"Learning lines is on my mind until I do know them. I'll read the paper or paint the house to keep from starting to memorize. I've never found an easy way"
About this Quote
Procrastination, in Paul Lynde's hands, isn’t a cute quirk; it’s a full-time job with benefits. The joke lands because it’s specific and faintly absurd: not “I get distracted,” but “I’ll read the paper or paint the house.” That jump from passive avoidance (newspaper) to domestic overkill (painting) sketches the real psychology of performance prep: the dread isn’t laziness, it’s the moment you have to start and risk being bad at it.
Lynde’s intent is to puncture the myth that comedians and actors are breezy natural talents who effortlessly “know their lines.” He’s confessing that the work is heavy, repetitive, and weirdly intimate - you have to let someone else’s words take up residence in your mouth. The subtext is anxiety disguised as humor: learning lines “is on my mind” until it’s done, a low-grade mental hum that turns any other task into relief. Even chores become a socially acceptable way to dodge the thing that actually matters.
Context matters here: Lynde’s era prized polish. Sitcoms, game shows, and stage work demanded speed, timing, and precision; you didn’t get to workshop your way to the take. By admitting he’s never found an easy way, he’s offering a kind of solidarity. The laugh comes with a sting: discipline isn’t romantic, confidence is often staged, and the “funny guy” is still bargaining with his own brain to do the job.
Lynde’s intent is to puncture the myth that comedians and actors are breezy natural talents who effortlessly “know their lines.” He’s confessing that the work is heavy, repetitive, and weirdly intimate - you have to let someone else’s words take up residence in your mouth. The subtext is anxiety disguised as humor: learning lines “is on my mind” until it’s done, a low-grade mental hum that turns any other task into relief. Even chores become a socially acceptable way to dodge the thing that actually matters.
Context matters here: Lynde’s era prized polish. Sitcoms, game shows, and stage work demanded speed, timing, and precision; you didn’t get to workshop your way to the take. By admitting he’s never found an easy way, he’s offering a kind of solidarity. The laugh comes with a sting: discipline isn’t romantic, confidence is often staged, and the “funny guy” is still bargaining with his own brain to do the job.
Quote Details
| Topic | Study Motivation |
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