Citations

You have to work a bit harder to offend me because I'm from the home of some of the best racism in the world. I'm a snob when it comes to racism.

I never thought I'd be more afraid of police in America than in South Africa. It kind of makes me a little nostalgic for the old days back home.

Now I wonder if somebody went to jail because a witness was 'sure' that the criminal was wearing 'white and gold. (On the controversy surrounding #TheDress)

If this comedy thing doesn't work out, I've always got poverty to fall back on.

Looking at how successful all the Kardashian women are, I don't blame Bruce Jenner at all. (On Bruce Jenner's gender reassignment)

You know what African mothers tell their children every day? 'Be grateful for what you have. Because there are fat children starving in Mississippi.

Does America really need to the best at everything? You already dominate the world in economics, military power and obesity.

When flying over the middle of America, the turbulence is so bad. It's like all the ignorance is rising through the air.

As a comedian, I'm forced to have a tough skin. Until people laugh, they are detractors. You walk into a new audience where nobody knows you, they go: 'Make us laugh. Show us what you're made of. Prove why we should be listening to you'.

[ on succeeding Jon Stewart on 'The Daily Show'] It's my turn to steer the ship.

Thank you for joining us as we continue the war on bullshit.

[detecting in Donald Trump personality traits associated with Idi Amin, Robert Mugabe, and Muammar Gaddafi] Donald Trump is presidential. He just happens to be running on the wrong continent.

[on the backlash he received after he took over The Daily Show] I had people - you know, people who are Democrats, fans of the old show - saying things like, 'Go back to Djibouti, we want Jon Stewart back.' I knew liberal hatred existed, but I didn't think it would come to me. I had to quell that feeling that people have lost what is theirs.

[when he first took over The Daily Show and on the unexpected liberal hatred he received] ] It is probably the biggest challenge that I've been working toward my entire life without even realizing it. I'm in a position where you are fundamentally against what many people believe.

[on working in non biracial atmospheres with the interviewer] Part of the job was to help people see that you have a bit of that color in yourself, he told the newspaper. Hey, there's a bit of you in me. I'm not coming from a world where I don't see you. If you look carefully, you'll see yourself in me and what I'm saying.

[on hosting 'The Daily Show', 2015] When I started, there was a lot of criticism around me not being angry. But what was there to be angry about? Progress was being made. Unemployment was dropping. Gay people were getting marriage equality. I refuse to be part of an outrage machine. And then Donald Trump came along.

Donald Trump is weird-looking!

[on Joe Biden] Ever since you've come into office, things are really looking up. Gas is up. Rent is up. Food is up. Everything.

[ announcing leaving The Daily Show] I just found myself filled with gratitude for the journey. It's been absolutely amazing. It's something that I never expected. And I found myself thinking, throughout the time, you know, everything we've gone through. The Trump presidency, the pandemic. Just the journey of, you know, the more pandemic. And I realized that after the seven years, my time is up