--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've always been fascinated by the…" description: "\"I've always been fascinated by the difference between the jokes you can tell your friends but you can't tell to an audience. There's a fine line you ha..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a3/billy-connolly-2412_always_i-ve-always-been-fascinated-by-the-diffe_3102881.png" --- # I've always been fascinated by the difference between the… ![“I've always been fascinated by the difference between the jokes you can tell your friends but you can't tell to an audience. There's a fine line you have to tread because you don't know who is out there in the auditorium. A lot of people are too easily offended.” quote by Billy Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a3/billy-connolly-2412_always_i-ve-always-been-fascinated-by-the-diffe_3102881.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a3/billy-connolly-2412_always_i-ve-always-been-fascinated-by-the-diffe_3102881.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a3/billy-connolly-2412_always_i-ve-always-been-fascinated-by-the-diffe_3102881.png) > “I've always been fascinated by the difference between the jokes you can tell your friends but you can't tell to an audience. There's a fine line you have to tread because you don't know who is out there in the auditorium. A lot of people are too easily offended.” [Billy Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-connolly/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Humor must be tailored to the audience; jokes that work privately may offend publicly. **In simple terms:** Audience matters for jokes. Key Takeaway Know your listeners. Themes humor social sensitivity communication Mood lighthearted thoughtful Type observational advice When to use this quote - stand‑up comedy - online memes - public speaking - corporate training Key Concepts cultural norms audience analysis Questions to Reflect On - When does a joke become harmful? - How can you gauge audience tolerance? A Different Perspective Balancing humor and offense is challenging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Differences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/differences/) [Easily offended](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/easily-offended/) [Fine line](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fine-line/) [Fine lines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fine-lines/) [Friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friends/) [Jokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jokes/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [Sometimes critics disagree with the audience, and that's fine. I make movies for the audience. I guess I hope that the critics like it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-mazin/sometimes-critics-disagree-with-the-audience-and-that-s-fine-i-make/) [Craig Mazin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-mazin/) > [Now in a way, money is money, and if it's going to increase our audience, that's fine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-ween/now-in-a-way-money-is-money-and-if-it-s-going-to-increase-our/) [Gene Ween](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-ween/) > [A lot of people are too easily offended. Religious people, for instance. They've been offending other people for centuries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-connolly/a-lot-of-people-are-too-easily-offended-religious-people-for-instance/) [Billy Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-connolly/) > [I'm not a big one for jokes. I can't tell a joke, believe it or not. If you gave me a thousand bucks and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-rickles/i-m-not-a-big-one-for-jokes-i-can-t-tell-a-joke-believe-it-or-not-if/) [Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rickles/) > [Some comedians tell nice jokes that you can tell to your kids. Some use bad words - they work 'blue.' If you don't want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-gottfried/some-comedians-tell-nice-jokes-that-you-can-tell-to-your-kids-some/) [Gilbert Gottfried](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-gottfried/) > [Part of what I do comes from the fact that I don't know any jokes to tell. And when I do they're really flat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-reubens/part-of-what-i-do-comes-from-the-fact-that-i-don-t-know-any-jokes-to/) [Paul Reubens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-reubens/) > [I'm not good with jokes, no. I don't know a joke at all. I like being told jokes, but I can't tell one myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-degale/i-m-not-good-with-jokes-no-i-don-t-know-a-joke-at-all-i-like-being/) [James DeGale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-degale/) > [The funnest jokes for me to tell are the ones that are the newest. So I'm just constantly motivated to keep my eyes and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-regan/the-funnest-jokes-for-me-to-tell-are-the-ones-that-are-the-newest-so/) [Brian Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-regan/) > [My parents are really funny. Laughter was a big part of my childhood. Of course, they tell a lot of bad jokes - but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecily-strong/my-parents-are-really-funny-laughter-was-a-big-part-of-my-childhood/) [Cecily Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecily-strong/) > [What I usually do is tell funny stories from the road, many of which are, of course, unprintable. But I don't actually have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-dean/what-i-usually-do-is-tell-funny-stories-from-the-road-many-of-which/) [Howard Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-dean/) > [I've always wondered, what am I going to do that's important with these stupid jokes that I tell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-romano/i-ve-always-wondered-what-am-i-going-to-do-that-s-important-with/) [Ray Romano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-romano/) > [Now, I want to explain something to you guys. I don't have an ending joke, because I don't tell jokes. I tell real-life stories…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-bruce/now-i-want-to-explain-something-to-you-guys-i-don-t-have-an-ending/) [Bruce Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-bruce/) > [I'm not gonna name names, but sometimes when reporters are talking, it gets a little boring because I don't have any jokes to tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quvenzhane-wallis/i-m-not-gonna-name-names-but-sometimes-when-reporters-are-talking-it/) [Quvenzhane Wallis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quvenzhane-wallis/) > [Jokes for jokes' sake are kind of meaningless to me. I understand the value of them, but it doesn't speak to me as much.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hasan-minhaj/jokes-for-jokes-sake-are-kind-of-meaningless-to-me-i-understand-the/) [Hasan Minhaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hasan-minhaj/) > [I could never do stand-up because it's that thing of having to get up on stage. And out of every 10 jokes you tell,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-radcliffe/i-could-never-do-stand-up-because-it-s-that-thing-of-having-to-get-up/) [Daniel Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-radcliffe/) ## More by Billy Connolly > [Ally MacLeod thinks that tactics are a new kind of mint.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-connolly/ally-macleod-thinks-that-tactics-are-a-new-kind-of-mint/) [Billy Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-connolly/) > [I've been a poser for f--ing years. I say, pose your arse off. You know, have a laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-connolly/i-ve-been-a-poser-for-f-ing-years-i-say-pose-your-arse-off-you-know/) [Billy Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-connolly/) > [Heckling is an act of cowardice. If you want to speak, get up in front of the microphone and speak, don't sit in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-connolly/heckling-is-an-act-of-cowardice-if-you-want-to-speak-get-up-in-front/) [Billy Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-connolly/) > [I don't believe in angels and I have trouble with the whole God thing. I don't want to say I don't believe in God,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-connolly/i-don-t-believe-in-angels-and-i-have-trouble-with-the-whole-god-thing/) [Billy Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-connolly/) > [I think my securities far outweigh my insecurities. I am not nearly as afraid of myself and my imagination as I used to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-connolly/i-think-my-securities-far-outweigh-my-insecurities-i-am-not-nearly-as/) [Billy Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-connolly/) > [People die all the time. It's just that you're not around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-connolly/people-die-all-the-time-it-s-just-that-you-re-not-around/) [Billy Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-connolly/) > [I loved Japan. I used to read a lot about it when I was a child. And I always wanted to go. And it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-connolly/i-loved-japan-i-used-to-read-a-lot-about-it-when-i-was-a-child-and-i/) [Billy Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-connolly/) > [Life is supposed to be fun. It's not a job or occupation. We're here only once and we should have a bit of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-connolly/life-is-supposed-to-be-fun-it-s-not-a-job-or-occupation-we-re-here/) [Billy Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-connolly/) > [I'm famous for my bottom dances, but you'll only see my bum and willy if you raise a million pounds within an hour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-connolly/i-m-famous-for-my-bottom-dances-but-you-ll-only-see-my-bum-and-willy/) [Billy Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-connolly/) > [Don't buy one of those baby intercoms. Babies pretend to be dead. They're bastards, and they do it on purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-connolly/don-t-buy-one-of-those-baby-intercoms-babies-pretend-to-be-dead-they/) [Billy Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-connolly/) > [Politically correct is the language of cowardice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-connolly/politically-correct-is-the-language-of-cowardice/) [Billy Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-connolly/) > [I think of my life as a series of moments and I've found that the great moments often don't have too much to them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-connolly/i-think-of-my-life-as-a-series-of-moments-and-i-ve-found-that-the/) [Billy Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-connolly/) > [And then there was my mate who'd just been fitted with a brand new hearing aid. "It's the best in the world", he said.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-connolly/and-then-there-was-my-mate-who-d-just-been-fitted-with-a-brand-new/) [Billy Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-connolly/) > [So, have you heard about the oyster who went to a disco and pulled a mussel?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-connolly/so-have-you-heard-about-the-oyster-who-went-to-a-disco-and-pulled-a/) [Billy Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-connolly/) > [Chic Murray once told me he fell in the street, and a woman said to him, "Did you fall?" He said, "No, I'm tryin'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-connolly/chic-murray-once-told-me-he-fell-in-the-street-and-a-woman-said-to/) [Billy Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-connolly/) [Explore all 167 Billy Connolly quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-connolly/) ## More Always quotes > [I think performing has pretty much always been a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-briones/i-think-performing-has-pretty-much-always-been-a-part-of-me/) [Isa Briones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-briones/) > [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/) [William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I have really good lateral movement. I've always had quick lateral movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-have-really-good-lateral-movement-i-ve-always-had-quick-lateral/) [Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/) [Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/) > [It's not writing in the traditional sense, but I've always said that the writing process continues on the set and even into the editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-weide/it-s-not-writing-in-the-traditional-sense-but-i-ve-always-said-that/) [Robert B. Weide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-weide/) > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [I've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/) [Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [Bayern is always a team that can win the Champions League title in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/bayern-is-always-a-team-that-can-win-the-champions-league-title-in/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) Browse all 36,048 Always quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I've always been fascinated by the difference between the jokes you can tell your friends but you can't tell to an audience. 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