Tom Smothers Browse All Authors Top 16 quotes by Tom Smothers Freedom of expression and freedom of speech aren't really important unless they're heard. The freedom of hearing is as important as the freedom of speaking. Tom Smothers freedom-of-speech freedom important Red meat is not bad for you. Now blue-green meat, that's bad for you! Tom Smothers bad you red meat The only valid censorship of ideas is the right of people not to listen. Tom Smothers listen censorship people ideas If you're ahead of your time, who's going to listen? If you're behind the times, it's boring. Tom Smothers behind you boring time The ultimate censorship is the flick of the dial. Tom Smothers flick dial censorship ultimate When you don't know what you're talking about, it's hard to know when you're finished. Tom Smothers know you hard talking They ought to put an amendment to the First Amendment that says there shall also be freedom of hearing. Tom Smothers put amendment first-amendment freedom Every day I think, 'Gosh, I wish I could be like George Carlin, Bill Maher: I want that edge.' But every time I start to get that edgy thing, I get kind of mean. Tom Smothers every-day day think time So it - we have one enduring, uh, idea that will always live on with the Smothers Brothers, that 'Mom always liked you best.' We're the universal, uh, feeling that every child, every sibling has had somewhere along the line. Or, 'Who did she like best?' And that became kind of a little mantra. Tom Smothers best child you mom We were against the war in Vietnam and for voter registration and social issues. Everybody has their choices, and the obligation of a comedian is first to entertain. And if you're so inclined, and you have some bigger thought, make sure you express it, because that's a gift. Tom Smothers gift thought you war I wanted to be in show business, and I was funny. Tom Smothers show show-business business funny Our mother was so public - we always talked about her. But with her passing, all of a sudden we don't even want to talk about her. Tom Smothers talk always mother want We weren't radical chic. Jane Fonda embarrassed me. We belonged to no political parties. Basically, we were vaudevillians. Tom Smothers me chic embarrassed political I found out that I couldn't have a nervous breakdown. I tried a couple of times, but it just didn't work out. My mind, my body wouldn't let me. Tom Smothers me body mind work No comedian's wife thinks he's funny. The first few years of the marriage, maybe. I was funny as hell the first couple of years. Tom Smothers hell marriage wife funny It's hard for me to stay silent when I keep hearing that peace is only attainable through war. There's nothing more scary than watching ignorance in action. Tom Smothers me ignorance war peace
