The funniest part of this quote is that Steve Martin is just not very good. Never has been. Even his early comedy is uncomfortably dumb.

This is one of Martin's breakout performances on the Tonight Show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BN0G0hP7n-s

Compare that to the eloquent and socially poignant hilarity that is Richard Pryor's comedy album from the same year: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjv7oEqv92U