--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A laugh, if purchased at the expense of…" description: "\"A laugh, if purchased at the expense of propriety, costs too much.\" — Anonymous" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93e/anonymous-1_costs_a-laugh-if-purchased-at-the-expense-of-p_1065402.jpg" --- # A laugh, if purchased at the expense of propriety, costs… ![“A laugh, if purchased at the expense of propriety, costs too much.” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93e/anonymous-1_costs_a-laugh-if-purchased-at-the-expense-of-p_1065402.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93e/anonymous-1_costs_a-laugh-if-purchased-at-the-expense-of-p_1065402.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93e/anonymous-1_costs_a-laugh-if-purchased-at-the-expense-of-p_1065402.jpg) > “A laugh, if purchased at the expense of propriety, costs too much.” [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A joke that sacrifices decency for humor ends up being harmful and demeaning. **In simple terms:** Indecent jokes hurt more than they help. Key Takeaway Avoid humor that disrespects others. Themes ethics humor respect Mood cautious reflective Type ethical social When to use this quote - stand‑up comedy - online memes - casual conversation - political satire Key Concepts social norms oral boundaries Questions to Reflect On - When does a joke cross the line? - How can you be funny without offending? A Different Perspective Humor that offends can damage relationships and reputation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Costs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/costs/) [Laugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laugh/) [Laughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laughter/) [Purchased](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purchased/) ## Related quotes > [It's a vanity to think that a legitimate shamanistic experience can be purchased.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-a-vanity-to-think-that-a-legitimate-shamanistic-experience-can/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I understand that in these difficult economic times, the potential for any additional expense is not welcomed by American businesses. But in the long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-locke/i-understand-that-in-these-difficult-economic-times-the-potential-for/) [Gary Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-locke/) > [You're biggest expense is the money you don't make.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-re-biggest-expense-is-the-money-you-don-t-make/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I cannot imagine why we should be at the expense to furnish wit for succeeding ages, when the former have made no sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-cannot-imagine-why-we-should-be-at-the-expense-to-furnish-wit-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Peace is costly but it is worth the expense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/peace-is-costly-but-it-is-worth-the-expense/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think we have to be very careful when we toss around terms like 'cut health care costs.' We would do very well to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-think-we-have-to-be-very-careful-when-we-toss-around-terms-like-cut/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Free advice costs nothing until you act upon it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/free-advice-costs-nothing-until-you-act-upon-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Smile a lot. It costs nothing and is beyond price.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/smile-a-lot-it-costs-nothing-and-is-beyond-price/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It always costs more to do something wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-always-costs-more-to-do-something-wrong/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Forgiveness is of high value, yet it costs nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/forgiveness-is-of-high-value-yet-it-costs-nothing/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [$mile @ lot, !t costs nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/mile-lot-t-costs-nothing/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The federal government spends about $2.51 per child per day to feed them lunch. Out of that, you have to pay for labor, facilities,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-federal-government-spends-about-2-51-per-child-per-day-to-feed/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Anyone can hate. It costs to love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/anyone-can-hate-it-costs-to-love/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [What happiness is there which is not purchased with more or less of pain?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-oliphant/what-happiness-is-there-which-is-not-purchased-with-more-or-less-of/) [Margaret Oliphant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-oliphant/) > [The art isn't there to be purchased - it's there to be enjoyed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-seymour/the-art-isn-t-there-to-be-purchased-it-s-there-to-be-enjoyed/) [Stephanie Seymour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-seymour/) ## More by Anonymous > [And a tear rolled down her cheek, as she said goodbye; because she's walking away, and she's never looking back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-a-tear-rolled-down-her-cheek-as-she-said-goodbye-because-she-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Scrabble - The game is available in Braille. That’s a nice fact. This makes me feel better about humanity for some reason. I can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/scrabble-the-game-is-available-in-braille-that-s-a-nice-fact-this/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everyone needs someone to love, and I choose you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-needs-someone-to-love-and-i-choose-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Put on my J's and dance the whole night away Im naughty by nature like Im hip-hop hooray With my hands in the sky,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/put-on-my-j-s-and-dance-the-whole-night-away-im-naughty-by-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Me.. I have been through a lot, but I still manage to have a smile on my face. Im not worried about the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/me-i-have-been-through-a-lot-but-i-still-manage-to-have-a-smile-on-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Distance is a test of love. many will fail for those who can't withstand it, but for those who can, theres only one answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/distance-is-a-test-of-love-many-will-fail-for-those-who-can-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Im sorry I ever tried...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-sorry-i-ever-tried/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Being betrayed by the one you love is the worst feeling in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-betrayed-by-the-one-you-love-is-the-worst-feeling-in-the-world/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only person I've ever purposely caused pain here is myself...By simply sharing, caring too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-person-i-ve-ever-purposely-caused-pain-here-is-myself-by/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Explore all 162,899 Anonymous quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More Comedy quotes > ['Mad TV' is one of my most favorite shows of all time and is a huge part of my obsession with sketch comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-dawson/mad-tv-is-one-of-my-most-favorite-shows-of-all-time-and-is-a-huge/) [Shane Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-dawson/) > [You can laugh at me, but I understand show business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ksenia-sobchak/you-can-laugh-at-me-but-i-understand-show-business/) [Ksenia Sobchak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ksenia-sobchak/) > [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/) [Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/) > [I wouldn't want people to laugh at me. 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That's as powerful as stirring their sorrow, stirring their compassion, because that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/i-really-enjoy-making-people-laugh-i-ve-discovered-that-s-a-great/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) [Browse all 19,795 Comedy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A laugh, if purchased at the expense of propriety, costs too much.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Anonymous" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-laugh-if-purchased-at-the-expense-of-propriety-costs-too-much/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Comedy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-laugh-if-purchased-at-the-expense-of-propriety-costs-too-much/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93e/anonymous-1_costs_a-laugh-if-purchased-at-the-expense-of-p_1065402.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93e/anonymous-1_costs_a-laugh-if-purchased-at-the-expense-of-p_1065402.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93e/anonymous-1_costs_a-laugh-if-purchased-at-the-expense-of-p_1065402.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A laugh, if purchased at the expense of propriety, costs too much.” — Anonymous", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Anonymous", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A laugh, if purchased at the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-laugh-if-purchased-at-the-expense-of-propriety-costs-too-much/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-laugh-if-purchased-at-the-expense-of-propriety-costs-too-much/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```