, speaking. The background features large abstract shapes and muted colors.
oldschoolcool / via reddit.com

16. “I think they liked my honesty. My being who I am; that is that.”

A woman in a ruffled black dress stands beside a man in a tuxedo with a red pocket square. Both are smiling at an indoor formal event.
Vinnie Zuffante / Getty Images

17. “I don’t care if the average guy on the street really knows what I’m like… My friends and family know. That’s what’s important.”

Two elderly men smiling warmly, leaning in close with their foreheads touching in a friendly, affectionate gesture. Both are dressed in suits and appear to be sharing a joyful, intimate moment together.
lastimages / via reddit.com

18. “You’ve got to have a lot of courage… whatever you’re doing, believe in it wholeheartedly.

A smiling older man in a white shirt and suspenders holds a glass, while another man in a tuxedo sits behind him on a dimly lit stage.
thedonrickleschannel / Youtube

19. “You know what’s funny to me? Attitude.”

Two men in suits perform energetically on stage; one plays an electric guitar while the other dances with arms raised. Curtains and dramatic lighting are visible in the background.
vintagetv / via reddit.com

20. “Compared to what comics say today, I’m a monk.”

A man in a dark suit stands indoors with both arms raised, palms open, and an expressive facial expression. Wooden doors and panels are visible in the background.
livefromnewyork / via reddit.com

Explore more celebrities’ content:

Strip away the sting and you get the heart: work ethic, timing, and a grin that knew the joke was on all of us. If this collection of Don Rickles quotes warmed you up, keep the good vibes rolling with these 20 Robin Williams Quotes That Reveal the Man Behind the Laughter, or these 25 Ozzy Osborne Quotes To Remember Him By.

Meet the Writer

Matt has spent over the last 8 years as both a writer and editor, working in Seattle and Brooklyn, where he is now based. He loves escaping the tirelessly fast pace of the “Mad Apple” that is NYC by taking walks and runs through parks where he’s able to catch up on the latest tea about society from the city’s ever chatty, always hungry, occasionally maniacal, pigeons. They always have a lot to say. When he’s not taking his urban nature strolls, or dutifully combing the deepest rabbit holes of the internet to find the content that’s worth sinking your mind’s teeth into, he’s likely holed up at a dark-lit dive bar with a new book and/or some friends, or just as easily he could be on the hunt for the next addition to his steadily growing plant family.

These days Matt’s caught up in trying to provide folks as many vivid glimpses into the days long since passed as he can, through fun and engaging collections of hand-picked vintage photos.