---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: No matter what hyenas sound like, they…"
description: "\"No matter what hyenas sound like, they are not actually laughing.\" — Bob Newhart"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/160/bob-newhart-2419_actually_no-matter-what-hyenas-sound-like-they-ar_347702.jpg"
---

#  No matter what hyenas sound like, they are not actually…

![“No matter what hyenas sound like, they are not actually laughing.” quote by Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/160/bob-newhart-2419_actually_no-matter-what-hyenas-sound-like-they-ar_347702.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/160/bob-newhart-2419_actually_no-matter-what-hyenas-sound-like-they-ar_347702.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/160/bob-newhart-2419_actually_no-matter-what-hyenas-sound-like-they-ar_347702.jpg)

> “No matter what hyenas sound like, they are not actually laughing.”

[Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/)

## About This Quote

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

Hyenas' vocalizations are often misinterpreted as laughter, but they serve other communication purposes.

**In simple terms:** Hyenas don’t actually laugh.

Key Takeaway

Don’t assume sounds mean what they seem.

Themes

misinterpretation animals communication

Mood

educational lighthearted

Type

comedy observation

When to use this quote

- wildlife documentaries
- education
- animal behavior analysis

Key Concepts

ethology sound perception

Questions to Reflect On

- Why do we anthropomorphize animal sounds?
- How can we improve public understanding of animal behavior?

A Different Perspective

Oversimplifies complex animal communication.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Actually](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actually/) [Actually Laughing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actually-laughing-1510205/) [Animal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) [Hyenas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hyenas/) [Hyenas Sound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hyenas-sound-3218231/) [Laughing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laughing/) [Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [Matter Hyenas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter-hyenas-3218232/) [Sound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sound/)

## Related quotes

> [“Are we going to reach a point where we say LOL instead of actually laughing?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yusra-badr/are-we-going-to-reach-a-point-where-we-say-lol-instead-of-actually/)

[Yusra Badr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yusra-badr/)

> [Sometimes when I say LOL, I amnot actually laughing out loud. I just have nothing else to sa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-when-i-say-lol-i-amnot-actually-laughing-out-loud-i-just/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“...my closet and I are on my own. My closet is of no use to me. It may actually be laughing at me. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katja-millay/my-closet-and-i-are-on-my-own-my-closet-is-of-no-use-to-me-it-may/)

[Katja Millay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katja-millay/)

> [“Are you actually laughing at me? Seriously?" Janie rubs her hair with a towel. "I almost died out there. Plus my brain is now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-mcmann/are-you-actually-laughing-at-me-seriously-janie-rubs-her-hair-with-a/)

[Lisa McMann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-mcmann/)

> [There was a man who sold a hyena skin while the beast still lived and who was killed in hunting it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/there-was-a-man-who-sold-a-hyena-skin-while-the-beast-still-lived-and/)

[Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/)

> [In the days when hyenas of hate suckle the babes of men, and jackals of hypocrisy pimp their mothers’ broken hearts, may children not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aberjhani/in-the-days-when-hyenas-of-hate-suckle-the-babes-of-men-and-jackals/)

[Aberjhani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aberjhani/)

> [Declare war on passivity. Hush the inner voice that insists you're over the hill, past your prime, unworthy of attaining those dreams. Disbelief is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-hutchins/declare-war-on-passivity-hush-the-inner-voice-that-insists-you-re/)

[J. C. Hutchins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-hutchins/)

> [A fly is as untamable as a hyena.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-fly-is-as-untamable-as-a-hyena/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [Lonely people have enthusiasms which cannot always be explained. When something strikes them as funny, the intensity and length of their laughter mirrors the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-helprin/lonely-people-have-enthusiasms-which-cannot-always-be-explained-when/)

[Mark Helprin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-helprin/)

> [Feeling animalistic. Feeling Hyena. Feeling Wolf. Feeling Dog. I am tongue and heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wojnarowicz/feeling-animalistic-feeling-hyena-feeling-wolf-feeling-dog-i-am/)

[David Wojnarowicz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wojnarowicz/)

> [I will neither yield to the song of the siren nor the voice of the hyena, the tears of the crocodile nor the howling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-chapman/i-will-neither-yield-to-the-song-of-the-siren-nor-the-voice-of-the/)

[George Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-chapman/)

> [As far as history goes I am dead. If there is something beyond I shall have to bounce back. I have found God, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-miller/as-far-as-history-goes-i-am-dead-if-there-is-something-beyond-i-shall/)

[Henry Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-miller/)

> [Integrity's a neutral value. Hyenas have integrity, too. They're pure hyena.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-franzen/integrity-s-a-neutral-value-hyenas-have-integrity-too-they-re-pure/)

[Jonathan Franzen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-franzen/)

> [I don't mind if, according to the Law of Evolution, my grand grand grand etc. father is a monkey,but I do mind if he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/i-don-t-mind-if-according-to-the-law-of-evolution-my-grand-grand/)

[Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [The Pink Panther wasn't shown to the press for reasons that soon became apparent when I saw it at a public performance. Two people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-french/the-pink-panther-wasn-t-shown-to-the-press-for-reasons-that-soon/)

[Philip French](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-french/)

## More by Bob Newhart

> [Television series are like the stock market. There's room for bears and bulls but no room for pigs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/television-series-are-like-the-stock-market-there-s-room-for-bears/)

[Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/)

> [I didn't need the elf outfit to play an elf; I could just play an elf.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/i-didn-t-need-the-elf-outfit-to-play-an-elf-i-could-just-play-an-elf/)

[Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/)

> [When I was off TV, people would ask me to please come back, which I think was their way of saying, 'There's nothing out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/when-i-was-off-tv-people-would-ask-me-to-please-come-back-which-i/)

[Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/)

> [I just made the decision that I was going to try comedy, and if didn't work, then I knew it didn't work. Then I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/i-just-made-the-decision-that-i-was-going-to-try-comedy-and-if-didn-t/)

[Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/)

> [Don't be silly and don't waste your time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/don-t-be-silly-and-don-t-waste-your-time/)

[Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/)

> [I'm most proud of the longevity of my marriage, my kids, and my grandchildren. If you don't have that, you really don't have very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/i-m-most-proud-of-the-longevity-of-my-marriage-my-kids-and-my/)

[Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/)

> [The best advice I could give someone trying to get into the comedy field is to take advantage of every opportunity you have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/the-best-advice-i-could-give-someone-trying-to-get-into-the-comedy/)

[Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/)

> [As an actor, you generally want to see the other actor's face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/as-an-actor-you-generally-want-to-see-the-other-actor-s-face/)

[Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/)

> [You shouldn't get too close to the truth, because then maybe you stop being funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/you-shouldn-t-get-too-close-to-the-truth-because-then-maybe-you-stop/)

[Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/)

> [But I really believe that if you have the ability, there is an obligation to make people laugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/but-i-really-believe-that-if-you-have-the-ability-there-is-an/)

[Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/)

> [The reason I'm a psychologist is based in part on my telephone routines. Much of my humor comes out of reaction to what other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/the-reason-i-m-a-psychologist-is-based-in-part-on-my-telephone/)

[Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/)

> [I think that what comes through in Chicago humor is the affection. Even though you're poking fun at someone or something, there's still an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/i-think-that-what-comes-through-in-chicago-humor-is-the-affection/)

[Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/)

> [I feel more comfortable in comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/i-feel-more-comfortable-in-comedy/)

[Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/)

> [I really don't know what makes a comedian. I think it's a family background and environment. Yet if you put the same ingredients in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/i-really-don-t-know-what-makes-a-comedian-i-think-it-s-a-family/)

[Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/)

> [I made a record album in 1960 and it exploded, and I got all these offers for TV.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/i-made-a-record-album-in-1960-and-it-exploded-and-i-got-all-these/)

[Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/)

[Explore all 167 Bob Newhart quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/)

## More Actually quotes

> [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/)

[Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/)

> [I just think my own ambition would not allow me to sit on the gifts that my creator had given me. And so that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/i-just-think-my-own-ambition-would-not-allow-me-to-sit-on-the-gifts/)

[Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/)

> [I actually like getting out of my comfort zone. It shakes me up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-sheehy/i-actually-like-getting-out-of-my-comfort-zone-it-shakes-me-up/)

[Gail Sheehy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-sheehy/)

> [You have to talk about why things happened the way they did. You can't actually explain my political life except by a series of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lange/you-have-to-talk-about-why-things-happened-the-way-they-did-you-can-t/)

[David Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lange/)

> [Failure actually makes you strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neha-sharma/failure-actually-makes-you-strong/)

[Neha Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neha-sharma/)

> [There's always that discussion about fiction about how do you market it - these are books for boys, these are books for girls, these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-a-weatherly/there-s-always-that-discussion-about-fiction-about-how-do-you-market/)

[L.A. Weatherly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-a-weatherly/)

> [I'm from Europe, England, and I actually lived in Italy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adewale-akinnuoye-agbaje/i-m-from-europe-england-and-i-actually-lived-in-italy/)

[Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adewale-akinnuoye-agbaje/)

> [The alternative comedy scene is actually pretty small, I guess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/casey-wilson/the-alternative-comedy-scene-is-actually-pretty-small-i-guess/)

[Casey Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/casey-wilson/)

> [I was a very good student. Procrastinating gives me anxiety, and getting a B really ticked me off. Sure, I didn't always want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-loren/i-was-a-very-good-student-procrastinating-gives-me-anxiety-and/)

[Josie Loren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-loren/)

> [The shelves of many evangelicals are full of books that point out the flaws in evolution, discuss it only as a theory, and almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-collins/the-shelves-of-many-evangelicals-are-full-of-books-that-point-out-the/)

[Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/)

> [Somebody said that part of my reaction to British cinema is actually, paradoxically, a patriotic one. I'm so disappointed that we're not better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-brownlow/somebody-said-that-part-of-my-reaction-to-british-cinema-is-actually/)

[Kevin Brownlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-brownlow/)

> [I actually do sing sometimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morten-harket/i-actually-do-sing-sometimes/)

[Morten Harket](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morten-harket/)

> [I've actually got quite a good memory. I've good recall. It's often things which other people might not notice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-frame/i-ve-actually-got-quite-a-good-memory-i-ve-good-recall-it-s-often/)

[Ronald Frame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-frame/)

> [Because there is actually something very interesting in Goodfellas, how the style of the film changes as time goes by and based on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-cox/because-there-is-actually-something-very-interesting-in-goodfellas/)

[Alex Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-cox/)

> ['Inequality' has become the political theme/slogan of our time in both Europe and the U.S., yet political leaders do not even bother to consider…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-singer/inequality-has-become-the-political-theme-slogan-of-our-time-in-both/)

[Paul Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-singer/)

[Browse all 4,248 Actually quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actually/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "No matter what hyenas sound like, they are not actually laughing.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Bob Newhart"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/no-matter-what-hyenas-sound-like-they-are-not-actually-laughing/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Actually"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/no-matter-what-hyenas-sound-like-they-are-not-actually-laughing/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/160/bob-newhart-2419_actually_no-matter-what-hyenas-sound-like-they-ar_347702.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/160/bob-newhart-2419_actually_no-matter-what-hyenas-sound-like-they-ar_347702.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/160/bob-newhart-2419_actually_no-matter-what-hyenas-sound-like-they-ar_347702.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“No matter what hyenas sound like, they are not actually laughing.” — Bob Newhart",
                "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 Newhart",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "No matter what hyenas sound like,...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/no-matter-what-hyenas-sound-like-they-are-not-actually-laughing/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/no-matter-what-hyenas-sound-like-they-are-not-actually-laughing/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
