The Late Norm MacDonald's Best Quotes

"When I hear a guy lost a battle to cancer, that really did bother me, that that's a term. It implies that he failed and that somebody else that defeated cancer is heroic and courageous." This quote would prove prophetic as Norm himself died from cancer.

"All my life's about is cracking up people and them cracking me up and trying not to think about dying. That doesn't cost very much money." Norm was nothing if not an existential observer of life itself.

"I just hate plugs. It just doesn't seem entertaining to me. I've never plugged anything in my life on a talk show ever. I understand people use that vehicle. It's just not very entertaining." And it was so true. Norm was the king of awkward interviews!

"I'm happy doing stand-up, but I'll probably do a television show eventually. If not, I'll delve into this Internet world and decide best how to harness it. What I like best about it is the independent movie style and the ability to just be completely reckless within that world. I like that a lot. I just have to acquaint myself with technology." In the end, he really did it all!

"I'm no good at anything but comedy, which I think I'm good at. I'm absolutely no good at networking; I'm terrible at acting; I'm terrible at dealing with executives; I'm terrible at collaborating. And I say whatever I want to say. But I think I'm good enough at comedy that I can survive. And I don't really have an ambition for money." In many ways, Norm was the anti-star superstar.

"My dad had this thing - everyone in Canada wants to play hockey; that's all they want to do. So when I was a kid, whenever we skated my dad would not let us on the ice without hockey sticks, because of this insane fear we would become figure skaters!" Not even close...Norm became the comic for an entire Canadian generation.

"I don't really like politics that much. And I like the order and simplicity of sports. They have an ending. You can argue with your friends about it, but in the end you still like sports. I almost love the fantasy world of sports more than the real world." Behind his boyish charm, Norm was one of the most well-read and politically savvy comics to ever work the big stages.

Norm was always a man of the people, and preferred smaller venues for his comedy. "In theatres, you're kind of disconnected. Also, it's way too big for the likes of me. Unless you're Robin Williams or someone that can fill a stage with movement and energy, it just looks like a small man on a big stage," he once said on his podcast.

"I watch political shows for a number of weeks in a row, and all I see are guys arguing with each other over issues I have no idea about. My brother, he loves war-torn places. My dad would always read the paper and tell me I should watch CNN, but I usually wind up watching 'Breaking Bad.'" Norm was perhaps too smart for the news. In fact, you should check out his bit on the news on YouTube.

"I don't have any ego about it, but I find there's not a great work ethic in show business. A lot of people are in it to make money, and coming from stand-up, you have to work so hard because almost nothing works, and if you lose the audience for three minutes, you're dead." Norm was a great mentor to up and comers who always sought his advice for longevity in comedy.