--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Be amusing: never tell unkind stories…" description: "\"Be amusing: never tell unkind stories; above all, never tell long ones.\" — Benjamin Disraeli" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e0/benjamin-disraeli-390_amusing_be-amusing-never-tell-unkind-stories-abo_2519480.png" --- # Be amusing: never tell unkind stories; above all, never… ![“Be amusing: never tell unkind stories; above all, never tell long ones.” quote by Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e0/benjamin-disraeli-390_amusing_be-amusing-never-tell-unkind-stories-abo_2519480.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e0/benjamin-disraeli-390_amusing_be-amusing-never-tell-unkind-stories-abo_2519480.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e0/benjamin-disraeli-390_amusing_be-amusing-never-tell-unkind-stories-abo_2519480.png) > “Be amusing: never tell unkind stories; above all, never tell long ones.” [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) ## 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 be kind and concise; avoid cruelty and overly long tales. **In simple terms:** Be kind, keep it short. Key Takeaway Tell brief, gentle jokes. Themes humor kindness brevity Mood lighthearted practical Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - social gatherings - public speaking - writing Key Concepts communication storytelling Questions to Reflect On - What makes a joke both kind and funny? - How can brevity improve humor? A Different Perspective Long jokes may lose impact. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Amusing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amusing/) [Amusing Tell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amusing-tell-1235916/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Stories Tell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories-tell-327803/) [Tell Unkind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tell-unkind-1235917/) [Unkind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unkind/) [Unkind Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unkind-stories-1235915/) ## Related quotes > [“A brief, well-crafted story that is relevant to your topic is one of the most potent ways to maintain the attention of your audience.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruna-martinuzzi/a-brief-well-crafted-story-that-is-relevant-to-your-topic-is-one-of/) [Bruna Martinuzzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruna-martinuzzi/) > [There are amusing people who do not interest, and interesting people who do not amuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/there-are-amusing-people-who-do-not-interest-and-interesting-people/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [“Even though there are really no original themes or stories to tell, it's more about the way you tell the story.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-wilson-heart/even-though-there-are-really-no-original-themes-or-stories-to-tell-it/) [Nancy Wilson- Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-wilson-heart/) > [“The dead always have stories to tell. They just need the living to listen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-latham/the-dead-always-have-stories-to-tell-they-just-need-the-living-to/) [Jennifer Latham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-latham/) > [“one sign of a well-led life is that you have great stories to tell when it’s over.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-parks/one-sign-of-a-well-led-life-is-that-you-have-great-stories-to-tell/) [Brad Parks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-parks/) > [“There are stories to tell that are not songs.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michka-assayas/there-are-stories-to-tell-that-are-not-songs/) [Michka Assayas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michka-assayas/) > [“Thankful that I can share the disturbing stories in my brain with people." "I have so many stories to tell you...of course that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-fisher/thankful-that-i-can-share-the-disturbing-stories-in-my-brain-with/) [Kelly Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-fisher/) > [Everybody's got a different way of telling a story - and has different stories to tell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-richards/everybody-s-got-a-different-way-of-telling-a-story-and-has-different/) [Keith Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-richards/) > [Sometimes an old idea gets relegated to the back of the line in the mad delight of a new idea, one you've never had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/sometimes-an-old-idea-gets-relegated-to-the-back-of-the-line-in-the/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [I decide intuitively what I want to do. When directors like Imtiaz Ali, Ayan Mukerji, Anurag Basu and Anurag Kashyap, who have stories to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ranbir-kapoor/i-decide-intuitively-what-i-want-to-do-when-directors-like-imtiaz-ali/) [Ranbir Kapoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ranbir-kapoor/) > [Everything runs its course. We had told a lot of stories that happened in our life. My kid was getting older, and we were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howie-mandel/everything-runs-its-course-we-had-told-a-lot-of-stories-that-happened/) [Howie Mandel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howie-mandel/) > [“I knew books could see people around them, they ground their tiny teeth, tried to rattle like windows, stories to tell.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-aylett/i-knew-books-could-see-people-around-them-they-ground-their-tiny/) [Steve Aylett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-aylett/) > [“The barbells and dumbbells you hold in your hands and the way you use them have stories to tell.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-cecil/the-barbells-and-dumbbells-you-hold-in-your-hands-and-the-way-you-use/) [Craig Cecil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-cecil/) > [Instead of asking for permission, we're seeing more artists and creatives taking control over the stories we tell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiki-layne/instead-of-asking-for-permission-we-re-seeing-more-artists-and/) [KiKi Layne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiki-layne/) > [This is my life - I want to tell stories. There is something huge inside me that pushes me to tell stories, and tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dario-argento/this-is-my-life-i-want-to-tell-stories-there-is-something-huge-inside/) [Dario Argento](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dario-argento/) ## More by Benjamin Disraeli > [Next to the assumption of power was the responsibility of relinquishing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/next-to-the-assumption-of-power-was-the-responsibility-of/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [We make our fortunes and we call them fate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/we-make-our-fortunes-and-we-call-them-fate/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [The European talks of progress because by the aid of a few scientific discoveries he has established a society which has mistaken comfort for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/the-european-talks-of-progress-because-by-the-aid-of-a-few-scientific/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [It shows you exactly how a star is formed; nothing else can be so pretty! A cluster of vapor, the cream of the milky…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/it-shows-you-exactly-how-a-star-is-formed-nothing-else-can-be-so/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Terror has its inspiration, as well as competition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/terror-has-its-inspiration-as-well-as-competition/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [I am prepared for the worst, but hope for the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/i-am-prepared-for-the-worst-but-hope-for-the-best/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Religion should be the rule of life, not a casual incident in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/religion-should-be-the-rule-of-life-not-a-casual-incident-in-it/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Frank and explicit - that is the right line to take when you wish to conceal your own mind and confuse the minds of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/frank-and-explicit-that-is-the-right-line-to-take-when-you-wish-to/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [I was told that the privileged and the people formed two nations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/i-was-told-that-the-privileged-and-the-people-formed-two-nations/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [The praise of a fool is incense to the wisest of us . . .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/the-praise-of-a-fool-is-incense-to-the-wisest-of-us/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Expediency is a law of nature. The camel is a wonderful animal, but the desert made the camel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/expediency-is-a-law-of-nature-the-camel-is-a-wonderful-animal-but-the/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Is man an ape or an angel? Now I am on the side of the angels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/is-man-an-ape-or-an-angel-now-i-am-on-the-side-of-the-angels/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Real politics are the possession and distribution of power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/real-politics-are-the-possession-and-distribution-of-power/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Desperation is sometimes as powerful an inspirer as genius.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/desperation-is-sometimes-as-powerful-an-inspirer-as-genius/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Why, I say, that to tax the community for the advantage of a class is not protection; it is plunder, and I entirely disclaim…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/why-i-say-that-to-tax-the-community-for-the-advantage-of-a-class-is/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) [Explore all 603 Benjamin Disraeli quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) ## More Amusing quotes > [“I have found it an amusing strategy, when asked whether I am an atheist, to point out that the questioner is also an atheist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/i-have-found-it-an-amusing-strategy-when-asked-whether-i-am-an/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [By amusing myself with all these games, all this nonsense, all these picture puzzles, I became famous... I am only a public entertainer who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/by-amusing-myself-with-all-these-games-all-this-nonsense-all-these/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [I was reading Neil Postman's 'Amusing Ourselves to Death'. It's one of my favourites.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-faiyaz/i-was-reading-neil-postman-s-amusing-ourselves-to-death-it-s-one-of/) [Brent Faiyaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-faiyaz/) > [People of our time are losing the power of celebration. Instead of celebrating we seek to be amused or entertained. Celebration is an active…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-joshua-heschel/people-of-our-time-are-losing-the-power-of-celebration-instead-of/) [Abraham Joshua Heschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-joshua-heschel/) > [No one survives in times of war unless they make war their home. How did I get so old and wise, but for welcoming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/no-one-survives-in-times-of-war-unless-they-make-war-their-home-how/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [Funny things tend not to happen to me. I am not a natural comic. I need to think about things a lot before I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rowan-atkinson/funny-things-tend-not-to-happen-to-me-i-am-not-a-natural-comic-i-need/) [Rowan Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rowan-atkinson/) > [ \[A\]n Obama presidency would be an amusing approximation of the Carter administration, complete with vaporous moralizing and foreign policy bungling. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmett-tyrrell/a-n-obama-presidency-would-be-an-amusing-approximation-of-the-carter/) [Emmett Tyrrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmett-tyrrell/) > [It's amusing how arrogant people can be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-amusing-how-arrogant-people-can-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Men are not amusing during the shooting season; but, after all, my dear, men were not especially designed to amuse women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-atherton/men-are-not-amusing-during-the-shooting-season-but-after-all-my-dear/) [Gertrude Atherton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-atherton/) > [All men are fools, if truth be told, but the ones in motley are more amusing than ones with crowns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/all-men-are-fools-if-truth-be-told-but-the-ones-in-motley-are-more/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Most poetry is the utterance of a man in some state of passion, love, joy, grief, rage, etc., and no doubt this is as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/most-poetry-is-the-utterance-of-a-man-in-some-state-of-passion-love/) [W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) > [It's always amusing to see how much less the political class knows than the rest of us do. ... it's never occurred to \[the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-d-cox/it-s-always-amusing-to-see-how-much-less-the-political-class-knows/) [Stephen D. Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-d-cox/) > [Are there bears in these mountains?" he asked. His companion nodded. "Of course. But it's a bit early in the year for them to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flanagan/are-there-bears-in-these-mountains-he-asked-his-companion-nodded-of/) [John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/) > [I always find it amusing to overhear women who have never had babies discussing what a pregnant chick should 'look' like at a certain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catt-sadler/i-always-find-it-amusing-to-overhear-women-who-have-never-had-babies/) [Catt Sadler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catt-sadler/) > [The generation of random numbers is too important to be left to chance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-coveyou/the-generation-of-random-numbers-is-too-important-to-be-left-to-chance/) [Robert Coveyou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-coveyou/) [Browse all 436 Amusing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amusing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Be amusing: never tell unkind stories; above all, never tell long ones.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Benjamin Disraeli" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/be-amusing-never-tell-unkind-stories-above-all-never-tell-long-ones/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Amusing" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/be-amusing-never-tell-unkind-stories-above-all-never-tell-long-ones/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e0/benjamin-disraeli-390_amusing_be-amusing-never-tell-unkind-stories-abo_2519480.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e0/benjamin-disraeli-390_amusing_be-amusing-never-tell-unkind-stories-abo_2519480.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e0/benjamin-disraeli-390_amusing_be-amusing-never-tell-unkind-stories-abo_2519480.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Be amusing: never tell unkind stories; above all, never tell long ones.” — Benjamin Disraeli", "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": "Benjamin Disraeli", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Be amusing: never tell unkind stories;...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/be-amusing-never-tell-unkind-stories-above-all-never-tell-long-ones/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/be-amusing-never-tell-unkind-stories-above-all-never-tell-long-ones/#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 } } ] } ```