It’s amazing what we can get away with and what we can’t. But it’s not for me to decide.
Meaning of the quote
The quote by American producer Mike Judge means that there are some things we can do without getting in trouble, and some things we can't. But it's not up to us to decide what those things are. Sometimes the rules and boundaries are not always clear, and it's important to be careful and thoughtful about our actions, even if we think we can "get away" with something. The decision-making about what's right or wrong is not ours alone to make.
About Mike Judge
Mike Judge is an acclaimed American artist and creator behind popular shows like Beavis and Butt-Head, King of the Hill, and Silicon Valley. He’s an award-winning writer, director, and producer who has made a lasting impact on entertainment through his unique comedic voice and incisive social commentary.
More quotes from Mike Judge
I don’t think any movie I would do would be too serious or serious at all.
American animator
It was really weird, when this thing started, to hear lawyers and MTV people calling me and actually saying ‘ButtHead.’ People tried to avoid it too.
American animator
Who is Mike Judge? Let me think. The only way I could possibly answer that question would be in a nonverbal fashion. I think I could do an interpretive dance that would answer that question for you.
American animator
You know, at that age you want to show everyone else how wild you are. It’s a combination of being bored, looking for a cheap thrill and being really stupid – a dangerous combination.
American animator
When I was a kid it was like, who could be the coolest? Who could do the stupidest thing? And you knew it was a stupid thing to do, but you would do it just so you could be the coolest guy. And then you end up doing really cruel crap.
American animator
One thing I was thinking about is that they probably get their come-uppance about the same percentage that people in real life do. Basically, stealing for all practical purposes might as well be legal in New York.
American animator
I put the storyboard down and came back to it like two weeks later and saw that I had written ‘Butt-Head’ next to the picture, and it kind of made me laugh and I thought, Well, might as well go for every laugh you can get.
American animator
They’re free because they don’t know any, better. So they can just run around and do whatever, and do whatever, and most of the time they don’t get caught.
American animator
When the show started out, it was like all of a sudden we had to do 35 episodes and we had just a month and a half to write them, and it took me a while to realize that I was in charge.
American animator
I went to a Catholic high school and it seemed like every time I drew something for a class project, it either got thrown away by the teacher or something.
American animator
All the Disney lead male characters always have this kind of John Davidson kind of look to them. They all look like the same guy, and all the females look like the same, and I think the guys are just way too big.
American animator
In order to have a plot, you have to have a conflict, something bad has to happen.
American animator
She defaced my fly. And I’ve never been the same since.
American animator
Why should every single character be an honor student who goes around helping others and never doing anything wrong? Is that like the rule or something?
American animator
People say that the Beavis voice doesn’t sound like me or some other voices. Butt-Head I think sounds like me.
American animator
You ought to try being cruel to some people.
American animator
I’ve got a huge, gigantic deal. We’re talking about huge deals.
American animator
I think at the point when they were first starting to talk about a movie, it was a little bit different back then.
American animator
They don’t make you pay for the humor. It’s up and down, but they’re trying to give you as many laughs as possible in 2 minutes. They are the most honest comedians ever.
American animator
I think I do too many voices in these shows. I think it’s because we have trouble getting voice talent.
American animator
It’s amazing what we can get away with and what we can’t. But it’s not for me to decide.
American animator
Then there was a kid in the neighborhood about three blocks away, his name was Bobby Beavis.
American animator
I almost didn’t name Butt-Head ‘Butt-Head.’ I came real close to calling him something else.
American animator
Susie Lynn, the producer of those segments, goes in and lays all the voices over the video.
American animator
Beauty and the Beast seemed like it all was really brown. The whole thing was just so brown and orange and yellow, like Burger King or something. I don’t think I would have liked Beauty and the Beast at any age.
American animator
They say it figures MTV would do such a vulgar, awful, horrible show and they completely miss that it’s satirizing the people who watch MTV.
American animator
It seems like there’s a lot of people who just do not understand satire. They think it’s weird. There’s people who just don’t understand you portray something or just explore a character, it means you’re condoning it, saying this is the way to live.
American animator
I like the Stooges. You know what movie I saw that I sort of discovered late was Jerry Lewis in ‘The Nutty Professor’. I really liked that.
American animator
Stealing, you’ll go far in life. Actually, there is something funny about getting away with it.
American animator
One thing I always heard from the begining when I talked about this being a movie – was that the rule is that animated movies don’t work unless they’re Disney movies for kids. Unless they’re family movies.
American animator
I don’t return anybody’s calls unless it’s going to mean extra money for me. And I’ve completely cut off all relationships with any friends that I had before the show. And I’ve copped an attitude.
American animator
I didn’t think I would make this much money.
American animator
I’ve seen a lot of pairs of guys that have been hanging out together way too long-until they’re laughing all the time.
American animator