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Margaret Cho

Margaret Cho Quotes

Comedian

Margaret Cho is an American comedian, singer, writer, and television producer. Known for her unique sense of humor and insightful commentary on social issues, she was born on December 5, 1968. Cho, of Korean-American descent, often addresses topics such as race, gender, and sexual orientation in her work.

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Famous Margaret Cho Quotes

“Comedy is the only weapon I have to battle totalitarianism.”

Comedy Battle Weapons Totalitarianism

Author:Margaret Cho

“People are so sensitive about race that they can't hear someone speaking about their life in a very true way, or doing satire or political parody.”

People Way Political Race Sensitive Satire Parody Very True

Author:Margaret Cho

“It makes it very hard to say what you believe in and not be attacked for it. And it's not fair; I'm Korean, but I'm not supposed to talk about my experience and my life? It's unaccepting.”

Believe Hard Fairs Korean Not Fair

Author:Margaret Cho

“As a comedian you are making yourself vulnerable in order to make others happy.”

Order Vulnerable Comedian Make Others Happy

Author:Margaret Cho

“Homophobia is a tough one. In some places it's actually very OK to be homophobic. Comedy clubs in general are very unsafe spaces for LGBT, for women, for Asian people. So my goal in comedy has sort of been to make this a safe space for people who were like me.”

People Goal Space Comedy Safe Tough Clubs Like Me Lgbt Asian Homophobia Unsafe Homophobic Safe Space Comedy Clubs

Author:Margaret Cho

“Comedy is a noble art. And every comedian who does anything is serving a noble purpose.”

Doe Art Purpose Comedy Noble Comedian Serving

Author:Margaret Cho

“People at shows have told me that they've shown my videos to their parents and families to help them come out of the closet. It's very inspiring that comedy can do that and can help people cope with everyday life and challenges through humor.”

People Helping Shows Parent Can Do Challenges Comedy Everyday Video Everyday Life Closets Very Inspiring

Author:Margaret Cho

“I think I appeal to people who are living in the margins because of their identity and who need to feel freedom somewhere.”

People Thinking Needs Feels Identity Appeals Margins

Author:Margaret Cho

“I think comedy is an angry art form; it's an outsider art form. Anger and comedy are really connected. If I'm angry about something I will try to think about something funny about it to lighten the load of the anger and cope with the anger.”

Ifs Thinking Trying Art Form Comedy Angry Connected Load Outsiders

Author:Margaret Cho

“Comedy is quite a difficult place for queers and for women.”

Difficult Comedy

Author:Margaret Cho

“Silence is so often applauded and those who speak out are often called tasteless.”

Speak Silence Silence Is Speaks Out

Author:Margaret Cho

“My father tried to get me to be around gay people a lot when I was young. He owned a gay bookstore and it had a lot of gay literature and art books and he wanted me to be taken care of by the young gays and lesbians who worked for him.”

People Art Book Care Wanted Young Father Literature Taken Gay Bookstores Gay People Literature And Art

Author:Margaret Cho

“The label of tasteful or tasteless is so often used to silence people and to maintain the status quo. It's used to shame people for not following the commonly accepted routine, for not aligning themselves with the status quo.”

People Used Silence Shame Following Accepted Labels Routine Status Quo

Author:Margaret Cho

“I think that when you are accused of being in bad taste it can be quite positive. You're challenging the notions of polite society. I'd like to put across the notion that bad taste is actually good for you.”

Thinking Challenges Taste Notion Polite Accused Bad Taste

Author:Margaret Cho

“People have a lot of shame and suffering around it and I felt that the best thing I could do was to share my experiences, which I have been doing for a long time, and let people know that of all the things that I've endured.”

People Knows Long Has Beens Suffering Felt Share Long Time Shame Best Things

Author:Margaret Cho

“I use my work as catharsis. That's often the best thing that we can do, is to allow ourselves to rage because it's so rare that we get to. We're told to forgive - I don't want to! I don't want to forgive my abuser! I don't care to and I don't like that assumption that forgiveness makes me a better person. It's not authentic to me, my feelings and what I need. But everyone has their own way.”

Way Want Needs Persons Use Feelings Care Can Do Forgiving Don't Care Rage I Don't Care Best Things Assumption Better Person Catharsis Abusers

Author:Margaret Cho

“My philosophy is, "murder the rapist in your mind so you stop killing yourself." I've seen, in my lifetime, that sexual abuse has turned into self-abuse. When I kill the rapist inside of me, I will stop killing myself.”

Mind Self Philosophy Abuse Murder Lifetime Killing Killing Yourself Killing Myself

Author:Margaret Cho

“I'm a survivor. But I'm also victim, too. Surviving has the connotation that you've been through it, you lived through it and that's wonderful - but a victim is what I was. "Survivor" is the more healing way to look at it.”

Way Looks Healing Wonderful Victim Survivor Surviving Connotation

Author:Margaret Cho

“I don't know why it's anyone's business! People do what they need to do. I did it, and it was nowhere near as traumatic as being raped. I was so numb for so long that sex work for me was not a big deal.”

People Knows Needs Long Bigs Sex Deals Big Deal Numb Sex Work

Author:Margaret Cho

“I don't like people telling other people what to do. Sex work for a lot of women is really important, especially in countries where women don't have a lot of power. Here we can have at least some form ... of making money.”

People Important Country Form Sex Making Money Sex Work

Author:Margaret Cho

“Where do people get off telling people what to do? It's their bodies. If you legalized sex work and legally protected the sex workers, you wouldn't see anything like human trafficking. All of that would be obliterated.”

People Ifs Humans Body Would Be Sex Workers Protected Human Trafficking Trafficking Sex Work

Author:Margaret Cho

“I was in Toronto when they had a severe outbreak of SARS - you know, Severe Asian Racism Syndrome. I was in the airport and there were these big snowboarder guys and they had white masks around their necks, and as soon as they saw me, they put their masks on. So I went "cough, cough, cough... You wanna egg rorr?”

Knows Bigs Guy White Saws Racism Necks Mask Eggs Severe Airports Asian Syndromes Toronto Outbreaks Sars

Author:Margaret Cho

“We must know who we are, so we can know what we want, so we don't end up wanting the wrong thing and get it and realize we don't want it, because by then it's too late. We are powerful enough that we can manifest anything into our lives. To use this power with great care and love is the secret to living a happy life.”

Knows Want Ends Enough Use Care Realizing Love Is Powerful Secret Our Lives Late And Love Who We Are Too Late Manifest Happy Life Wrong Things Live Life Happy

Author:Margaret Cho

“Let's not hate ourselves. We are all we have. We cannot change anything until we accept that. I cannot do this alone. I don't love myself enough to do it alone, but I can do it if we have a pact, if I am keeping up my end of the bargain. I have been a longtime perpetrator of hate crimes against myself, and I am turning myself in. I have had enough.”

Ifs Has Beens I Can Ends Enough Hate Can Do Accepting Crime Bargains Hate Crime Had Enough I Can Do It Pact Love Myself Perpetrators

Author:Margaret Cho

“When I was 14, I told my mother I was going to drop out of high school and go do stand-up comedy. All she said was 'Oh maybe it's better if you just die,' because it was killing her that I was doing this.”

Ifs Said School Mother Dies Comedy High School Killing Stand Up Comedy

Author:Margaret Cho

“A few words about ‘trannychasing.’ I am not a trannychaser. Ok, actually I am a trannychaser. No I am not. I am a trannycatcher! Just kidding!”

Few Words Just Kids

Author:Margaret Cho

“I voice my opinions on social media and I have people threatening me with violence. It is troubling but I can fight back, which is good.”

People I Can Fighting Social Voice Opinion Violence Media Social Media Threatening

Author:Margaret Cho

“I want to get married but I look at husbands the same way I look at tattoos. I want one, but I can't decide what I want, and I don't want to be stuck with something I'd grow to hate and have surgically removed.”

Way Want Looks I Can Hate Grows Husband Married Stuck Tattoo

Author:Margaret Cho

“What happened in the 80's was that all the men died of AIDS. That was a particularly depressing time because so many people passed away and it was a very desperate and lonely time, so I think a lot of people felt that we were somehow, unreceived. Not only by the disease but also by the public image of the disease. It really gave homophobia a real shot in the arm and changed the way people viewed gays, queers. It became an entirely different atmosphere.”

People Thinking Men Way Different Real Felt Happened Changed He Man Arms Gay Disease Shots Lonely Died Aids Atmosphere Desperate Depressing Homophobia Passed Away Public Image

Author:Margaret Cho

“I think I started out okay but with AIDS came a great deal of silence about gayness and this period of lose and morning, but at the same time a kind of feeling like you wanted to get back into the closet because being gay was such a terrible thing at that point.”

Thinking Kind Feelings Wanted Loses Deals Silence Morning Like You Periods Terrible Gay Okay Aids Get Back Closets Terrible Things Being Gay Gayness

Author:Margaret Cho

“It's okay for you to have relationships, but it's not okay to talk about them. It's not okay to be out or to be public about it. It's not okay to be photographed with your partner.”

Okay Partners Not Okay

Author:Margaret Cho

“I really (became) very independent. I was start(ed) to write one-woman shows and mak(e) films and to me I think I really felt like my choice (was) more important than any kind of career goal.”

Thinking Writing Kind Important Shows Film Choices Felt Goal Careers Independent One Woman Career Goals

Author:Margaret Cho

“Its funny because when I did feel like I came out and I just felt like I was being truthful to myself, (it was at) that point I became very successful. So you know, it took a true kind of facing that truth of myself and being honest, that was when the real kind of fame or whatever that kind of stuff happened for me.”

Knows Feels Kind Real Felt Stuff Successful Happened Honest Fame Being Honest Truthful Being Truthful

Author:Margaret Cho

“That it is not the people who really feel that way, but it is people who have the most money to fire up these propaganda campaigns, these like, basically these lies that they are willing to lie to the public in order to manipulate them into doing what they want. And to me it doesn't make any sense.”

People Way Want Feels Lying Order Fire Willing Campaigns Propaganda Manipulate

Author:Margaret Cho

“If you really care about children then why would you want to keep families from adopting them?”

Ifs Want Children Care Adopting

Author:Margaret Cho

“I don't understand the whole Christian conservativism doesn't make sense to me because I was raised very Christian and its kind of an odd thing but my parents, my family is also very conservative in their own way but I understand the bible and I studied Christianity very well and I don't see where the hatred of gays comes from because it really defeats Christ's purpose.”

Way Wells Kind Whole Christian Purpose Parent Christ Christianity Gay My Family Hatred Raised Defeat Conservative Make Sense Odd Odd Things

Author:Margaret Cho

“Christ's purpose was to really show how everyone can be loved and how everyone should be loved and accepted.”

Should Shows Purpose Christ Accepted

Author:Margaret Cho

“I think that reaching out to kids that feel really isolated is a life saving gesture that we have a responsibility as older queers to do.”

Thinking Feels Kids Responsibility Saving Reaching Reach Out Isolated Gestures Life Saving

Author:Margaret Cho

“People like Sean Penn, he is someone that is politically progressive and yet is still at the top of his game in the industry. So I love that he is out there just virtually shaming all the people that voted for Prop 8. He was a really great example of a straight ally, someone who used his talent and used his ability to further our cause, not just for political progressiveness but also specifically for gay marriage and specifically for Harvey Milk's entire life.”

People Stills Political Used Games Causes Ability Talent Example Industry Gay Progressive Allies Milk Really Great Gay Marriage Props Sean Harvey

Author:Margaret Cho

“I was lucky. I always had really great friends in my personal life, people always just knew who I was. It wasn't until I was in show business where that sort of changed or shifted at first. I have always had a great support network. I have had a lot of really wonderful, close friends.”

People Firsts Shows Support Wonderful Changed Lucky Really Great Personal Life Show Business Close Friends Great Friend

Author:Margaret Cho

“I had been taking various lessons. I've also had a lot of incredible singers give me a ton of great advice. From Cyndi Lauper, who kind of taught me the basics, and I've also worked with Bird. She's a tremendous coach and she often coaches the contestants on 'American Idol.' I've had a great amount of support.”

Giving Kind Support Advice Taught Amount Lessons Bird Give Me Incredibles Various Coaches Singers Idols Basics American Idol Contestants Great Advice

Author:Margaret Cho

“I've worked with incredible producers who have also taken my voice and brought it to another level. I think I have some natural abilities, but it's the technique that I've been learning from the best that keeps me going. I'm really honored to do it.”

Thinking Voice Natural Ability Levels Taken Incredibles Technique Producers Honored Natural Ability

Author:Margaret Cho

“I'm very much a stand-up comedian in my heart. That's really what I do. Now I'm trying to incorporate all of the different elements of my work as a performer, and use it as a stand-up comedian.”

Trying Heart Different Use My Heart Elements Comedian Performers Stand Up Comedian

Author:Margaret Cho

“Kim Kardashian is a kind of archetype. But she owns her beauty and is tremendously successful. There's no tragedy, there's no drug story. There's just her and her fame and her beauty. But Anna Nicole created that template of somebody that you'd want to watch on reality TV. Somebody that you'd want to invite into your home or as a role model, in terms of beauty and lifestyle and glamour.”

Want Kind Stories Home Reality Term Roles Watches Successful Tvs Drug Fame Models Tragedy Lifestyle Role Models Invites Glamour Anna Kim Reality Tv Archetype Her Beauty Nicole

Author:Margaret Cho

“As a child, I had a lot of older gay men taking care of me. There's a trust there. I feel like little girls and old gay men together - there's a safety. They make a shield from all of the bad things they've experienced in the world. They make a home together. There are no songs about that. I don't know if you remember, but there was a show a long time ago called 'Love, Sidney.'”

Ifs Knows Men World Feels Children Littles Long Shows Home Care Together Remember Song Girl Gay Long Time Safety Bad Things Long Time Ago Shields Gay Men Take Care Of Me

Author:Margaret Cho

“Like the Birth Of Venus, the song [Yello "oh, Yeah"] denotes the birth of the bro. The song just reminds me of bros looking out over lowered Ray-Bans. It birthed a negative sexual revolution. I was going to a lot of bondage clubs at the time and they did play this song. The song I associate more is that horrible Enigma song with the Gregorian chant. There's something good buried in that song and I might not hate it as much if I hadn't been a sex worker.”

Ifs Play Might Hate Song Sex Revolution Birth Negative Yeah Workers Clubs Horrible Buried Rays Associates Bondage Bans Venus Enigma Bros Sexual Revolution Ray Bans

Author:Margaret Cho

“You didn't hear Yello until later in the night in the bondage clubs. Things would start getting crazy and that's when you'd hear Yello. It was bad.”

Night Crazy Clubs Bondage

Author:Margaret Cho

“I think I heard it [ Ferris Bueller's Day Off ] earlier. This was being played on a station in San Francisco called Live 105, which was a new wave station. It was one of the first stations to change its format in the early '80s. There was this wave of really strange music coming from Europe like Kraftwork and Freur.”

Thinking Firsts Heard Strange Europe Wave Stations 80s San Francisco Format Days Off Being Played Ferris Bueller

Author:Margaret Cho

“I was crazy about the song "Doot Doot," so I usually love this genre of weird, European electronic.”

Song Crazy Genre

Author:Margaret Cho

“I don't like to criticize music and I had a really hard time picking out the song I hate for this because I end up seeing and working with musicians all the time.”

Ends Hard Hate Song Seeing Musician I Hate Hard Times Criticize

Author:Margaret Cho

About the Author

Born: December 5, 1968
Known for: Comedian
Quotes: 267

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