--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Once you do a joke and it works it's only…" description: "\"Once you do a joke and it works it's only good for so long, like shooting fish in a barrel.\" — Bill Burr" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ef/bill-burr-1900_barrels_once-you-do-a-joke-and-it-works-it-s-onl_587853.png" --- # Once you do a joke and it works it's only good for so… ![“Once you do a joke and it works it's only good for so long, like shooting fish in a barrel.” quote by Bill Burr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ef/bill-burr-1900_barrels_once-you-do-a-joke-and-it-works-it-s-onl_587853.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ef/bill-burr-1900_barrels_once-you-do-a-joke-and-it-works-it-s-onl_587853.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ef/bill-burr-1900_barrels_once-you-do-a-joke-and-it-works-it-s-onl_587853.png) > “Once you do a joke and it works it's only good for so long, like shooting fish in a barrel.” [Bill Burr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-burr/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A joke’s humor is fleeting; repeated use diminishes its impact, like shooting fish in a barrel. **In simple terms:** Jokes lose their effect when overused. Key Takeaway Use humor sparingly to stay fresh. Themes humor creativity novelty entertainment Mood witty cautionary Type observational entertaining When to use this quote - stand‑up routines - social media memes - office banter - advertising slogans Key Concepts comedy theory audience fatigue originality Questions to Reflect On - When does a joke become overused? - How can you refresh a comedic idea? A Different Perspective Repetition can make humor feel forced or stale. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Joke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joke/) [Jokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jokes/) ## Related quotes > [Being neurotic is like shooting fish in a barrel, and missing them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/being-neurotic-is-like-shooting-fish-in-a-barrel-and-missing-them/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [I like to go for cinches. I like to shoot fish in a barrel. But I like to do it after the water has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/i-like-to-go-for-cinches-i-like-to-shoot-fish-in-a-barrel-but-i-like/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [I never understood why you would ever feel the need to shoot the fish in the barrel. I mean, they're in a barrel, you've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-silvey/i-never-understood-why-you-would-ever-feel-the-need-to-shoot-the-fish/) [Craig Silvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-silvey/) > [Does 'Shooting Fish' have less artistic merit than a play like 'Angels In America,' which I did? Well, probably. But it's good for something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-futterman/does-shooting-fish-have-less-artistic-merit-than-a-play-like-angels/) [Dan Futterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-futterman/) > [There's a lot of nuances to stand-up that you definitely see when you watch someone like Chris Rock in that his body position is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-wolf/there-s-a-lot-of-nuances-to-stand-up-that-you-definitely-see-when-you/) [Michelle Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-wolf/) > [When a joke works, it works. It can make a point in a really simple way; it can be a great little sound bite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-lovett/when-a-joke-works-it-works-it-can-make-a-point-in-a-really-simple-way/) [Jon Lovett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-lovett/) > [I want to know why people are getting laughs. Why this joke works and why that one didn't work. It all comes back to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolph-ziggler/i-want-to-know-why-people-are-getting-laughs-why-this-joke-works-and/) [Dolph Ziggler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolph-ziggler/) > [You can't practice stand-up alone in your room. You can't find out if a joke works by asking two of your friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-tomlinson/you-can-t-practice-stand-up-alone-in-your-room-you-can-t-find-out-if/) [Taylor Tomlinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-tomlinson/) > [I like writing a joke, and I like when a joke works, and I like other comics who tell jokes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-attell/i-like-writing-a-joke-and-i-like-when-a-joke-works-and-i-like-other/) [Dave Attell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-attell/) > [You don't want to just do a joke because it works - we can make a lot of jokes work - you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/you-don-t-want-to-just-do-a-joke-because-it-works-we-can-make-a-lot/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [I was desperate for new material, so anything I can write a joke about that works is in the act. No matter who it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-white/i-was-desperate-for-new-material-so-anything-i-can-write-a-joke-about/) [Ron White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-white/) > [If I write a joke and it works, and it works consistently, that is gold to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-millican/if-i-write-a-joke-and-it-works-and-it-works-consistently-that-is-gold/) [Sarah Millican](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-millican/) > [A joke that works is complete knowledge in a nanosecond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/a-joke-that-works-is-complete-knowledge-in-a-nanosecond/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [It's a balance. Like, we are shooting the big car chase at the end and it's me with everybody. And I got my stunt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-tillman-jr/it-s-a-balance-like-we-are-shooting-the-big-car-chase-at-the-end-and/) [George Tillman, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-tillman-jr/) > [I really like shooting in real locations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aishwarya-rajesh/i-really-like-shooting-in-real-locations/) [Aishwarya Rajesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aishwarya-rajesh/) ## More by Bill Burr > [I love making movies, and being in any that I can be in. I'd like to be in those giant movies, as the fifth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-burr/i-love-making-movies-and-being-in-any-that-i-can-be-in-i-d-like-to-be/) [Bill Burr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-burr/) > [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/) > [I love doing radio, and I love doing stand-up, obviously. I'm good flying up to four hours, but anything past that, I want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-burr/i-love-doing-radio-and-i-love-doing-stand-up-obviously-i-m-good/) [Bill Burr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-burr/) > [It was right after 9/11 and I decided to walk around the grounds of the Pentagon, because I had never been there. Out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-burr/it-was-right-after-9-11-and-i-decided-to-walk-around-the-grounds-of/) [Bill Burr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-burr/) > [Business runs hot and cold so the more you're in charge of your own destiny, the better off you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-burr/business-runs-hot-and-cold-so-the-more-you-re-in-charge-of-your-own/) [Bill Burr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-burr/) > [You know, it wasn't even that I'm a funny guy, I just loved stand-up comedy and I wanted to do it. It was one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-burr/you-know-it-wasn-t-even-that-i-m-a-funny-guy-i-just-loved-stand-up/) [Bill Burr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-burr/) > [I am so pro-swine flu...I want it. We need a plague. It's got to happen; don't be afraid. It's only going to kill the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-burr/i-am-so-pro-swine-flu-i-want-it-we-need-a-plague-it-s-got-to-happen/) [Bill Burr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-burr/) > [I wish they would teach it in schools: Give people the belief that they are going to do well. A lot of people are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-burr/i-wish-they-would-teach-it-in-schools-give-people-the-belief-that/) [Bill Burr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-burr/) > [Look how long it took to build the Freedom Tower, and we wanted that. It took 15 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-burr/look-how-long-it-took-to-build-the-freedom-tower-and-we-wanted-that/) [Bill Burr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-burr/) > [For aspiring comedians? Don't listen to me. Just go on stage and do what you think is funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-burr/for-aspiring-comedians-don-t-listen-to-me-just-go-on-stage-and-do/) [Bill Burr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-burr/) > [It's a great time to be a comedian because you've got so much more control. You can say what you want to. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-burr/it-s-a-great-time-to-be-a-comedian-because-you-ve-got-so-much-more/) [Bill Burr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-burr/) > [People make a big deal about podcasts but it's basically an online radio show with the sound effects and sidekicks, but because you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-burr/people-make-a-big-deal-about-podcasts-but-it-s-basically-an-online/) [Bill Burr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-burr/) > [Do you know how many times a week people ask me why I'm yelling?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-burr/do-you-know-how-many-times-a-week-people-ask-me-why-i-m-yelling/) [Bill Burr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-burr/) > [You wanna know how you know you're informed as a protestor? They don't show your interview on TV.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-burr/you-wanna-know-how-you-know-you-re-informed-as-a-protestor-they-don-t/) [Bill Burr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-burr/) > [I am so pro-swine flu it's ridiculous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-burr/i-am-so-pro-swine-flu-it-s-ridiculous/) [Bill Burr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-burr/) [Explore all 200 Bill Burr quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-burr/) ## More Barrels quotes > [It's good to find the barrel of the bat again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chase-utley/it-s-good-to-find-the-barrel-of-the-bat-again/) [Chase Utley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chase-utley/) > [The benevolence of wrapping the partridge in a vine leaf brings out its quality, just as the barrel of Diogenes brought forth the qualities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuel-des-essarts/the-benevolence-of-wrapping-the-partridge-in-a-vine-leaf-brings-out/) Emmanuel des Essarts > [You could pay a fair market price for a barrel of oil and cut 50 cents a barrel or a dollar barrel off what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-bolling/you-could-pay-a-fair-market-price-for-a-barrel-of-oil-and-cut-50/) [Eric Bolling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-bolling/) > [ \[Norden\] said, with the Mark 15 Norden bombsight, he could drop a bomb into a pickle barrel at 20,000 feet. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/norden-said-with-the-mark-15-norden-bombsight-he-could-drop-a-bomb/) [Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/) > [When the landscape buckles and jerks around, when a dust column of debris rises from the collapse of a block of buildings on bodies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/when-the-landscape-buckles-and-jerks-around-when-a-dust-column-of/) [Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/) > [The sudden release of five million barrels of oil, enormous quantities of methane and two million gallons of toxic dispersants into an already greatly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-earle/the-sudden-release-of-five-million-barrels-of-oil-enormous-quantities/) [Sylvia Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-earle/) > [In addition, each barrel of oil we save through conservation further decreases our dangerous reliance on unstable Middle East oil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gillmor/in-addition-each-barrel-of-oil-we-save-through-conservation-further/) [Paul Gillmor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gillmor/) > [Muzzle control has to be a religion. You cannot point that weapon at one of your brothers-or yourself. Know where you barrel is at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-couch/muzzle-control-has-to-be-a-religion-you-cannot-point-that-weapon-at/) [Dick Couch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-couch/) > [The defense budget is more than a piggy bank for people who want to get busy beating swords into pork barrels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-defense-budget-is-more-than-a-piggy-bank-for-people-who-want-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Today's political leaders demonstrate their low opinion of the public with every social law they pass. They believe that, if given the right to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-skousen/today-s-political-leaders-demonstrate-their-low-opinion-of-the-public/) [Mark Skousen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-skousen/) > [Europe and North America, we are told, are less dependent on energy-intensive heavy industry than in the 1960s and 1970s. It seems we squeeze…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-buchan/europe-and-north-america-we-are-told-are-less-dependent-on-energy/) [James Buchan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-buchan/) > [My silence is golden, I Dnt waste time on empty barrels, empty barrels make the most noise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sweetner/my-silence-is-golden-i-dnt-waste-time-on-empty-barrels-empty-barrels/) [Sweetner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sweetner/) > [The desert seems to be a brown wasteland of dry, prickly scrub whose only purpose is to serve as a setting for the majestic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-spinelli/the-desert-seems-to-be-a-brown-wasteland-of-dry-prickly-scrub-whose/) [Jerry Spinelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-spinelli/) > [To accept the principal that "all power proceeds from the barrel of a gun" is to accept a society which will be dominated by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-douglas/to-accept-the-principal-that-all-power-proceeds-from-the-barrel-of-a/) [Tommy Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-douglas/) > [You look tired," Rachel told Jason. "I wish I could jog and sleep at the same time." "Can't you?" Ferrin asked, joining them at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-mull/you-look-tired-rachel-told-jason-i-wish-i-could-jog-and-sleep-at-the/) [Brandon Mull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-mull/) Browse all 277 Barrels quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Once you do a joke and it works it's only good for so long, like shooting fish in a barrel.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Bill Burr" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-burr/once-you-do-a-joke-and-it-works-it-s-only-good-for-so-long-like/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Barrels" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-burr/once-you-do-a-joke-and-it-works-it-s-only-good-for-so-long-like/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ef/bill-burr-1900_barrels_once-you-do-a-joke-and-it-works-it-s-onl_587853.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ef/bill-burr-1900_barrels_once-you-do-a-joke-and-it-works-it-s-onl_587853.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ef/bill-burr-1900_barrels_once-you-do-a-joke-and-it-works-it-s-onl_587853.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Once you do a joke and it works it's only good for so long, like shooting fish in a barrel.” — Bill Burr", "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": "Bill Burr", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-burr/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Once you do a joke and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-burr/once-you-do-a-joke-and-it-works-it-s-only-good-for-so-long-like/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-burr/once-you-do-a-joke-and-it-works-it-s-only-good-for-so-long-like/#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 } } ] } ```