Buster Keaton quotes

Buster Keaton was an American silent film actor, comedian, and director, famous for his stoic expression and innovative slapstick. His groundbreaking work in the 1920s made a lasting impact on the art of visual comedy. He is remembered as one of cinema’s greatest comedic geniuses and a master of physical humor. Here are 15 of his quotes:

Silence is of the gods; only monkeys chatter.

Buster Keaton

Marriage is fine as an institution, but bad as a habit.

Buster Keaton

Charlie Chaplin and I would have a friendly contest: Who could do the feature film with the least subtitles?

Buster Keaton

A picture without falls is as bad as Niagara in the same fix.

Buster Keaton

Our hero came from Nowhere - he wasn't going Anywhere and he got kicked off Somewhere.

Buster Keaton

A comedian does funny things. A good comedian does things funny.

Buster Keaton

I don't act, anyway. The stuff is all injected as we go along. My pictures are made without script or written directions of any kind.

Buster Keaton

I was mad at the time, or I would never have done the thing.

Buster Keaton

We used to get arrested every other week - that is, the old man would get arrested.

Buster Keaton

I don't feel qualified to talk about my work.

Buster Keaton

And if there is sweeter music this side of heaven I haven't heard it.

Buster Keaton

The funny thing about our act is that dad gets the worst of it, although I'm the one who apparently receives the bruises [...] the secret is in landing limp and breaking the fall with a foot or a hand. It's a knack. I started so young that landing right is second nature with me. Several times I'd have been killed if I hadn't been able to land like a cat. Imitators of our act don't last long, because they can't stand the treatment.

Buster Keaton

Several times I'd have been killed if I hadn't been able to land like a cat.

Buster Keaton