“I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman, 'Where's the self-help section?' She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.”

American stand-up comedian, satirist, social critic, actor and author

George Denis Patrick Carlin was an American stand-up comedian, satirist, social critic, actor, and author. He became known for his sharp, wide-ranging stage work and for the way he folded dark humor into commentary on public life. His routines often focused on contemporary politics, the English language, psychology, and religion. He built a long career around challenging ordinary assumptions and turning everyday speech and social habits into material for critique.