I have no idea what I'm going to say when I stand up to give a

“I have no idea what I'm going to say when I stand up to give a toast. But I do know that anything I say I find funny.” — thus spoke Don Rickles, the master of wit and mischief, whose sharp tongue and fearless humor turned discomfort into laughter and laughter into truth. In this single line lies the essence of the comedian’s art — the courage to trust the moment, to surrender control, and to find joy not in preparation, but in the pure spontaneity of the human spirit. Rickles’ words, though light in tone, conceal deep wisdom about life, creativity, and the sacred power of self-belief.

For Don Rickles, known as “The Merchant of Venom,” the stage was a living battlefield — not of cruelty, but of connection. He built his legacy not by following scripts, but by embracing the unknown. “I have no idea what I’m going to say,” he admits — a statement that to many might sound like chaos, but to him, it was freedom. It speaks to the art of improvisation, the trust that truth and humor dwell not in careful planning, but in the courage to stand before others as you are, unguarded and real. This is the way of all great artists and thinkers — those who know that the best ideas often come unbidden, springing forth like laughter itself: unexpected, wild, and divine.

The origin of this quote comes from Rickles’ long career as one of comedy’s great improvisers. He would walk on stage with no notes, no agenda, only an open mind and an open heart — and within minutes, transform an entire room through humor. His gift was not merely to insult, but to unite — to make people laugh at their differences and in doing so, dissolve them. His humor was a dance on the edge of offense and affection, and his words remind us that what gives comedy — and indeed, life — its spark is not control, but confidence. When he says, “Anything I say I find funny,” he speaks not of arrogance, but of faith in his own voice — a faith that allows creativity to flow unhindered by fear.

Throughout history, many great minds have shared this trust in the unpredictable moment. The philosopher Socrates, who claimed to know nothing, found truth not in prepared speeches but in dialogue — in the living exchange of words and wit. He too walked into conversations unarmed but confident that the wisdom within would emerge when called. So it was with Rickles: like a philosopher of laughter, he stood before audiences not to deliver a monologue, but to engage in a living exchange, finding humor in whatever arose. His gift was not premeditation, but presence — the ability to see life as it unfolds and respond with lightness.

Yet there is another layer to Rickles’ reflection — one that speaks to self-acceptance. “Anything I say I find funny” is not only a testament to his humor, but to his ability to delight in himself. In a world where people fear judgment, Rickles found freedom in laughter — even at his own expense. This is not vanity; it is inner peace. To find oneself amusing is to befriend one’s flaws, to meet imperfection not with shame but with joy. The wise understand that humor is the antidote to despair — that laughter, especially at oneself, transforms suffering into strength. Rickles’ confidence was not the pride of ego, but the serenity of a man who knew himself completely and could therefore laugh without fear.

Consider the story of Mark Twain, another master of spontaneous wit. When asked to give a speech, Twain would often step to the podium without notes, claiming he had “prepared himself to be surprised.” Like Rickles, he trusted in the moment, believing that honesty and humor would guide his tongue better than any script. One evening, when the lights failed during his talk, Twain joked, “I was about to say something brilliant, but it’s better you didn’t see me forget it.” The crowd erupted in laughter. In that moment, the mishap became magic. So too did Rickles turn every uncertainty into laughter — showing us that the unplanned moment often holds the greatest power.

The meaning, then, of Rickles’ words reaches far beyond comedy. It is a philosophy of life: to face each day without knowing exactly what to say or do, but with faith that we will find our way — and even laugh while doing so. The world, like a toast before strangers, is unpredictable. Yet if we trust our instincts, if we approach life with humor and heart, we discover that we are capable of far more than our doubts allow. The key is not to eliminate uncertainty, but to dance with it — to make it our partner in creation, as Rickles did every time he spoke.

Let this, then, be the lesson: walk into the unknown with courage, and when the moment comes to speak — whether before a crowd, or before the mirror of your own soul — speak honestly, and if you can, speak with laughter. Do not wait for perfect words or perfect plans; they will never come. Trust yourself, as Don Rickles did, and find the humor even in the awkward and the absurd. For those who can laugh at the chaos of life do not merely survive it — they master it.

Thus, Rickles’ words, wrapped in jest, become a timeless teaching: laughter is the truest form of confidence, and confidence the purest form of faith. To stand before the world unprepared but unafraid is the highest art — the art of living joyfully in the unpredictable now.