Quotes on how to be humorous
⚠️ This book is generated by AI, the content may not be 100% accurate.
1 Irony and Satire
1.1 Deadpan
📖 A style of humor that is delivered with a serious or expressionless demeanor.
“A deadpan delivery can be very funny, because it’s unexpected.”
— Steve Martin, The New Yorker (1979)
Deadpan humor relies on the contrast between the serious delivery and the humorous content, which can create a sense of surprise and amusement.
“The best deadpan humor is the kind that you don’t realize is deadpan until after you’ve laughed.”
— John Mulaney, Kid Gorgeous at Radio City (2018)
The most effective deadpan humor is subtle and understated, allowing the audience to discover its humor on their own.
“Deadpan humor is like a magic trick. It’s all about the timing.”
— David Sedaris, Me Talk Pretty One Day (2000)
Deadpan humor requires precise timing and delivery in order to achieve its comedic effect.
“Deadpan humor is the art of saying something funny without cracking a smile.”
— Unknown, The Internet (Unknown)
Deadpan humor relies on the performer’s ability to maintain a serious expression while delivering humorous content.
“Deadpan humor is like a poker face. It’s all about keeping a straight face while everyone else is laughing.”
— Mitch Hedberg, Strategic Grill Locations (2001)
Deadpan humor involves maintaining a serious or expressionless demeanor, even when delivering humorous content.
“Deadpan humor is the art of saying something funny in a way that makes it sound like you’re not even trying.”
— Demetri Martin, The Overbook Tour (2012)
Deadpan humor relies on the contrast between the serious delivery and the humorous content, creating a sense of surprise and amusement.
“Deadpan humor is like a slow-burning fire. It takes a while to get going, but when it does, it’s hard to put out.”
— Unknown, The Internet (Unknown)
Deadpan humor can take time to appreciate, but once it connects, it can be highly effective.
“Deadpan humor is the art of saying the most outrageous things in the most serious way possible.”
— Ricky Gervais, The Ricky Gervais Show (2005)
Deadpan humor involves delivering humorous content with a serious or expressionless demeanor, creating a sense of irony and absurdity.
“Deadpan humor is like a well-timed fart. It’s unexpected, it’s a little bit gross, but it’s also really funny.”
— Unknown, The Internet (Unknown)
Deadpan humor can be compared to a well-timed fart in its ability to surprise and amuse, despite its unconventional nature.
“Deadpan humor is the art of making people laugh without even trying.”
— Unknown, The Internet (Unknown)
Deadpan humor involves delivering humorous content with a serious expression, creating a humorous effect through the contrast between the delivery and the content.
1.2 Parody
📖 A humorous imitation or mockery of a particular work or genre.
“Satire is a sort of glass, wherein beholders do generally discover everybody’s face but their own.”
— Jonathan Swift, The Tatler (1709)
Swift humorously observes that people are often able to see the flaws in others but are blind to their own faults.
“Irony is a polite form of contempt.”
— Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray (1890)
Wilde wittily suggests that irony can be a way to express disdain for someone or something while maintaining a facade of civility.
“Parody is the sincerest form of flattery.”
— Oscar Wilde, Letter to the Editor of The World (1882)
Wilde playfully implies that parody, despite its humorous imitation, is a form of admiration for the original work.
“Satire is tragedy plus time.”
— Kurt Vonnegut, A Man Without a Country (1973)
Vonnegut suggests that satire arises from the passage of time, as tragic events gradually become less painful and more suitable for humorous treatment.
“Parody is a form of flattery, but flattery gone to seed.”
— W.H. Auden, The Dyer’s Hand (1962)
Auden humorously notes that while parody may initially be flattering, it can become excessive and lose its effectiveness.
“Irony is the art of saying one thing and meaning something else with a straight face.”
— Terry Pratchett, Reaper Man (1991)
Pratchett humorously defines irony as the ability to express a hidden meaning while maintaining a serious demeanor.
“Parody is a form of criticism that uses laughter as its weapon.”
— James Thurber, The Beast in Me and Other Animals (1948)
Thurber suggests that parody can be an effective way to criticize a subject by using humor to expose its flaws.
“Satire is a sort of glass, wherein beholders do generally discover everybody’s face but their own.”
— Jonathan Swift, The Tatler (1710)
Swift humorously points out that people are often quick to recognize the flaws in others but oblivious to their own.
“Irony is a polite form of contempt.”
— Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray (1890)
Wilde wittily highlights that irony can be a sophisticated way to express disdain for someone or something while maintaining a façade of civility.
“Parody is the sincerest form of flattery.”
— Oscar Wilde, Letter to the Editor of The World (1882)
Wilde humorously suggests that parody, despite its humorous imitation, is a testament to the admiration for the original work.
1.3 Situational
📖 Humor that arises from the unexpected or absurd nature of a situation.
“The man who can smile when things go wrong has not been well informed.”
— Laurence J. Peter, The Peter Principle (1969)
This quote highlights the absurdity of expecting someone to remain cheerful in the face of adversity, suggesting that such a person is likely unaware of the true extent of the situation.
“I’m supposed to be Snow White, but I’m more like Dopey.”
— Drew Barrymore, Interview with The Hollywood Reporter (2015)
This self-deprecating quote humorously acknowledges the discrepancy between an idealized image and reality, poking fun at the notion of living up to expectations.
“Whenever I feel the need to exercise, I lie down until it goes away.”
— Robert M. Hutchins, Reader’s Digest (1948)
This witty observation satirizes the common aversion to physical exertion, presenting it as a humorous and relatable struggle.
“If you’re going to be able to look back on something and laugh about it, you might as well laugh about it now.”
— Marie Osmond, TV interview (2003)
This quote encourages finding humor in difficult situations, suggesting that laughter can provide perspective and help us cope with adversity.
“A bank is a place that will lend you money if you can prove that you don’t need it.”
— Bob Hope, Joke (1963)
This satirical quote humorously highlights the absurdity of lending practices, suggesting that those who truly need financial assistance may be less likely to qualify for it.
“I’m not a vegetarian because I love animals; I’m a vegetarian because I hate plants.”
— A. Whitney Brown, Unknown (1995)
This witty remark satirizes the common reasons for adopting a vegetarian diet, presenting a humorous and unexpected perspective on the issue.
“I always wanted to be somebody, but now I realize I should have been more specific.”
— Lily Tomlin, Play It Again, Sam (1972)
This humorous quote reflects on the importance of setting clear goals, suggesting that a lack of specificity can lead to unexpected or undesirable outcomes.
“The only time I ever enjoyed eating a clock was when I bit into the second hand.”
— Unknown, Internet joke (2008)
This absurd and unexpected statement humorously plays on the idea of time being edible, creating a surreal and amusing image.
“My grandmother always said, ‘If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.’ So I kept my mouth shut for 40 years.”
— Jerry Seinfeld, Seinfield (1993)
This humorous quote satirizes the notion of holding back one’s thoughts and opinions, suggesting that doing so can be more challenging than it seems.
“I’m not sure what I’m supposed to do with my life, but I’m pretty sure it doesn’t involve wearing pants.”
— Unknown, Internet meme (2012)
This witty and relatable quote humorously expresses the feeling of uncertainty and aversion to societal expectations, particularly regarding dress codes.
1.4 Understatement
📖 A humorous way of downplaying or diminishing the importance of something.
“They are not merely crackers. They are water biscuit. They are essentially ship’s biscuit…but they do not have that slight suggestion of bilge water that is the true cachet of the ship’s biscuit.”
— P. G. Wodehouse, “If I Were You” (1931)
Wodehouse employs understatement to poke fun at the blandness of water biscuits, likening them to the unappetizing ship’s biscuit while subtly implying that they are even less flavorful.
“I don’t think that there will be a great deal of fighting; a certain amount of manouvering, perhaps, but not much bloodshed.”
— Winston Churchill, Speech to the British House of Commons (1939)
Churchill’s understatement about the impending World War II, delivered just days before its outbreak, adds a layer of biting irony.
“I never forget a face, but in your case I’ll be glad to make an exception.”
— Groucho Marx, At the Circus (1939)
Marx’s witty remark dismissively downplays his ability to remember people, conveying a humorous disdain for the person he’s addressing.
“It was a bit of a disappointment, really. I mean, all that fuss and bother about a floating wheelie bin.”
— Terry Pratchett, Thief of Time (2001)
Pratchett uses understatement to satirize the overly dramatic reactions to a mundane object like a garbage bin, evoking both humor and a subtle criticism of society’s tendency to sensationalize.
“I have nothing to declare except my genius.”
— Oscar Wilde, Lady Windermere’s Fan (1892)
Wilde’s humorous understatement highlights the protagonist’s self-assured arrogance, making light of his grandiose self-perception.
“I’m not afraid to die; I just don’t want to be there when it happens.”
— Woody Allen, Annie Hall (1977)
Allen employs understatement to humorously express his fear of death, downplaying its significance while also acknowledging its inevitability.
“It’s a recession when your neighbor loses his job; it’s a depression when you lose yours.”
— Harry S. Truman, Attributed (1954)
Truman’s understatement highlights the subjective nature of economic hardship, emphasizing the severe impact unemployment has on individuals.
“There’s no point in being grown-up if you can’t be childish sometimes.”
— Dr. Seuss, The Cat in the Hat (1957)
Seuss uses understatement to blend humor and wisdom, suggesting that embracing childlike playfulness can enhance adulthood.
“A modest little sum. One likes to dine well. One likes to have a roof over one’s head.”
— Margaret Mitchell, Gone with the Wind (1936)
Mitchell employs understatement to satirize Scarlett O’Hara’s lavish lifestyle, subtly exposing her extravagance and self-centeredness.
“I have often wished I had clear title to my thoughts; there are many I should like to cancel.”
— Mark Twain, Following the Equator: A Journey Around the World (1897)
Twain humorously underplays his dissatisfaction with his thoughts, implying that his mind can be a chaotic and undesirable place.
1.5 Wit
📖 A sharp and clever turn of phrase that is often humorous.
“Wit is the sudden marriage of ideas which have the most distant connection.”
— George Meredith, None (1871)
Witty remarks are clever and humorous because they connect two seemingly unrelated thoughts in a surprising and unexpected way.
“A witty saying proves nothing.”
— Voltaire, A Philosophical Dictionary (1764)
A clever or humorous remark may be entertaining, but it doesn’t necessarily prove a point or establish a truth.
“If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.”
— Marcus Tullius Cicero, Letters to Friends (BCE 45)
This quote humorously suggests that a garden and a library can provide all the enjoyment and fulfillment one needs in life.
“Definition of a friend: a person with whom I dare to be myself.”
— Frank Crane, The Collected Papers of Dr. Frank Crane (1931)
This witty definition of a friend highlights the importance of being able to be oneself around those we consider close.
“The world is a comedy to those that think, a tragedy to those that feel.”
— Horace Walpole, Letter to Sir Horace Mann (1770)
This quote wittily suggests that the way we perceive the world depends on our perspective and temperament.
“The greatest compliment that was ever paid me was when someone asked me what I thought, and attended to my answer.”
— Henry David Thoreau, Walden (1854)
This witty remark humorously highlights the importance of being listened to and respected.
“I love mankind; it’s people I can’t stand.”
— Charles Shultz, None (1950)
This humorous quote wittily expresses the bittersweet truth that while we may love humanity as a whole, interacting with individuals can sometimes be challenging.
“I’ve had a perfectly wonderful evening, but this wasn’t it.”
— Groucho Marx, Animal Crackers (1930)
This witty remark humorously expresses disappointment in a sarcastic and unexpected way.
“Outside of a dog, a book is man’s best friend. Inside of a dog, it’s too dark to read.”
— Groucho Marx, None (1930)
This witty remark humorously compares the companionship of dogs and books in a clever and unexpected way.
“I’m not afraid of death; I just don’t want to be there when it happens.”
— Woody Allen, Without Feathers (1975)
This witty remark humorously expresses the fear of death in a clever and unexpected way.