--- description: "Life isn't something you possess. It's something you take part in, and you witness." title: 14 Inspiring Life Lessons From Louis C.K. image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltb802c15b26d53a3f/6988623a3c1639efc145992b/louis-ck.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Newsfeed](/tag/time-section-newsfeed/) ## Newsfeed Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # 14 Inspiring Life Lessons From Louis C.K. by [Joe Oliveto / Thrillist](/author/thrillist/) ## Joe Oliveto / Thrillist Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Sep 4, 2015 2:19 PM CUT  Louis C.K. at the 'Louie' panel discussion during the Television Critics Association press tour in Pasadena, Calif. on Jan. 18, 2015. Louis C.K. at the 'Louie' panel discussion during the Television Critics Association press tour in Pasadena, Calif. on Jan. 18, 2015.Frederick M. Brown—Getty Images by [Joe Oliveto / Thrillist](/author/thrillist/) ## Joe Oliveto / Thrillist Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Sep 4, 2015 2:19 PM CUT Louis C.K. is doing well these days. Thanks to the success of _Louie_, along with his numerous stand-up specials, he’s just about everyone’s favorite comic, with the exception of people who are wrong. Getting to the top of the comedy food chain wasn’t easy, though. Louis C.K. had to work for years in dingy clubs and pour a ton of effort into unsuccessful projects before achieving this level of success. And along the way, he built up a stockpile of wisdom worth paying attention to. Here are some of his best quotes about the importance of hard work, the way your attitude shapes life, and how to not take yourself so seriously. --- > “” --- --- > “” --- --- > “” --- --- > “” --- --- > “” --- --- > “” --- --- > “” --- --- > “” --- --- > “” --- --- > “” --- --- > “” --- --- > “” --- --- > “” --- --- > “” --- _This_ [_article_](https://www.thrillist.com/entertainment/nation/14-insightful-louis-c-k-quotes-about-life?utm%5Fsource=time&utm%5Fmedium=syn&utm%5Fterm=web "undefined") _originally appeared on_ [_Thrillist_](http://www.thrillist.com "undefined") _More from Thrillist:_ * [Anthony Bourdain’s 12 Greatest Quotes About Drinking](https://www.thrillist.com/drink/nation/anthony-bourdain-talks-about-drinking-anthony-bourdain-on-drinking?utm%5Fsource=time&utm%5Fmedium=syn&utm%5Fterm=web "undefined") * [Every HBO Show, Ranked](https://www.thrillist.com/entertainment/nation/best-hbo-show-greatest-hbo-show-of-all-time?utm%5Fsource=time&utm%5Fmedium=syn&utm%5Fterm=web "undefined") * [The Brooklyn of Every State](https://www.thrillist.com/entertainment/nation/hipster-neighborhoods-the-brooklyn-of-every-state?utm%5Fsource=time&utm%5Fmedium=syn&utm%5Fterm=web "undefined") ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4022386/life-quotes-louis-ck/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4022386/life-quotes-louis-ck/"},"headline":"14 Inspiring Life Lessons From Louis C.K.","datePublished":"2015-09-04T14:19:43.000Z","dateModified":"2026-04-13T07:24:17.529Z","description":"\"Life isn't something you possess. 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