The Jerk (1979)
1 question
Directed by: Carl Reiner
Starring: Steve Martin, Bernadette Peters, Mabel King, Catlin Adams
Visible crew/equipment: Carnival biker chick goes through a flaming hoop and falls down after going though it. Just before she goes, you can see a rope tied to her to pull her off the bike after she passes through the flames. (00:33:30)
More quotes from The Jerk
Trivia: "Cat Juggling" was a bit in Steve Martin's stand-up acts in the late 70's.
Answer: Navin self-applies the "Jerk" epithet early in the film, using it not in the sense of someone obnoxious or mean (as it is used in most cases), but in the sense of a stupid person. He's saying he blames himself and his lack of intelligence (though, as you say, it is usually simple naïveté) for ending up where he is (broke, homeless).