News of Robin Williams’s apparent suicide left the world shocked, bereaved…and lesser for his absence. Robin Williams was a man who dedicated his life to making others laugh, and he was, by all meanings of the word, successful in doing so. He was gifted with both great talent and a great heart.
Williams was also active in many charity works. He and his former wife Marsha founded the Windfall Foundation , an organization dedicated to raising money for other charities. Williams also hosted the Comic Relief fundraising efforts to help the homeless, supported the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and performed with the USO for U.S. troops in both Iraq and Afghanistan.
Williams also left behind a host of quotes, some humorous, some inspirational – the words that made Robin Williams beloved and admired and funny. Here is a collection of just ten of many that seem to encapsulate both Williams’s philosophy and humor.
1) “God gave men both a penis and a brain, but unfortunately not enough blood supply to run both at the same time.”
2) “Comedy is acting out optimism.”
3) “Do you think God gets stoned? I think so… look at the platypus.”
4) “If it’s not one thing, it’s your mother.”
5) “What’s right is what’s left if you do everything else wrong.”
6) “I used to think the worst thing in life was to end up all alone. It’s not. The worst thing in life is to end up with people who make you feel all alone.”
7) “You’re only given a little spark of madness. You mustn’t lose it.”
8) “We don’t read and write poetry because it’s cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion. And medicine, law, business, engineering – these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love – these are what we stay alive for.”
9) “You treat a disease, you win, you lose. You treat a person, I’ll guarantee you’ll win.”
10) “No matter what people tell you, words and ideas can change the world.”
Although Robin Williams’ family, friends and fans – the many who loved him and admired him – may never know what was in his mind at the moment of his death, we know what was in his heart as he lived. The words and ideas of Robin Williams did change the world – made it brighter, funnier and happier…even if for just a little while.
[Image via HBO]