Still loved long after his passing, George Carlin quotes reflect his brash views on controversial topics from politics and religion to consumerism and conservation. No subject was off-limits to the New York-born lapsed Catholic, and he wasn’t afraid to offend his audience in order to stay true to his beliefs.
By the early 1970s, his stubborn perseverance paid off when George Carlin found his groove recording comedy albums.
His uncensored material sold like hotcakes and even earned him a Grammy. He also found great success as a television performer with 14 HBO stand-up specials to his credit. Carlin’s wry wit and no-nonsense attitude made all four of his books best-sellers, but he still managed to perform close to 100 concerts each year right up until the time of his death in 2008.
As these 20 George Carlin quotes prove, his comedy brought more than just laughter, it encouraged audiences to fight back against social injustice. And it is just as relevant today as it was decades ago.