--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The best jokes are often only understood…" description: "\"“The best jokes are often only understood by one other person.”\" — Barry Humphries" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/282/barry-humphries-10778_quote_the-best-jokes-are-often-only-understood_1573858.jpg" --- # The best jokes are often only understood by one other… ![“The best jokes are often only understood by one other person.” quote by Barry Humphries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/282/barry-humphries-10778_quote_the-best-jokes-are-often-only-understood_1573858.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/282/barry-humphries-10778_quote_the-best-jokes-are-often-only-understood_1573858.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/282/barry-humphries-10778_quote_the-best-jokes-are-often-only-understood_1573858.jpg) > ““The best jokes are often only understood by one other person.”” [Barry Humphries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-humphries/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Humor often works best when shared with someone who truly gets the reference, creating an exclusive bond. **In simple terms:** Jokes need a shared understanding. Key Takeaway Find a confidant who shares your humor. Themes friendship humor exclusivity Mood playful intimate Type social relational When to use this quote - social gatherings - private conversations - online forums Key Concepts shared context inside jokes Questions to Reflect On - Who is your go‑to person for inside jokes? - How does shared humor strengthen relationships? A Different Perspective If the other person doesn't get it, the joke can fall flat. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Jokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jokes/) ## Related quotes > [Some of the best jokes are about funerals or people dying or whatever. Laughter and tears are two sides of the same coin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-bonnar/some-of-the-best-jokes-are-about-funerals-or-people-dying-or-whatever/) [Mark Bonnar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-bonnar/) > [The best jokes are dangerous, and dangerous because they are in some way truthful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/the-best-jokes-are-dangerous-and-dangerous-because-they-are-in-some/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“Sensing the potential donor’s growing frustration, and wanting to end on a positive note so that they might be able to meet again, my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-voss/sensing-the-potential-donor-s-growing-frustration-and-wanting-to-end/) [Chris Voss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-voss/) > [“What the person, who knows the truth, will speak, will not be understood by the person who does not know the truth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-the-person-who-knows-the-truth-will-speak-will-not-be-understood/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“SERVICE, Sacrifice and Self-Control are three words which must be well understood by the person who succeeds in doing something that is of help…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/service-sacrifice-and-self-control-are-three-words-which-must-be-well/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [“making yourself understood to another person is essentially a problem of cryptology.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-fagone/making-yourself-understood-to-another-person-is-essentially-a-problem/) [Jason Fagone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-fagone/) > [“He understood that every person has a weak and needy part of their soul that can be bought, and he knew that every individual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-t-kiyosaki/he-understood-that-every-person-has-a-weak-and-needy-part-of-their/) [Robert T. Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-t-kiyosaki/) > [No one can develop freely in this world and find a full life without feeling understood by at least one person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tournier/no-one-can-develop-freely-in-this-world-and-find-a-full-life-without/) [Paul Tournier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tournier/) > [“Person A understand Person B because the time is right for that to happen, not because Person B wants to be understood by Person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/person-a-understand-person-b-because-the-time-is-right-for-that-to/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [“Daniel understood that in the blink of an eye you might reinvent yourself. He understood that the person you were yesterday might not be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/daniel-understood-that-in-the-blink-of-an-eye-you-might-reinvent/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“The best jokes in life, are the lies that have come out of your mouth”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melinda/the-best-jokes-in-life-are-the-lies-that-have-come-out-of-your-mouth/) Melinda > [I think I love jokes! The best jokes are equal to the best art, in my mind, and as rare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-nichols/i-think-i-love-jokes-the-best-jokes-are-equal-to-the-best-art-in-my/) Travis Nichols > [Short people and fat people got the best jokes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/short-people-and-fat-people-got-the-best-jokes/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My best jokes are so cheap. All I do is say things sarcastically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-brody/my-best-jokes-are-so-cheap-all-i-do-is-say-things-sarcastically/) [Adam Brody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-brody/) > [The best jokes on The Leftovers are the ones that make you feel a little sick to your stomach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damon-lindelof/the-best-jokes-on-the-leftovers-are-the-ones-that-make-you-feel-a/) [Damon Lindelof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damon-lindelof/) ## More by Barry Humphries > [I really feel sorry for kids who aren't interested in history - recent history, either, because it is this that made us what we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-humphries/i-really-feel-sorry-for-kids-who-aren-t-interested-in-history-recent/) [Barry Humphries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-humphries/) > [The past is so reliable, so delightful and the best place to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-humphries/the-past-is-so-reliable-so-delightful-and-the-best-place-to-live/) [Barry Humphries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-humphries/) > [I am writing a book called 'The History of Australia in Hundred Objects.' It's of things we have invented in Australia. And you know,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-humphries/i-am-writing-a-book-called-the-history-of-australia-in-hundred/) [Barry Humphries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-humphries/) > [I've never looked at my Facebook page or my website, because I'm fundamentally an amateur.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-humphries/i-ve-never-looked-at-my-facebook-page-or-my-website-because-i-m/) [Barry Humphries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-humphries/) > [I never thought that I would become a staple in the Australian cultural diet. The equivalent of bread or milk, or a fine old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-humphries/i-never-thought-that-i-would-become-a-staple-in-the-australian/) [Barry Humphries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-humphries/) > [I love Australia - I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-humphries/i-love-australia-i-think/) [Barry Humphries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-humphries/) > [I'm approaching 70. Unfortunately, from the wrong direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-humphries/i-m-approaching-70-unfortunately-from-the-wrong-direction/) [Barry Humphries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-humphries/) > [Glamour comes from within. My beauty regime begins with my personality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-humphries/glamour-comes-from-within-my-beauty-regime-begins-with-my-personality/) [Barry Humphries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-humphries/) > [Oddly enough, Dame Edna is not interested in show business. Her friends in Los Angeles are mostly in the world of petroleum. She used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-humphries/oddly-enough-dame-edna-is-not-interested-in-show-business-her-friends/) [Barry Humphries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-humphries/) > [New Zealand is a country of thirty thousand million sheep, three million of whom think they are human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-humphries/new-zealand-is-a-country-of-thirty-thousand-million-sheep-three/) [Barry Humphries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-humphries/) > [I hate it when theater people go on about professionalism - aren't they boring? I try to be as unprofessional as possible. And I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-humphries/i-hate-it-when-theater-people-go-on-about-professionalism-aren-t-they/) [Barry Humphries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-humphries/) > [I like people who are slightly unhygienic. A little grubbiness isn't so bad. BO chic it should be called.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-humphries/i-like-people-who-are-slightly-unhygienic-a-little-grubbiness-isn-t/) [Barry Humphries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-humphries/) > [I've turned from an ordinary Australian housewife into a gigastar, icon, talk-show host, swami, spin doctor... and now I'm a style guru!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-humphries/i-ve-turned-from-an-ordinary-australian-housewife-into-a-gigastar/) [Barry Humphries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-humphries/) > [I have charity work that I do. I started my own charity, the Friends of the Prostate, and I'm also working on awareness of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-humphries/i-have-charity-work-that-i-do-i-started-my-own-charity-the-friends-of/) [Barry Humphries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-humphries/) > [There's to be a film about my life. I can give this as an exclusive now. Meryl Streep was offered the part but, no,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-humphries/there-s-to-be-a-film-about-my-life-i-can-give-this-as-an-exclusive/) [Barry Humphries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-humphries/) [Explore all 63 Barry Humphries quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-humphries/) ## 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. 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": "“The best jokes are often only understood by one other person.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Barry Humphries" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-humphries/the-best-jokes-are-often-only-understood-by-one-other-person/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Comedy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-humphries/the-best-jokes-are-often-only-understood-by-one-other-person/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/282/barry-humphries-10778_quote_the-best-jokes-are-often-only-understood_1573858.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/282/barry-humphries-10778_quote_the-best-jokes-are-often-only-understood_1573858.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/282/barry-humphries-10778_quote_the-best-jokes-are-often-only-understood_1573858.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The best jokes are often only understood by one other person.” — Barry Humphries", "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": "Barry Humphries", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-humphries/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“The best jokes are often only...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-humphries/the-best-jokes-are-often-only-understood-by-one-other-person/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-humphries/the-best-jokes-are-often-only-understood-by-one-other-person/#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 } } ] } ```