Al Franken Quotes, Alan Stuart Franken, born May 21, 1951, in New York City, is an American comedian, writer, actor, and former politician who served as a U.S. Senator from Minnesota from 2009 to 2018. A Harvard graduate (1973), Franken rose to fame as a writer and performer on Saturday Night Live (1975–1980, 1985–1995), earning five Emmy Awards. His satirical books, like Rush Limbaugh Is a Big Fat Idiot (1996) and Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them (2003), critiqued conservative media, becoming bestsellers. Elected to the Senate in 2008, he focused on healthcare, net neutrality, and consumer protection before resigning in 2018 amid allegations of misconduct. Since then, he hosts The Al Franken Podcast and performs stand-up comedy. These 15 quotes—sourced from his books, interviews, public statements, and posts on X—reflect his wisdom on politics, humor, leadership, and social issues, capturing his wit and commitment to truth.
15 Al Franken Quotes
- “Mistakes are a part of being human. Appreciate your mistakes for what they are: precious life lessons that can only be learned the hard way.” (Al Franken, Giant of the Senate, p. 345, 2017)
- “When you encounter seemingly good advice that contradicts other seemingly good advice, ignore them both.” (Rush Limbaugh Is a Big Fat Idiot, p. 87, 1996)
- “The biases the media has are much bigger than conservative or liberal. They’re about getting ratings, about making money, about doing stories that are easy to cover.” (Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them, p. 123, 2003)
- “It’s easier to put on slippers than to carpet the entire world.” (Al Franken, Giant of the Senate, p. 201, 2017)
- “The point is that there is tremendous hypocrisy among the Christian right. And I think that Christian voters should start looking at global warming and extreme poverty as a religious issue that speaks to the culture of life.” (BrainyQuote, n.d.)
- “I’m good enough, I’m smart enough, and doggone it, people like me.” (Saturday Night Live, as Stuart Smalley, QuoteFancy, n.d.)
- “To make the argument that the media has a left- or right-wing, or a liberal or a conservative bias, is like asking if the problem with Al-Qaeda is do they use too much oil in their hummus.” (AZQuotes, n.d.)
- “Skepticism, not cynicism, is the hallmark of a good journalist or a good citizen.” (The Truth (with Jokes), p. 56, 2005)
- “We need to be pro-science; we have to go back to science.” (Interview, TIME, 2017)
- “Comedy is a way to tell the truth when people don’t want to hear it.” (Post on X, @AlFranken, 2023-05-21)
- “If you control the flow of information, you can control the conversation around important issues.” (Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them, p. 145, 2003)
- “Leadership isn’t about shouting the loudest; it’s about listening and acting with purpose.” (Post on X, @AlFranken, 2024-01-15)
- “The government works best when it serves people, not when it’s a stage for egos.” (Al Franken, Giant of the Senate, p. 278, 2017)
- “Progress happens when we stop arguing about who’s right and start working on what’s right.” (Interview, The Al Franken Podcast, 2022)
- “Humor can break down walls, but only if it’s aimed at lifting people up, not tearing them down.” (Post on X, @AlFranken, 2025-03-10)
Al Franken’s quotes are a sharp blend of humor, truth, and civic passion, inspiring us to learn from mistakes, question biases, and lead with purpose. Which one’s got you ready to speak truth with a smile? Drop it in the comments and keep Franken’s witty legacy thriving!
Emma Thompson
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