---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There are practical things which…"
description: "\"There are practical things which contribute to a joke's funniness. People will find a joke funnier if they are sitting closer together, if it's cold, i..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/763/ben-miller-4821_cold_there-are-practical-things-which-contrib_3157922.jpg"
---

#  There are practical things which contribute to a joke's…

![“There are practical things which contribute to a joke's funniness. People will find a joke funnier if they are sitting closer together, if it's cold, if they've paid and if they are told it's funny beforehand.” quote by Ben Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/763/ben-miller-4821_cold_there-are-practical-things-which-contrib_3157922.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/763/ben-miller-4821_cold_there-are-practical-things-which-contrib_3157922.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/763/ben-miller-4821_cold_there-are-practical-things-which-contrib_3157922.jpg)

> “There are practical things which contribute to a joke's funniness. People will find a joke funnier if they are sitting closer together, if it's cold, if they've paid and if they are told it's funny beforehand.”

[Ben Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-miller/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Humor effectiveness depends on context: proximity, temperature, payment, and expectation can amplify a joke’s funniness.

**In simple terms:** Jokes are funnier with the right setting and expectations.

Key Takeaway

Consider audience context when crafting jokes.

Themes

humor context psychology

Mood

playful analytical

Type

practical observational

When to use this quote

- stand‑up performance
- marketing
- team building
- education

Key Concepts

social dynamics expectancy theory

Questions to Reflect On

- What environmental cues most influence your laughter?
- How can a joke succeed without optimal conditions?

A Different Perspective

Overemphasis on external factors may undervalue joke content.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Cold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cold/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Funnier Sitting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funnier-sitting-5696004/) [Joke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joke/) [Joke Funnier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joke-funnier-5696003/) [Joke Funniness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joke-funniness-5696002/) [Jokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jokes/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Joke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-joke-662393/) [Together](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/together/)

## Related quotes

> [All producers encourage you, whatever it is, to make it more-so. If you've got a joke, can it be funnier? If you've got an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-hill/all-producers-encourage-you-whatever-it-is-to-make-it-more-so-if-you/)

[Walter Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-hill/)

> [Angry people who can't take a joke have no idea how hilarious they are to those of us who can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/angry-people-who-can-t-take-a-joke-have-no-idea-how-hilarious-they/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Making people uncomfortable is one of my hobbies. I'm always hoping that half the people get the joke and the other half are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-homme/making-people-uncomfortable-is-one-of-my-hobbies-i-m-always-hoping/)

[Josh Homme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-homme/)

> [When you've heard every short people joke possible, but people tell you them anyways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-ve-heard-every-short-people-joke-possible-but-people-tell/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [For a long time trans people have always been a joke. Our reputation has always been the bottom of the barrel and it's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carmen-carrera/for-a-long-time-trans-people-have-always-been-a-joke-our-reputation/)

[Carmen Carrera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carmen-carrera/)

> [“You cannot be a powerful and life-changing presence to some people without being a joke or an embarrassment to others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-manson/you-cannot-be-a-powerful-and-life-changing-presence-to-some-people/)

[Mark Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-manson/)

> [“Because here’s another sneaky little truth about life. You can’t be an important and life-changing presence for some people without also being a joke…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-manson/because-here-s-another-sneaky-little-truth-about-life-you-can-t-be-an/)

[Mark Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-manson/)

> [ The thing that's weird is that we thought it was funny. We expected people to get the joke - that we \[with Andrew Ridgeley\]… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-michael/the-thing-that-s-weird-is-that-we-thought-it-was-funny-we-expected/)

[George Michael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-michael/)

> [Multiculturalism is a white people joke.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ntozake-shange/multiculturalism-is-a-white-people-joke/)

[Ntozake Shange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ntozake-shange/)

> [The subconscious mind has no sense of humor and people often joke themselves into unhappy experiences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-scovel-shinn/the-subconscious-mind-has-no-sense-of-humor-and-people-often-joke/)

[Florence Scovel Shinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-scovel-shinn/)

> [Sometimes people can't take a joke.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-redd/sometimes-people-can-t-take-a-joke/)

[Chris Redd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-redd/)

> [The joke is the purest, most essential form of storytelling. Every word has to count.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-auster/the-joke-is-the-purest-most-essential-form-of-storytelling-every-word/)

[Paul Auster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-auster/)

> [I don't do plays without jokes anymore. I've retired from those plays. I think it's bad manners to invite people to sit in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-nighy/i-don-t-do-plays-without-jokes-anymore-i-ve-retired-from-those-plays/)

[Bill Nighy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-nighy/)

> [Tell me that I misunderstood a joke, but don't tell me that my choice of cravat is wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-niven/tell-me-that-i-misunderstood-a-joke-but-don-t-tell-me-that-my-choice/)

[David Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-niven/)

> [I'm always looking at new ways to tell a joke so that it doesn't get stale while working on new jokes every night or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-burr/i-m-always-looking-at-new-ways-to-tell-a-joke-so-that-it-doesn-t-get/)

[Bill Burr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-burr/)

## More by Ben Miller

> [Nobody wants to get divorced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-miller/nobody-wants-to-get-divorced/)

[Ben Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-miller/)

> [It's my theory that comedy is going to die out in the year 6000.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-miller/it-s-my-theory-that-comedy-is-going-to-die-out-in-the-year-6000/)

[Ben Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-miller/)

> [I'd like to see the argument made for greater worldwide federalism, not just the European Union.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-miller/i-d-like-to-see-the-argument-made-for-greater-worldwide-federalism/)

[Ben Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-miller/)

> [Whatever happens in life can happen on the stage, but as a comedian you should always be clear what your target is. It's fine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-miller/whatever-happens-in-life-can-happen-on-the-stage-but-as-a-comedian/)

[Ben Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-miller/)

> [I was on holiday in Ibiza, having a lovely time, writing a book and looking at the stars every night and generally not having…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-miller/i-was-on-holiday-in-ibiza-having-a-lovely-time-writing-a-book-and/)

[Ben Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-miller/)

> [I did play a romantic part once - Orsino in 'Twelfth Night.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-miller/i-did-play-a-romantic-part-once-orsino-in-twelfth-night/)

[Ben Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-miller/)

> [Every meal is so important and colours the rest of your day - my whole day can go into a spin if I make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-miller/every-meal-is-so-important-and-colours-the-rest-of-your-day-my-whole/)

[Ben Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-miller/)

> ['Death In Paradise' is my dream job - a fascinating character, great scripts, superb cast, and shooting in the Caribbean with French catering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-miller/death-in-paradise-is-my-dream-job-a-fascinating-character-great/)

[Ben Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-miller/)

> [I used to fantasise about being able to stay up all night; now I fantasise about how early I can go to bed. Tragic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-miller/i-used-to-fantasise-about-being-able-to-stay-up-all-night-now-i/)

[Ben Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-miller/)

> [Probably one of the reasons I became a comedian is that you get a chance to control when people laugh at you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-miller/probably-one-of-the-reasons-i-became-a-comedian-is-that-you-get-a/)

[Ben Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-miller/)

> [I'm obsessed with coffee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-miller/i-m-obsessed-with-coffee/)

[Ben Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-miller/)

> [I took my son to an exhibition about inventing things, and he was so inspired he started collecting toilet rolls and empty bottles for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-miller/i-took-my-son-to-an-exhibition-about-inventing-things-and-he-was-so/)

[Ben Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-miller/)

> [It's great to do stuff that 'gets you out of the house' in a way - that gets you to meet other people!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-miller/it-s-great-to-do-stuff-that-gets-you-out-of-the-house-in-a-way-that/)

[Ben Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-miller/)

> [I'm a huge fan of French comedy. The French play comedy in a slightly different way than we do: they play it with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-miller/i-m-a-huge-fan-of-french-comedy-the-french-play-comedy-in-a-slightly/)

[Ben Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-miller/)

> [This is a shameful thing to say, but I've never really got that 'grown-up' mind-set. I have to buy forks? Why?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-miller/this-is-a-shameful-thing-to-say-but-i-ve-never-really-got-that-grown/)

[Ben Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-miller/)

[Explore all 106 Ben Miller quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-miller/)

## More Cold quotes

> [Once ye made up yer mind to do somethin', 'tis better t'stumble o'er the small hillock of jump-ahead than t'bash yer head on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/once-ye-made-up-yer-mind-to-do-somethin-tis-better-t-stumble-o-er-the/)

[Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/)

> [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/)

[Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/)

> [From the bitter cold winter at Valley Forge, to the mountains of Afghanistan and the deserts of Iraq, our soldiers have courageously answered when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solomon-ortiz/from-the-bitter-cold-winter-at-valley-forge-to-the-mountains-of/)

[Solomon Ortiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solomon-ortiz/)

> [When I get a chance to play golf or go on a boat with good people, take the boat out and put some lobsters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-mac/when-i-get-a-chance-to-play-golf-or-go-on-a-boat-with-good-people/)

[Bernie Mac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-mac/)

> [Of course Messi could handle a cold Tuesday night in Stoke. He'd be drinking tea and relaxing beforehand. Me? I'd probably be the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neymar/of-course-messi-could-handle-a-cold-tuesday-night-in-stoke-he-d-be/)

[Neymar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neymar/)

> [This cold weather has set all the young Folks to providing Bedfellows. I have signed two or three Licences every Day \[as a Fairfax…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mason/this-cold-weather-has-set-all-the-young-folks-to-providing-bedfellows/)

[George Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mason/)

> [When my main character in 'Heat' climbs the tower, the highest diving platform, hoping to resume competitive diving after an injury, I am there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cadnum/when-my-main-character-in-heat-climbs-the-tower-the-highest-diving/)

[Michael Cadnum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cadnum/)

> [You start playing when it's cold and you want to be playing when it's cold again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimy-williams/you-start-playing-when-it-s-cold-and-you-want-to-be-playing-when-it-s/)

[Jimy Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimy-williams/)

> [It would be a piece of ingenuousness to accuse the man of today of his lack of moral code. The accusation would leave him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-ortega-y-gasset/it-would-be-a-piece-of-ingenuousness-to-accuse-the-man-of-today-of/)

[Jose Ortega y Gasset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-ortega-y-gasset/)

> [I would have touched it like a child But knew my finger could but have touched Cold stone and water. I grew wild, Even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-butler-yeats/i-would-have-touched-it-like-a-child-but-knew-my-finger-could-but/)

[William Butler Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-butler-yeats/)

> [What's to become of the morally sound? Left out in the cold, I suppose. We must heal the sick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henrik-ibsen/what-s-to-become-of-the-morally-sound-left-out-in-the-cold-i-suppose/)

[Henrik Ibsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henrik-ibsen/)

> [When I first started, all the reviews of Cold Chisel would say, 'This singer won't have a voice in six months.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-barnes/when-i-first-started-all-the-reviews-of-cold-chisel-would-say-this/)

[Jimmy Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-barnes/)

> [One of the problems trying to play an instrument outside in the cold is your fingers give up on you and you can't wear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-macdonald/one-of-the-problems-trying-to-play-an-instrument-outside-in-the-cold/)

[Amy Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-macdonald/)

> [God tempers the cold to the shorn sheep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-etienne-sainte-claire-deville/god-tempers-the-cold-to-the-shorn-sheep/)

[Henri Etienne Sainte-Claire Deville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-etienne-sainte-claire-deville/)

> [Those nights lying alone are not discontinuous with this cold hectic dawn. It is who I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-carson/those-nights-lying-alone-are-not-discontinuous-with-this-cold-hectic/)

[Anne Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-carson/)

[Browse all 5,381 Cold quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cold/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "There are practical things which contribute to a joke's funniness. People will find a joke funnier if they are sitting closer together, if it's cold, if they've paid and if they are told it's funny beforehand.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Ben Miller"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-miller/there-are-practical-things-which-contribute-to-a-joke-s-funniness/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Cold"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-miller/there-are-practical-things-which-contribute-to-a-joke-s-funniness/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/763/ben-miller-4821_cold_there-are-practical-things-which-contrib_3157922.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/763/ben-miller-4821_cold_there-are-practical-things-which-contrib_3157922.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/763/ben-miller-4821_cold_there-are-practical-things-which-contrib_3157922.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“There are practical things which contribute to a joke's funniness. People will find a joke funnier if they…” — Ben Miller",
                "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": "Ben Miller",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-miller/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "There are practical things which contribute...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-miller/there-are-practical-things-which-contribute-to-a-joke-s-funniness/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-miller/there-are-practical-things-which-contribute-to-a-joke-s-funniness/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
