--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In order to understand comedy, you need…" description: "\"In order to understand comedy, you need to understand what's sad about the world.\" — Ayo Edebiri" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1f/ayo-edebiri-6347_comedy_in-order-to-understand-comedy-you-need-t_2336171.jpg" --- # In order to understand comedy, you need to understand… ![“In order to understand comedy, you need to understand what's sad about the world.” quote by Ayo Edebiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1f/ayo-edebiri-6347_comedy_in-order-to-understand-comedy-you-need-t_2336171.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1f/ayo-edebiri-6347_comedy_in-order-to-understand-comedy-you-need-t_2336171.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1f/ayo-edebiri-6347_comedy_in-order-to-understand-comedy-you-need-t_2336171.jpg) > “In order to understand comedy, you need to understand what's sad about the world.” [Ayo Edebiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayo-edebiri/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Comedy requires awareness of underlying sadness to create meaningful humor. **In simple terms:** Comedy needs sadness to work. Key Takeaway Find depth before laughter. Themes comedy sadness insight Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - stand‑up - screenwriting - social critique Key Concepts Psychology of humor empathy Questions to Reflect On - How does sadness shape comedic timing? - Can humor heal sorrow? A Different Perspective Humor can trivialize pain if not balanced. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Comedy Need](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy-need-2376835/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Need Understand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/need-understand/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Sad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sad/) [Sad world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sad-world/) [Understand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understand/) [Understand Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understand-comedy-515021/) [Understand Sad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understand-sad-1516146/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [An understanding person may not understand everything about you. But they always understand when you're sad or happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/an-understanding-person-may-not-understand-everything-about-you-but/) [Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/) > [It's so sad when you try and fail it's so sad when you miss and no one care it's so sad when you talk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorna-grace/it-s-so-sad-when-you-try-and-fail-it-s-so-sad-when-you-miss-and-no/) [Lorna Grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorna-grace/) > [\* We all understand what the sad song means. \* Success and failure, happiness and sadness are not about money. 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We need to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hardwick/obviously-we-went-after-trump-quite-a-bit-but-i-also-feel-like-we-can/) [Chris Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hardwick/) > [This hiatus coming up I'm looking at a comedy because I need the balance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khandi-alexander/this-hiatus-coming-up-i-m-looking-at-a-comedy-because-i-need-the/) [Khandi Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khandi-alexander/) > [When you are doing comedy, you need to get the right reaction from your partner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/upasana-singh/when-you-are-doing-comedy-you-need-to-get-the-right-reaction-from/) [Upasana Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/upasana-singh/) > [Stand-up keeps you alive. It is definitely the most specialized field in comedy because you need to stay sharp and well-tuned every night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-davidson/stand-up-keeps-you-alive-it-is-definitely-the-most-specialized-field/) [Tommy Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-davidson/) > [People look at me and go, 'He's only successful because he's got a bunch of 16-year-old girls at his back who don't understand comedy.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/people-look-at-me-and-go-he-s-only-successful-because-he-s-got-a/) [Bo Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/) > [If I were to say that I grew up in East Los Angeles in the projects poor, I assumed that everybody understood that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-mencia/if-i-were-to-say-that-i-grew-up-in-east-los-angeles-in-the-projects/) [Carlos Mencia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-mencia/) > [Imitation is the best form of flattery; people generally understand that my comedy is not intended to hurt anybody. Occasionally, an actor might take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivek/imitation-is-the-best-form-of-flattery-people-generally-understand/) [Vivek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivek/) > [I think people don't understand that comedy is an outlet for me. Comedy allows me to get outside of myself, and exercise this thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-ferrell/i-think-people-don-t-understand-that-comedy-is-an-outlet-for-me/) [Will Ferrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-ferrell/) > [I don't think people understand what comedy is supposed to do. We will observe things, we will make fun of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-brennan/i-don-t-think-people-understand-what-comedy-is-supposed-to-do-we-will/) [Neal Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-brennan/) > [I think comedy because of the Internet it has a bigger audience, a bigger fan base. It has fans that understand comedy more than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-rogan/i-think-comedy-because-of-the-internet-it-has-a-bigger-audience-a/) [Joe Rogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-rogan/) ## More by Ayo Edebiri > [I found out about Sister Song through Poppy Liu, who's on the show 'Hacks.' Reproductive rights are human rights, and I wanted to shine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayo-edebiri/i-found-out-about-sister-song-through-poppy-liu-who-s-on-the-show/) [Ayo Edebiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayo-edebiri/) > [The reality is that we have all these conflicting truths and none of us knows why we are the way we are, unless you've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayo-edebiri/the-reality-is-that-we-have-all-these-conflicting-truths-and-none-of/) [Ayo Edebiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayo-edebiri/) > [Right before prom I got my eyebrows waxed for the first time, and we can see these are not waxable eyebrows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayo-edebiri/right-before-prom-i-got-my-eyebrows-waxed-for-the-first-time-and-we/) [Ayo Edebiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayo-edebiri/) > [Well, I love classic cinema.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayo-edebiri/well-i-love-classic-cinema/) [Ayo Edebiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayo-edebiri/) > [I think Austin Butler should win an Oscar for 'Elvis.' You don't have to see it, all you need to know is I'm correct.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayo-edebiri/i-think-austin-butler-should-win-an-oscar-for-elvis-you-don-t-have-to/) [Ayo Edebiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayo-edebiri/) > [I was a weird Black girl. I still am. But growing up, if you get told your interests are weird or not Black enough,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayo-edebiri/i-was-a-weird-black-girl-i-still-am-but-growing-up-if-you-get-told/) [Ayo Edebiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayo-edebiri/) > [I have so many memories of watching 'Oprah' with my mom after school and really feeling united with the country. Her show was such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayo-edebiri/i-have-so-many-memories-of-watching-oprah-with-my-mom-after-school/) [Ayo Edebiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayo-edebiri/) > [Everyone in the world is an absolute freak and I love it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayo-edebiri/everyone-in-the-world-is-an-absolute-freak-and-i-love-it/) [Ayo Edebiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayo-edebiri/) > [I think there's something that's in the Boston tap water that makes you a fan of Boston teams, regardless of anything. They can do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayo-edebiri/i-think-there-s-something-that-s-in-the-boston-tap-water-that-makes/) [Ayo Edebiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayo-edebiri/) > [In sixth grade, my mom got me a green iPod Nano that she won at a work raffle and I cried.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayo-edebiri/in-sixth-grade-my-mom-got-me-a-green-ipod-nano-that-she-won-at-a-work/) [Ayo Edebiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayo-edebiri/) > [SNL' is something that in my bones, I dreamed of as a comedian, as a young kid. That to me is a pinnacle of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayo-edebiri/snl-is-something-that-in-my-bones-i-dreamed-of-as-a-comedian-as-a/) [Ayo Edebiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayo-edebiri/) > [I get very nervous when people like stuff too much. I feel, like, as a child of the Internet, I know what that's like:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayo-edebiri/i-get-very-nervous-when-people-like-stuff-too-much-i-feel-like-as-a/) [Ayo Edebiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayo-edebiri/) > [I love Sandy Liang; she's a New York girl. I adore Shush/Tong, Martine Rose and Thom Browne.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayo-edebiri/i-love-sandy-liang-she-s-a-new-york-girl-i-adore-shush-tong-martine/) [Ayo Edebiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayo-edebiri/) > [I remember always being afraid of the chefs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayo-edebiri/i-remember-always-being-afraid-of-the-chefs/) [Ayo Edebiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayo-edebiri/) > [I fell in love with improv but like the good, repressed, immigrant child I am, I bottled that energy up and used it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayo-edebiri/i-fell-in-love-with-improv-but-like-the-good-repressed-immigrant/) [Ayo Edebiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayo-edebiri/) [Explore all 99 Ayo Edebiri quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayo-edebiri/) ## 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. That's why I have to give all that I can, and at least produce something that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhao-wei/i-wouldn-t-want-people-to-laugh-at-me-that-s-why-i-have-to-give-all/) [Zhao Wei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhao-wei/) > [“Our world will not die as a result of the bomb, as the papers say, it will die of laughter, of banality, of making a joke…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/our-world-will-not-die-as-a-result-of-the-bomb-as-the-papers-say-it/) [Carlos Ruiz Zafon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/) > [I've been funny my whole life. This is a gift God gave me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-morgan/i-ve-been-funny-my-whole-life-this-is-a-gift-god-gave-me/) [Tracy Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-morgan/) > [“Laugh and grow strong”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ignatius-of-loyola/laugh-and-grow-strong/) [Ignatius of Loyola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ignatius-of-loyola/) > [In the future, I would like to do more films with contemporary themes. Perhaps comedy, which is something I have done in theater but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/in-the-future-i-would-like-to-do-more-films-with-contemporary-themes/) [Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/) > [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/) [Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [There's a difference between delivering real funny and just silly funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-rel-howery/there-s-a-difference-between-delivering-real-funny-and-just-silly/) [Lil Rel Howery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-rel-howery/) > [Oh to that corkscrew, the useful tool to unlock the treasure of wit, the treasury of laughter, the front door of fellowship, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-guzaldo/oh-to-that-corkscrew-the-useful-tool-to-unlock-the-treasure-of-wit/) [Andrew Guzaldo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-guzaldo/) > [“Men circle like bees around honey, buzzing to communicate their sexual despair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carla-h-krueger/men-circle-like-bees-around-honey-buzzing-to-communicate-their-sexual/) [Carla H Krueger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carla-h-krueger/) > [I do love to laugh!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-giudice/i-do-love-to-laugh/) [Teresa Giudice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-giudice/) > [I really enjoy making people laugh; I've discovered that's a great technique. 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