--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My only rule about a joke is that it…" description: "\"My only rule about a joke is that it should be funny.\" — Ann Coulter" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4f/ann-coulter-469_about_my-only-rule-about-a-joke-is-that-it-sho_2616554.png" --- # My only rule about a joke is that it should be funny. ![“My only rule about a joke is that it should be funny.” quote by Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4f/ann-coulter-469_about_my-only-rule-about-a-joke-is-that-it-sho_2616554.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4f/ann-coulter-469_about_my-only-rule-about-a-joke-is-that-it-sho_2616554.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4f/ann-coulter-469_about_my-only-rule-about-a-joke-is-that-it-sho_2616554.png) > “My only rule about a joke is that it should be funny.” [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Humor should fulfill its primary purpose: to amuse. **In simple terms:** A joke must be funny. Key Takeaway Prioritize humor over other aims. Themes comedy standards entertainment Mood lighthearted critical Type evaluative cultural When to use this quote - stand‑up routines - satirical articles - social media memes - public speaking Key Concepts taste subjectivity audience expectations Questions to Reflect On - What makes a joke succeed for you? - When does humor cross a line? A Different Perspective Humor is subjective; what am funny to one may offend another. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Joke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joke/) ## Related quotes > [I have a really analytical approach to art. And the whole idea that you can't analyze what makes a joke funny...I do not agree…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-rees/i-have-a-really-analytical-approach-to-art-and-the-whole-idea-that/) [David Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-rees/) > [“A joke’s funny, right? That wasn’t. It’s perfectly okay for a woman to have a sexual appetite, to take the lead now and then.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shani-struthers/a-joke-s-funny-right-that-wasn-t-it-s-perfectly-okay-for-a-woman-to/) [Shani Struthers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shani-struthers/) > [Any joke can be funny, but not any joke is funny. Any joke has the potential to be hilarious to you, but more importantly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-robinson/any-joke-can-be-funny-but-not-any-joke-is-funny-any-joke-has-the/) [Phoebe Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-robinson/) > [A rich man's joke is always funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-rich-man-s-joke-is-always-funny/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If being broke is a joke then you a funny nigga.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-being-broke-is-a-joke-then-you-a-funny-nigga/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I can't even really tell a joke. I find being funny very hard work. I am always asked about it and I feel guilty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-kahn/i-can-t-even-really-tell-a-joke-i-find-being-funny-very-hard-work-i/) [Madeline Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-kahn/) > [“Jokes are funny only in context. There is no such thing as abstract clever word play. Words have meaning in the world in which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jensen/jokes-are-funny-only-in-context-there-is-no-such-thing-as-abstract/) [Robert Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jensen/) > [Sometimes you gotta laugh at your life because it's like a joke, funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-you-gotta-laugh-at-your-life-because-it-s-like-a-joke-funny/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Is your joke still funny? Well to me it's Not!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kinzziegirl/is-your-joke-still-funny-well-to-me-it-s-not/) KinzzieGirl > [Being broke is a joke, I never found it funny / That’s why I count my blessings / As much as I count my money...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fabolous/being-broke-is-a-joke-i-never-found-it-funny-that-s-why-i-count-my/) Fabolous > [Surprise makes a joke funny. I love it when someone tells me something I couldn't possibly have expected; you've been led along one path…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-long/surprise-makes-a-joke-funny-i-love-it-when-someone-tells-me-something/) Josie Long > [Is your joke funny now?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bailey-renee/is-your-joke-funny-now/) Bailey Renee > [“Kissing's a lot like laughing. If the joke's funny, it doesn't matter how long it's been since you last heard one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/kissing-s-a-lot-like-laughing-if-the-joke-s-funny-it-doesn-t-matter/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [There's a guy in the audience with a distinctive laugh. I hope that guy is miked. The only problem with having a distinctive laugh…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/there-s-a-guy-in-the-audience-with-a-distinctive-laugh-i-hope-that/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [If this is some kind of practical joke, it's not funny, and I know funny. I'm a clownfish. -Marlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finding-nemo/if-this-is-some-kind-of-practical-joke-it-s-not-funny-and-i-know/) Finding Nemo ## More by Ann Coulter > [The idea of a bowed and terrified liberal minority during McCarthy's 'reign of terror' is poppycock. Then as now, all elite opinion was against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/the-idea-of-a-bowed-and-terrified-liberal-minority-during-mccarthy-s/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [My favorite Founding Fathers, Christians like John Adams, were absolutely appalled by slavery, and did not own slaves. I think we're going to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/my-favorite-founding-fathers-christians-like-john-adams-were/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [This is no time to be precious about locating the exact individuals directly involved in this particular terrorist attack… We know who the homicidal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/this-is-no-time-to-be-precious-about-locating-the-exact-individuals/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [This week's winner for best comedy line about the war is New York Democratic Sen. Charles Schumer. Referring to - well, it doesn't really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/this-week-s-winner-for-best-comedy-line-about-the-war-is-new-york/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [Lawyers tend to be bright people. 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Only the media are not skeptical, but, then, they were also not skeptical when the administration put out the line that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/everyone-is-skeptical-only-the-media-are-not-skeptical-but-then-they/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [ Here's a foolproof method for keeping America safe. Always do the exact 180-degree opposite of whatever \[Jimmy\] Carter says, as quickly as possible. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/here-s-a-foolproof-method-for-keeping-america-safe-always-do-the/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [Why don't Republicans spend all their airtime attacking the media for lying about what Obama's amnesty does and what the Democrats are doing? 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As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/) [Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' 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