--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Humor disarms people. They don't feel…" description: "\"Humor disarms people. They don't feel threatened.\" — Bette Midler" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88c/bette-midler-1976_comedy_humor-disarms-people-they-don-t-feel-thr_2597599.jpg" --- # Humor disarms people. They don't feel threatened. ![“Humor disarms people. They don't feel threatened.” quote by Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88c/bette-midler-1976_comedy_humor-disarms-people-they-don-t-feel-thr_2597599.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88c/bette-midler-1976_comedy_humor-disarms-people-they-don-t-feel-thr_2597599.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88c/bette-midler-1976_comedy_humor-disarms-people-they-don-t-feel-thr_2597599.jpg) > “Humor disarms people. They don't feel threatened.” [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Humor reduces tension, making people feel safe and less defensive. **In simple terms:** Humor makes people feel safe. Key Takeaway Use humor to defuse conflict. Themes communication conflict resolution empathy Mood lighthearted cautious Type advice observational When to use this quote - team meetings - negotiations - public speaking - social gatherings Key Concepts social psychology emotional intelligence Questions to Reflect On - When is humor appropriate? - What risks does humor carry? A Different Perspective Humor can be misunderstood or offensive. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [Humor disarms people. It opens them up to starting a dialogue about things they wouldn't normally talk about. I don't understand how people who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-anner/humor-disarms-people-it-opens-them-up-to-starting-a-dialogue-about/) [Zach Anner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-anner/) > [There's a diversion between economic reality - integration, global village, everybody depending on everybody else - and cultural reality, which is people feeling invaded,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duncan-green/there-s-a-diversion-between-economic-reality-integration-global/) [Duncan Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duncan-green/) > [“Tell me, Elly Kleinman, why do men feel threatened by women?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/tell-me-elly-kleinman-why-do-men-feel-threatened-by-women/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [It's ironic that the people who are suppose to be our friends are the ones we feel the most threatened by.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-ironic-that-the-people-who-are-suppose-to-be-our-friends-are-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I feel threatened, and sometimes it makes me angry because I can't do anything about that, there's just too many issues. But in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/klaus-nomi/i-feel-threatened-and-sometimes-it-makes-me-angry-because-i-can-t-do/) [Klaus Nomi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/klaus-nomi/) > [Those who feel threatened by you or your success will seek to tear you down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tomi-lahren/those-who-feel-threatened-by-you-or-your-success-will-seek-to-tear/) [Tomi Lahren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tomi-lahren/) > [If you go out for a jog you feel threatened because all of these men start following you, cat-calling and whistling at you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/momina-mustehsan/if-you-go-out-for-a-jog-you-feel-threatened-because-all-of-these-men/) [Momina Mustehsan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/momina-mustehsan/) > [We must develop a federal program of public works, retraining, and jobs for all - so that none, white or black, will have cause…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/we-must-develop-a-federal-program-of-public-works-retraining-and-jobs/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [The thing that makes countries want to pursue some kind of nuclear deterrent is precisely the fact that they feel threatened.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-thing-that-makes-countries-want-to-pursue-some-kind-of-nuclear/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Men find powerful women so threatening, and finding a partner was starting to look laughable, because I would be really attracted to guys and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-palmer/men-find-powerful-women-so-threatening-and-finding-a-partner-was/) [Amanda Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-palmer/) > [Cats never feel threatened. They are genetically incapable of accepting that anyone could possibly dislike anything as perfect as a cat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-young/cats-never-feel-threatened-they-are-genetically-incapable-of/) Kathy Young > [I think that in the immediate aftermath of a superhuman machine intelligence revealing itself, most people would feel very threatened but take solace in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-l-casti/i-think-that-in-the-immediate-aftermath-of-a-superhuman-machine/) [John L. Casti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-l-casti/) > [Whenever you feel threatened or afraid, you should place your hands over your third chakra, right in the middle of your stomach, and breathe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-choquette/whenever-you-feel-threatened-or-afraid-you-should-place-your-hands/) [Sonia Choquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-choquette/) > [Team members who feel threatened but who are not aware of it become rigid - and that stops teamwork.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-schutz/team-members-who-feel-threatened-but-who-are-not-aware-of-it-become/) [William Schutz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-schutz/) > [To feel nervous; to feel threatened and vulnerable and alive and engaged in that sense when interacting with someone you're really attracted to? I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-karpovsky/to-feel-nervous-to-feel-threatened-and-vulnerable-and-alive-and/) [Alex Karpovsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-karpovsky/) ## More by Bette Midler > [If I could be granted a wish, I'd shine in your eye like a jewel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/if-i-could-be-granted-a-wish-i-d-shine-in-your-eye-like-a-jewel/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [I firmly believe that with the right footwear one can rule the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/i-firmly-believe-that-with-the-right-footwear-one-can-rule-the-world/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [You can't just have a clean public space - you also have to have people willing to use it, and something that will draw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/you-can-t-just-have-a-clean-public-space-you-also-have-to-have-people/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [I read neither good nor bad about me. I let it not even in my life, so it has no effect on me. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/i-read-neither-good-nor-bad-about-me-i-let-it-not-even-in-my-life-so/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [ If they \[at the audition\] don't like the way you sound they won't buy you anyway, ripped dress or no ripped dress, ass hanging… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/if-they-at-the-audition-don-t-like-the-way-you-sound-they-won-t-buy/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [The old forms of entertainment are not extinct. Live performances are the pinnacle. If you can something that people want to see live, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/the-old-forms-of-entertainment-are-not-extinct-live-performances-are/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [It's the heart afraid of breaking that never learns to dance. It is the dream afraid of waking that never takes the chance. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/it-s-the-heart-afraid-of-breaking-that-never-learns-to-dance-it-is/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [I made a pact with myself a long time ago: Never watch anything stupider than you. It's helped me a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/i-made-a-pact-with-myself-a-long-time-ago-never-watch-anything/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [It's the one who won't be taken that cannot seem to give, and the soul afraid of dying that never learns to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/it-s-the-one-who-won-t-be-taken-that-cannot-seem-to-give-and-the-soul/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [Culturally, it's very hard to change people's attitudes about public space.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/culturally-it-s-very-hard-to-change-people-s-attitudes-about-public/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [As you age, feelings do diminish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/as-you-age-feelings-do-diminish/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [I decided years ago not to read stories about myself anymore. Each one is a potential minefield: Whatever it says, you're bound to take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/i-decided-years-ago-not-to-read-stories-about-myself-anymore-each-one/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [Sometimes my brain goes on CD shuffle. You know, you put a bunch of CD's on and hit play and random things come out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/sometimes-my-brain-goes-on-cd-shuffle-you-know-you-put-a-bunch-of-cd/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [I come from an overly confident place. But I'm overconfident because of feelings of inferiority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/i-come-from-an-overly-confident-place-but-i-m-overconfident-because/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [My idea of superwoman is someone who scrubs her own floors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/my-idea-of-superwoman-is-someone-who-scrubs-her-own-floors/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) [Explore all 193 Bette Midler quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) ## 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": "Humor disarms people. 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