Mooney Quotes & Sayings

I opened up for Richard Pryor in 1992. I had a conversation with him. All those other comedians can say what they want about what they did, but I opened up for the man. Paul Mooney and I are probably the only ones that can say that. — Mark Curry

I like comedy, I mean, in all forms. — Paul Mooney

If your hair is relaxed, white people are relaxed. If your hair is nappy, they're not happy. — Paul Mooney

America does not like losers. Look how we treated those soldiers who came back from Vietnam. Because they lost. America likes winners. — Paul Mooney

When you watch TV, I didn't know black people were that happy. I had no idea they were that happy. I'm trying to find them. — Paul Mooney

White people are very good at acting like they're not racist. They deserve an Academy Award for that. — Paul Mooney

I have known Michael Richards for something like 20 years. We're friends. — Paul Mooney

Statements about climate trends must be based on, er, trends. Not individual events or occurrences. Weather is not climate, and anecdotes are not statistics. — Chris Mooney

Sorrow is not sickness-unless it becomes a permanent state of mental ill-health. The point is there are indeed stages of grief, as all the therapists tell us, but they do not obey some great unseen timetable. — Bel Mooney

Listen, we've got one little ol' black president, and white folks are upset, but they've had 43. — Paul Mooney

I read a lot of history. The passive Jews in Germany didn't survive. The smart ones got out. — Paul Mooney

Tennessee Williams knew about the South, but he would clean it up and lie about it. — Paul Mooney

If you have money and you have fame, but you don't have any confidence in your blackness, then it's all for nothing. — Paul Mooney

When they were making black films in the '60s and the '70s, everyone knew their place, if you get my drift. You understand? Everyone knew the rules, and everyone knew their place. Everyone knew what to say. They had the written rules in Hollywood film, and the unwritten rules. — Paul Mooney

I do celebrate anything with freedom in it, you know. — Paul Mooney

There's always a message in my comedy. — Paul Mooney

They say if a man looks you in the eye for more than six seconds straight, he either wants to murder you or have sex. — Bryan Mooney

My comedy is a nuclear bomb inside my mind. It's a weapon that's never been tested. It just blows up and flattens everybody. — Paul Mooney

I think I have a mental nappy attitude. — Paul Mooney

Sometimes, what you do you have no control over because it's predestined. It's gonna happen in spite of you. There's nothing you can do about it. — Paul Mooney

I'm like the Davy Crockett of comedy ... after Davy Crockett opened up the West and helped everybody ... they didn't need him anymore. I freed a lot of comics ... if I never would have done comedy, it would've been a different art form ... I'm sure of it. — Paul Mooney

I've never seen anyone more messed up over success than Richard Pryor. For him, it's a constant battle between success in the white world and keeping it real for his black self. — Paul Mooney

Look at the stars. See their beauty. And in that beauty, see yourself. — Draya Mooney

I got my sense of humor from my grandmother. You know, my grandmother was very funny. — Paul Mooney

Mr. James Mooney investigated this interesting phenomenon and actually discovered the Seer, who proved to be an inoffensive visionary dwelling in a remote valley of the Southwest. This young man's life and theories (a full-blood, apparently untouched by Christian influence), curiously resembled those of Christ, and like the latter, he preached the doctrines of Nonresistance and the Brotherhood of Man. In this case our government played the part of Rome. — Carl Sandburg

The dance commonly begins about the middle of the afternoon or later, after sundown. When it begins in the afternoon, there is always an intermission of an hour or two for supper. The preliminary painting and dressing is usually the work of about two hours. — James Mooney

America is racial. America was founded on race. Race is America. The code name for America is 'race.' — Paul Mooney

I do call upon a little Fish Mooney energy sometimes, believe it or not. — Jada Pinkett Smith

Arizona has always been anti-black. — Paul Mooney

Whatever that thing is that white people like in blacks, I don't have it. Maybe it's my arrogance or my self-assurance or the way I carry myself, but whatever it is, I don't have it. — Paul Mooney

People don't want to hear the truth; they never do. They wanna live in some kind of fantasy. — Paul Mooney

When all is ready, the leaders walk out to the dance place. — James Mooney

People ask me, when was my best time? I always say, 'Today.' — Paul Mooney

I can't change the past, but one person can change the future - anything can happen. — Paul Mooney

Racism is a form of insanity. Human beings became racist when they started talking. Speech has a lot to do with it. — Paul Mooney

If you're happy with what you're doing, then you don't get bored. — Paul Mooney

I'm as American as apple pie. — Paul Mooney

I was born a comic. — Paul Mooney

Yes. It's there. It's all there. She's my blood mate, Jeb. I've found my blood mate." He couldn't suppress the joy rising inside him, knowing he had finally been blessed. Jeb chuckled at hearing his brother's happiness. "I remember it wasn't too long ago when I was in your pants, Simon." "Shoes," a sleepy voice interrupted, more amused than annoyed. "You were in his shoes, t'kor. Not his pants. — Linda Mooney

I have such an ego 'cause I'm a double Leo. I can't let go of me, you know, so it's very difficult for me to be somebody else and not me. I'm so into me. — Paul Mooney

History has a way of coming back to you. In the case of Janis Joplin appearing at the festival in 1968, her performance affected the life of a Bostonian who is now a member of the Newport Festivals Foundation Board of Directors. Ward Mooney was so affected and emotionally involved in Janis' performance at Newport, that when he heard the festival was going nonprofit, he knew wanted to become a part. Janis was beautiful, gracious and respectful, and the power of her Newport performance continues to live on. — George Wein

Hillary Clinton could say she was a woman and running for president. And Sarah Palin could say she was a woman and running for vice-president. But Obama couldn't say, 'I'm black and I'm running for president.' It couldn't come out of his mouth. He couldn't say that because, if he did, he'd lose votes. — Paul Mooney

The king of comedy is dead. Richard Pryor was the king of comedy. The rest of them are the king of copycats. — Paul Mooney

What does America love more than one white male? — Paul Mooney

You got to remember that slavery's very complex. It has a lot of levels to it. — Paul Mooney

Even if individual researchers are prone to falling in love with their own theories, the broader process of peer review and institutionalized skepticism are designed to ensure that, eventually, the best ideas prevail. — Chris Mooney

A woman can tell me about her having a baby, but I'll never know what it is to have a baby. — Paul Mooney

Robin Williams learned technique. He has the technique of being funny. — Paul Mooney

People in America worship money, and a white man's face on a green piece of paper does not make me wealthy. My health makes me wealthy. I used to work at a hospital, so I know the real deal. — Paul Mooney

There's no such thing as reverse racism. — Paul Mooney

White people made up the n-word, they knew about racial jokes before anybody, and in their old movies and old cartoons they made fun of everybody, especially black folks. Racial jokes were not new to them. — Paul Mooney

My grandmother was the best. She loved you for you. She loved me for me. She was old-school. They broke the mold with her. They don't make them like that any more. — Paul Mooney

There are still plenty of movie people peddling black stereotypes. I guess Tyler Perry's probably the most massively successful. — Paul Mooney

Hollywood doesn't even have respect for itself. Hollywood lies to itself. — Paul Mooney

We tried to talk about [the Owls' zone], but it's hard to replicate it. It's nearly impossible to penetrate that zone. What you do get are open outside shots. You're going to have to make some of them. — Chris Mooney

Unfortunately, Lu didn't feel my knee banging into hers, or most likely, she chose to ignore it, since she was too busy gawking and flirting with Tyler. — Kelly Mooney

Among the southern tribes, on the contrary, hats were sometimes worn in the dance, although this was not considered in strict accordance with the doctrine. — James Mooney

No wonder circus animals do what they do: They tortured them. And you know the only ones they can't control? It's the chimpanzees. You can't control them. That's why you never see a gorilla in a movie, because the gorilla may decide there'll be no filming. — Paul Mooney

I love Obama because he is proof all black people don't look alike. Nobody every told me, 'Good morning, Mr. President.' We don't all look alike. — Paul Mooney

People will think they're electing him to create more economic security. Then watch the Terror! God knows there's been enough indication that we can have tyranny in America-the fix of the southern share-croppers, the working conditions of the miners and garment-makers, and our keeping Mooney in prison so many years. But wait till Windrip shows us how to say it with machine guns! — Sinclair Lewis

Facing inward, join hands so as to form a small circle. Then, without moving from their places they sing the opening song, according to previous agreement, in a soft undertone. — James Mooney

I like when people are trapped in the joke, when there's no escape. I like to lead people down the wrong path and then trap them. — Paul Mooney

Majority doesn't rule. One person can change the history of the world. — Paul Mooney

Thank you for 9/11! — Patrick Michael Mooney

I am very concerned about Barbara Streisand using the 'H' word - 'honkey.' That's what I am concerned about. I am worried about Barbara. — Paul Mooney

I'm just crazy because I choose to be."
- Marist High School yearbook, 1990 — Patrick Michael Mooney

I don't want affirmative action - too much affirmative, not enough action. — Paul Mooney

I have nothing to do with racism in America; it was here when I got here. — Paul Mooney

Education is one of the most beautiful and liberating things we can pursue in our lives, but too often it is approached as a restrictive, punitive, linear, and moralistic act. — Jonathan Mooney

A new broom can sweep the floor, but an old broom knows where the dirt is. — Paul Mooney

The political arena is the funniest.They [politicians] are always pretending to change, but they never change. They're the best actors and actresses in the world. They've always been hilarious since the beginning of time. — Paul Mooney

The obvious reductio ad absurdum is Holocaust deniers: Should their perspective be provided, for "balance," any time someone writes about the Holocaust? — Chris Mooney

At intervals between the songs, more especially after the trances have begun, the dancers unclasp hands and sit down to smoke or talk for a few minutes. — James Mooney

Although not initially of his own choosing, Michael Mann has been the most important, resilient, and outspoken warrior in the climate battle
responding to threats and persecution with courage and resolve every step of the way. Anyone who cares about the climate issue must read his fascinating
and enraging
story. — Chris Mooney

I'm passionate about what I do. I'd be naive to be passive. — Paul Mooney

Comedians period, in general, have demons, and myself included. — Paul Mooney

When I was 16 or 17, I saw Lenny Bruce being taken to jail. They took him off stage because he talked about race. — Paul Mooney

America has a rap sheet. You can't police the world and tell the world how to act when you're just as bad yourself. — Paul Mooney

An audience can be like a pack of wolves. — Paul Mooney

I could drop dead tomorrow, the truth will be here. Truth is forever; when you read our history, truth is forever, and it always outs itself. — Paul Mooney

The waters of the stream played the part of the orchestra, and the sunlight provided the dancers. Every now and then a crescendo of wind highlighted the symphony in the clearing by the creek. — Edward Mooney Jr.

The only one in the valley who was working was Mooney Wright.
Harrison leaned over and kneaded his hands roughly. He was wary of Mooney. Mooney was a strong one, not subject to weakness at all. He had done only one grievous act, in Harrison's mind. He had taken Lorry and the boys from him.
For a man to be jealous of his daughter was a damnable thing, Harrison thought, though he realized he had been jealous of Lorry for years. It was to her that he had let his heart go out, yes, back when she was a small thing. — John Ehle

There's just something more regular and everyday about cancer than there is about brain surgery. Brain tumours are exotic and interesting. Cancer is scary and horrible. Maybe — Ken Mooney

I don't do drugs. Because my grandmother raised me. I think like an old, black, Southern woman. If I'd have done coke, I'd probably be cooking pancakes. — Paul Mooney

That is why Christ never said, 'by the amount of focus you put on worshiping me, people will know you are my disciples.' No, what he said was, 'People will know you are my disciples by the love you have for one another.' God — Mick Mooney

Julie Christie, I used to hang out with her. She was friends with Richard Pryor and Warren Beatty and all of them. There was a club in Beverly Hills called the Candy Store, a private club. I used to hang out with them all. — Paul Mooney

People think you're crazy if you turn money down ... people worship money. — Paul Mooney

When you know who you are, you know who you are. That's the real dangerous thing in Hollywood, because they all want to create you and mold you. — Paul Mooney

9/11 was an INSIDE JOB...WAKE THE FUCK UP! — Patrick Michael Mooney

We apply fight-or-flight reflexes not only to predators, but to data itself. — Chris Mooney

I think about never losing my voice, never giving in, never selling out, always keeping black, always sticking to the street. Staying neighborhood and not Hollywood. — Paul Mooney

We have a lot of black Anglo-Saxons. Their skin is black, but their brain is white. When I get real mad at them, I call them 'graham crackers.' — Paul Mooney

You white folks see UFOs in your dreams. You don't hear about Martians in Harlem. — Paul Mooney

What does it mean to be too black for Hollywood? It's self-explanatory. Hollywood has certain kinds of blacks that they like. — Paul Mooney

You know who you are. If my mother is a nun and someone comes up to me and they go, 'Your mother is a prostitute.' It is not going to bother me, because I know my mother is a nun, she's not a prostitute. — Paul Mooney

Handshaking means, 'I don't have a weapon.' — Paul Mooney