---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you want anything done well, do it…"
description: "\"If you want anything done well, do it yourself. This is why most people laugh at their own jokes.\" — Bob Edwards"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ba/bob-edwards-17951_jokes_if-you-want-anything-done-well-do-it-you_2127599.jpg"
---

#  If you want anything done well, do it yourself. This is…

![“If you want anything done well, do it yourself. This is why most people laugh at their own jokes.” quote by Bob Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ba/bob-edwards-17951_jokes_if-you-want-anything-done-well-do-it-you_2127599.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ba/bob-edwards-17951_jokes_if-you-want-anything-done-well-do-it-you_2127599.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ba/bob-edwards-17951_jokes_if-you-want-anything-done-well-do-it-you_2127599.jpg)

> “If you want anything done well, do it yourself. This is why most people laugh at their own jokes.”

[Bob Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-edwards/)

## About This Quote

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

Doing tasks yourself ensures quality; others may not take their own jokes seriously.

**In simple terms:** Do it yourself for quality.

Key Takeaway

Take ownership of your work.

Themes

self‑reliance humor quality

Mood

pragmatic lighthearted

Type

advice observational

When to use this quote

- project management
- creative work
- team dynamics

Key Concepts

DIY ethic self‑efficacy

Questions to Reflect On

- When is teamwork better?
- How do you handle others’ jokes?

A Different Perspective

Collaboration can improve outcomes.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Jokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jokes/) [Laugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laugh/)

## Related quotes

> [Does she still laugh at your jokes?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-womack/does-she-still-laugh-at-your-jokes/)

Seth Womack

> [When Americans, who have no idea who I am, laugh at my jokes, it's exactly the same if someone loves you even if you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gad-elmaleh/when-americans-who-have-no-idea-who-i-am-laugh-at-my-jokes-it-s/)

[Gad Elmaleh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gad-elmaleh/)

> [At the end of the day people should remember that we are just trying to make people laugh. Some jokes work and some don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiku-sharda/at-the-end-of-the-day-people-should-remember-that-we-are-just-trying/)

[Kiku Sharda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiku-sharda/)

> [“I instantly like people who laugh at my jokes. It's a weakness of mine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-norman/i-instantly-like-people-who-laugh-at-my-jokes-it-s-a-weakness-of-mine/)

[Matthew Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-norman/)

> [I'm more one of those people you laugh at and not with. I'm not the one with the jokes, I'm the one who falls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brooklyn-decker/i-m-more-one-of-those-people-you-laugh-at-and-not-with-i-m-not-the/)

[Brooklyn Decker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brooklyn-decker/)

> [“The secret to success, in all walks of life, is getting the right people to laugh at your jokes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-j-rook/the-secret-to-success-in-all-walks-of-life-is-getting-the-right/)

James J. Rook

> [I like the purity of stand-up because it is all about whether people laugh at your jokes. Either they laugh or they don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-brand/i-like-the-purity-of-stand-up-because-it-is-all-about-whether-people/)

[Jo Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-brand/)

> [Thank you people that are laughing with your hand away from your mouth. That joke is clearly not for everyone, but I enjoy watching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-tosh/thank-you-people-that-are-laughing-with-your-hand-away-from-your/)

[Daniel Tosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-tosh/)

> [You need to have people to laugh and joke with you to share in it, and I love that, too](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uniique-styles-randxom/you-need-to-have-people-to-laugh-and-joke-with-you-to-share-in-it-and/)

Uniique Styles Randxom

> [I think that sometimes you do something that makes a small group of people laugh, which is all we were trying to do; we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cleese/i-think-that-sometimes-you-do-something-that-makes-a-small-group-of/)

[John Cleese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cleese/)

> [You can tell how smart people are by what they laugh at.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-fey/you-can-tell-how-smart-people-are-by-what-they-laugh-at/)

[Tina Fey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-fey/)

> [The only difference between a comedian and someone else? We need to make people laugh more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-davies/the-only-difference-between-a-comedian-and-someone-else-we-need-to/)

[Greg Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-davies/)

> [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/)

> [I laugh at my own jokes. I'm funny. Kiss my ass so what.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/i-laugh-at-my-own-jokes-i-m-funny-kiss-my-ass-so-what/)

[Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/)

> [“Please believe me. I've nothing against you personally. It's just that I laugh at all jokes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fakeer-ishavardas/please-believe-me-i-ve-nothing-against-you-personally-it-s-just-that/)

[Fakeer Ishavardas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fakeer-ishavardas/)

## More by Bob Edwards

> [People are always ready to admit a man's ability after he gets there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-edwards/people-are-always-ready-to-admit-a-man-s-ability-after-he-gets-there/)

[Bob Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-edwards/)

> [Soon it will be a sin for parents to have a child that carries the heavy burden of genetic disease.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-edwards/soon-it-will-be-a-sin-for-parents-to-have-a-child-that-carries-the/)

[Bob Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-edwards/)

> [“Applause has made a fool of more men than criticism.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-edwards/applause-has-made-a-fool-of-more-men-than-criticism/)

[Bob Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-edwards/)

> [If blue collar jobs are leaving and white collar jobs are outsourced what color collar jobs are left?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-edwards/if-blue-collar-jobs-are-leaving-and-white-collar-jobs-are-outsourced/)

[Bob Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-edwards/)

> [I was encouraged to read aloud in class and vocalize.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-edwards/i-was-encouraged-to-read-aloud-in-class-and-vocalize/)

[Bob Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-edwards/)

> [With radio, the listener absorbs everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-edwards/with-radio-the-listener-absorbs-everything/)

[Bob Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-edwards/)

> [A little learning is a dangerous thing, but a lot of ignorance is just as bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-edwards/a-little-learning-is-a-dangerous-thing-but-a-lot-of-ignorance-is-just/)

[Bob Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-edwards/)

> [In my case, the listener is often in an automobile driving to work. You can concentrate on the road while still getting an audio…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-edwards/in-my-case-the-listener-is-often-in-an-automobile-driving-to-work-you/)

[Bob Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-edwards/)

> [It's also a more personal medium. It seems to go directly to one's brain. There are no pictures to distract.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-edwards/it-s-also-a-more-personal-medium-it-seems-to-go-directly-to-one-s/)

[Bob Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-edwards/)

> [I've never been able to predict the future of anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-edwards/i-ve-never-been-able-to-predict-the-future-of-anything/)

[Bob Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-edwards/)

> [I wake about 1 a.m. I'm in the office by 2 a.m. We're on the air at 5.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-edwards/i-wake-about-1-a-m-i-m-in-the-office-by-2-a-m-we-re-on-the-air-at-5/)

[Bob Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-edwards/)

> [The pictures are created by the listener, with a little help from the broadcaster. The pictures are perfect. If you're showing pictures, different things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-edwards/the-pictures-are-created-by-the-listener-with-a-little-help-from-the/)

[Bob Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-edwards/)

> [Between 2 and 5 I'm reading in to find out what's been going on while I've been asleep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-edwards/between-2-and-5-i-m-reading-in-to-find-out-what-s-been-going-on-while/)

[Bob Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-edwards/)

> [I'm still excited at being at a microphone and talking to listeners. I love that. It's the most basic element of what I do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-edwards/i-m-still-excited-at-being-at-a-microphone-and-talking-to-listeners-i/)

[Bob Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-edwards/)

> [Nobody cares about your wardrobe, what your tie looks like, or even if you're wearing one, and I don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-edwards/nobody-cares-about-your-wardrobe-what-your-tie-looks-like-or-even-if/)

[Bob Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-edwards/)

[Explore all 36 Bob Edwards quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-edwards/)

## 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": "If you want anything done well, do it yourself. This is why most people laugh at their own jokes.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Bob Edwards"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-edwards/if-you-want-anything-done-well-do-it-yourself-this-is-why-most-people/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Comedy"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-edwards/if-you-want-anything-done-well-do-it-yourself-this-is-why-most-people/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ba/bob-edwards-17951_jokes_if-you-want-anything-done-well-do-it-you_2127599.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ba/bob-edwards-17951_jokes_if-you-want-anything-done-well-do-it-you_2127599.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ba/bob-edwards-17951_jokes_if-you-want-anything-done-well-do-it-you_2127599.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“If you want anything done well, do it yourself. This is why most people laugh at their own jokes.” — Bob Edwards",
                "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": "Bob Edwards",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-edwards/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "If you want anything done well,...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-edwards/if-you-want-anything-done-well-do-it-yourself-this-is-why-most-people/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-edwards/if-you-want-anything-done-well-do-it-yourself-this-is-why-most-people/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
