60 Hilarious Larry David Quotes from the Writer of Seinfeld

By Sckylar Gibby-Brown | Updated June 6, 2022

Larry David found success in television when he co-wrote and produced Seinfeld in the 1990s.

Here is our list of Larry David quotes about his life and career.

Seinfeld is a show that everyone and their mother has watched reruns of a hundred times or more.

During its run, Seinfeld won three Golden Globes and ten Primetime Emmys accolades that Larry David is partly responsible for.

David himself has won two Writers Guild of America awards for his writing on the series.

In 2000, David started the improvisational comedy show, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and has either written or co-written every episode since its conception.

The series was recently renewed for an 11th season.

We hope you enjoy our list of Larry David quotes.

Funny Larry David quotes

1. “Sometimes I have these fantasies of just moving to a foreign country and coming back with a full head of hair. Or not even come back! Make a new life there with hair… Change my name, just see what happens.” — Larry David

Everyday Application: We have all felt like this at one point or another! Thinking about how we could just start over. However, you don’t need to move anywhere! You can make a new life right where you. Any moment or given day is a good time to begin your fresh start.

2. “You know who wears sunglasses inside? Blind people and assholes.” — Larry David

Everyday Application: Just don’t do it. You don’t need to wear sunglasses inside…unless you are blind or experiencing vision problems.

3. “A good compromise is when both parties are dissatisfied.” — Larry David

Everyday Application: This simple quote really helps illustrate some of the downsides to compromise. When it is done right…both sides DO end up dissatisfied because everyone has given up on something they wanted in order for someone else to get what they want. Try collaborating and developing a solution that is new and works for everyone!

4. “I learned the first night that IHOP’s not the place to order fish.” — Larry David

Everyday Application: I mean…this one is spot on. Focus on your environment and your goals and make sure they align. Want to meet the man of your dreams who happens to be a family guy, successful business man, and avid reader…chances are you won’t find him at the biker bar.

5. “Let’s go upstairs and all get under the covers and sob.” — Larry David

Everyday Application: Sure this was joke…but really sometimes we do just need a good cry. Let it out, feel your emotions, and if you need to hide under the covers for a minute then do it! Just don’t stay there. Get back up and keep going!

6. “I’m trying to elevate small talk to medium talk.” — Larry David

Everyday Application: Some of the mundane everyday things are more important than we think they are! However, we could also be having more in-depth and meaningful conversations with the people around us.

7. “I had a wonderful childhood, which is tough because it’s hard to adjust to a miserable adulthood.” — Larry David

Everyday Application: Adulthood doesn’t actually have to be miserable, but it is harder than a wonderful childhood! Ask yourself what it is about adulthood that is draining your energy and make changes in your life. You can choose happiness and meaning.

8. “Can I apologize for the apology?” — Larry David

Everyday Application: We have been here. When we try to make an apology and it just falls flat, it can be uncomfortable.

9. “It Was Supposed To Say ‘Beloved Aunt,’ Not ‘Beloved C***!’” — Larry David

Everyday Application: Moments like this are going to happen. Find a way to laugh at mistakes like this, and move on. If you are looking for some quotes to celebrate your beloved aunt, then check out this article!

10. “I think golf is literally an addiction. I’m surprised there’s not Golf Anonymous.” — Larry David

Everyday Application: We can get addicted to anything in life. Especially, if it releases endorphins and makes us happy. There are worse things you can be addicted to then golf, though! You get to get outside and be active, so go fire up the golf cart!

11. “A lie is a gesture, it’s a courtesy, it’s a little respect!” — Larry David

Everyday Application: Surprisingly, lying can have positive consequences. It helps people feel better about themselves. It some cases it is helpful to maintain a relationship. In some weird way, it could be seen as a courtesy, However, there are plenty of negative consequences for lying, too. Honesty might just be the best policy!

12. “If I wasn’t a golfer, I would still be miserable – but not as miserable.” — Larry David

Everyday Application: Happiness is not found in participating in an activity or bouncing from momentary joy to momentary joy. The psychological definition of happiness is “a state of emotional well-being.” Happiness in the narrow sense can be experienced when doing things we enjoy, but our innate level of happiness comes from inside ourselves.

13. “Hear the birds? Sometimes I like to pretend that I’m deaf and I try to imagine what it’s like not to be able to hear them. It’s not that bad.” — Larry David

Everyday Application: What kind of things do you pretend or imagine? Our imaginations are powerful. Using your imagination can help you help solve problems better. It also gets your creative side flowing!

14. “Actually I walk around with the Emmy wherever I go, but I’m very casual about it.” — Larry David

Everyday Application: Be proud of your accomplishments, but don’t let your ego run wild. Being proud of your accomplishments not only reinforces what you are capable of in your own mind, but it might also inspire someone else to chase their own dreams!

Larry David quotes about people

15. “I just – I can’t stand the sound of the human voice.” — Larry David

Everyday Application: Listening is one of the most important skills we can develop. Listening helps us better understand another person’s perspective. It also helps us better solve problems and become more empathetic.

16. “I tolerate lactose like I tolerate people.” — Larry David

17. “I’d rather have the thieves than the neighbors – the thieves don’t impose. Thieves just want your things, neighbors want your time. I’d rather give them things than time.” — Larry David

18. “Most people are completely unaware of their breath. They violate your space, they have no idea that they have halitosis.” — Larry David

19. “When I was living in New York, there was a lot of screaming in my life. I would just get into these altercations all the time. Being in public, dealing with shopkeepers, just trying to cross the street – things like that.” — Larry David

20. “The customer is usually a moron and an asshole.” — Larry David

21. “A date is an experience you have with another person that makes you appreciate being alone.” — Larry David

Larry David quotes about being confident

22. “I don’t like to be out of my comfort zone, which is about a half an inch wide.” — Larry David

23. “Anyone can be confident with a full head of hair. But a confident bald man – there’s your diamond in the rough.” — Larry David

24. “When I’m in social situations, I always hold onto my glass. It makes me feel comfortable and secure and I don’t have to shake hands.” — Larry David

25. “Once I know people know who I am, it gives me a lot of license and freedom to behave in ways I wouldn’t normally.” — Larry David

26. “Women love a self-confident bald man.” — Larry David

Larry David quotes about himself

27. “There’s nothing that reflects me. I’m unreflectable!” — Larry David

28. “Most people think I’m immodest.” — Larry David

29. “I tend to stay with the panic. I embrace the panic.” — Larry David

30. “I don’t like to say anything good. I feel like I’ll jinx myself.” — Larry David

31. “When I was living in New York and didn’t have a penny to my name, I would walk around the streets, and occasionally I would see an alcove or something. And I’d think, that’ll be good, that’ll be a good spot for me when I’m homeless.” — Larry David

32. “Well, I always think the worst things are going to happen here because I’m – basically inside, I’m a bad person, and so the bad kind of takes over.” — Larry David

33. “I’m not a person who embraces challenges. I run from challenges. I break world records running from challenges.” — Larry David

34. “All of a sudden I discovered that I’m allergic to caviar. It was the perfect metaphor for my life. When I was only able to afford bad caviar, I could certainly eat my fill of it.” — Larry David

35. “I’m a walking, talking enigma. We’re a dying breed.” — Larry David

36. “I’ve been in therapy. I know enough about myself now to know that I really don’t need to know anymore.” — Larry David

Larry David quotes on writing and his career

37. “You have to discover when you’re inadequate to be funny and you don’t know you’re inadequate when you’re a kid.” — Larry David

38. “I don’t write shows with dialogue where actors have to memorize dialogue. I write the scenes where we know everything that’s going to happen. There’s an outline of about seven or eight pages, and then we improvise it.” — Larry David

39. “I’m one of the idiots that negotiates after I write.” — Larry David

40. “I was very fortunate to hook up with Jerry in the first place. The network was already committed to doing something with him, so I skipped a couple of hundred steps right there.” — Larry David

41. “Eventually as I kept writing it, something emerged that was not quite me but a version of me.” — Larry David

42. “It’s always good to take something that’s happened in your life and make something of it comedically.” — Larry David

43. “If you tell the truth about how you’re feeling, it becomes funny.” — Larry David

44. “I still think of that guy I was without a wife or kids, and I still want to entertain that guy. The lonely guy, the frustrated guy, the guy with no money – this is the guy who needs to laugh.” — Larry David

45. “I can’t stand reading anything that I’ve said.” — Larry David

Thought-provoking Larry David quotes

46. “I don’t think anyone really is interested in reading about my emotional state. It’s not even interesting to me.” — Larry David

47. “You know, I’m really not that bright.” — Larry David

48. “Trying on pants is one of the most humiliating things a man can suffer that doesn’t involve a woman.” — Larry David

49. “When you’re not concerned with succeeding, you can work with complete freedom.” — Larry David

50. “I’ve led this empty life for over forty years and now I can pass that heritage on and ensure that the misery will continue for at least one more generation.” — Larry David

51. “You can’t do anything in life. The social barriers in life are so intense and horrific that every encounter is just fraught with so many problems and dread. Every social situation is a potential nightmare.” – Larry David

52. “The one thing about Hitler that I admire is that he wouldn’t take any shit from magicians.” – Larry David

53. “Whenever something good happens to me, it’s usually followed by something terrible.” – Larry David

More Larry David quotes

54. “I’m surprised sometimes at how some of my actions are misinterpreted.” – Larry David

55. “It’s not every day that you get to be affectionate around something, it just doesn’t happen that often.” – Larry David

56. “I think we’re all good and bad, but good’s not funny. Bad is funny. Suppress the good and let the bad out, and then you can be funny.” – Larry David

57. “Sure, being a reservist wasn’t as glamorous, but I was the one who had to look at myself in the mirror.” – Larry David

58. “I don’t take on big things. What I do, pretty much, is make the big things small and the small things big.” – Larry David

59. “I like to be quiet, and let people find me rather than having to shout at them.” – Larry David

60. “Every relationship is just so tenuous and precarious.” – Larry David

What is your favorite Seinfeld episode?

Larry David has made a successful career out of being a funny man.

He started his career in stand up before climbing the ranks to Saturday Night Live.

When he met his comedic accomplice, Jerry Seinfeld, David’s comedy career was in the bag.

His pessimistic humor is relatable and can have his audience laughing out loud at his comedic one-liners.

Most recently, David has been writing and starring in the HBO comedy, Curb Your Enthusiasm, where he plays a semi-realistic version of himself.