--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There are a lot of questions I keep…" description: "\"There are a lot of questions I keep asking myself about why I do comedy. I guess I laugh to keep from crying. And I guess if you ever get me crying, I ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24e/bob-newhart-2419_asking_there-are-a-lot-of-questions-i-keep-aski_1994516.jpg" --- # There are a lot of questions I keep asking myself about… ![“There are a lot of questions I keep asking myself about why I do comedy. I guess I laugh to keep from crying. And I guess if you ever get me crying, I might not stop. This is the way I look at tragedy or else I'll cry.” quote by Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24e/bob-newhart-2419_asking_there-are-a-lot-of-questions-i-keep-aski_1994516.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24e/bob-newhart-2419_asking_there-are-a-lot-of-questions-i-keep-aski_1994516.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24e/bob-newhart-2419_asking_there-are-a-lot-of-questions-i-keep-aski_1994516.jpg) > “There are a lot of questions I keep asking myself about why I do comedy. I guess I laugh to keep from crying. And I guess if you ever get me crying, I might not stop. This is the way I look at tragedy or else I'll cry.” [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. The comedian reflects on using humor to mask pain, suggesting that laughter can be a coping mechanism for tragedy. **In simple terms:** Comedy hides personal sorrow. Key Takeaway Use humor to cope with pain. Themes humor coping mental health tragedy self-awareness Mood introspective empathetic Type psychological creative When to use this quote - Therapy sessions - stand-up comedy - writing jokes - personal journaling Key Concepts psychology of humor emotional regulation Questions to Reflect On - Why do you turn to laughter in tough times? - Can humor replace professional help? A Different Perspective Humor may suppress rather than resolve underlying issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Cry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cry/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Laugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laugh/) [Tragedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tragedy/) ## Related quotes > [“I don't like crying in front of people because it shows them the holes that you have on the inside. I guess with all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crystal-chan/i-don-t-like-crying-in-front-of-people-because-it-shows-them-the/) [Crystal Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crystal-chan/) > [“Stop crying to the ocean, stop crying over me. Stop worrying over nothing, stop worrying over me. So it's been so long since you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tegan-quin/stop-crying-to-the-ocean-stop-crying-over-me-stop-worrying-over/) [Tegan Quin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tegan-quin/) > [More and more, the hardest part of crying is when I can't stop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/more-and-more-the-hardest-part-of-crying-is-when-i-can-t-stop/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [“What?” I cut him off. “That’s not true—I do take this seriously—” “Bullshit.” He laughs a short, sharp, angry laugh. “All you do is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/what-i-cut-him-off-that-s-not-true-i-do-take-this-seriously-bullshit/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“If only I could understand The reason for my crying If only I could stop this fear Of dreaming that I'm dying.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lynch/if-only-i-could-understand-the-reason-for-my-crying-if-only-i-could/) [Jennifer Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lynch/) > [Never forget that you are free, and that to show your emotions is not shameful. Scream, sob loudly, make as much noise as you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/never-forget-that-you-are-free-and-that-to-show-your-emotions-is-not/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“If we do not laugh, we will cry. Crying will only make us hotter and sweatier. We Jews like to joke about death because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-yolen/if-we-do-not-laugh-we-will-cry-crying-will-only-make-us-hotter-and/) [Jane Yolen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-yolen/) > [I wanted to breathe deeply,let the pain&suffer in my body relax,embrace life&death in a different way laugh now& crying later.that was my personal prescription](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uniique-styles-randxom/i-wanted-to-breathe-deeply-let-the-pain-suffer-in-my-body-relax/) Uniique Styles Randxom > [Sometimes you almost have to laugh to keep from crying to deal with the pain associated with the 'hood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gucci-mane/sometimes-you-almost-have-to-laugh-to-keep-from-crying-to-deal-with/) [Gucci Mane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gucci-mane/) > [The best feeling i've ever had is making someone laugh after crying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernajoy-vaal/the-best-feeling-i-ve-ever-had-is-making-someone-laugh-after-crying/) [Bernajoy Vaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernajoy-vaal/) > [“I am laugh-crying alone in my bedroom. Wonderful.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-zappia/i-am-laugh-crying-alone-in-my-bedroom-wonderful/) [Francesca Zappia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-zappia/) > [“Baby, it's either laugh or cry and crying takes way too much energy. If you can't find humor in the shit life heaps on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/baby-it-s-either-laugh-or-cry-and-crying-takes-way-too-much-energy-if/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [I might smile, but am sad. I might laugh, but am crying. I might live on, but inside am dying, dying to be with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-might-smile-but-am-sad-i-might-laugh-but-am-crying-i-might-live-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Our friendship is so beautiful .. You laugh, I will laugh .. You cry, I'm crying .. You fall from the tree, I laughed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-bassam/our-friendship-is-so-beautiful-you-laugh-i-will-laugh-you-cry-i-m/) [Ali Bassam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-bassam/) > [Sometimes you have to laugh to keep from crying or getting overly angry or to maintain control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-haysbert/sometimes-you-have-to-laugh-to-keep-from-crying-or-getting-overly/) [Dennis Haysbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-haysbert/) ## 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 Asking quotes > [Why did Erich von Stronheim leave Germany? Why did Hitchcock leave England? 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And you're going to have to holler…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/and-in-your-new-lives-you-ll-have-to-live-entirely-for-that-one/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) > [“Stop asking yourself how or why and tell yourself you can." - Charmainism”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charmaine-smith-ladd/stop-asking-yourself-how-or-why-and-tell-yourself-you-can-charmainism/) [Charmaine Smith Ladd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charmaine-smith-ladd/) > [Closing his eyes, he sent up a prayer to anyone who was listening, asking please, for God's sake, stop sending him signals that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/closing-his-eyes-he-sent-up-a-prayer-to-anyone-who-was-listening/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [People will identify with a persecuted minority without asking themselves what they are identifying with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/people-will-identify-with-a-persecuted-minority-without-asking/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [If you're having a bad day already and everybody is just asking you petty questions, it drives people to the edge, or something really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-weixler/if-you-re-having-a-bad-day-already-and-everybody-is-just-asking-you/) [Jess Weixler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-weixler/) > [You never give away your heart; you lend it from time to time. If it were not so, how could we take it back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/you-never-give-away-your-heart-you-lend-it-from-time-to-time-if-it/) [Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/) > [I'm not asking people to feel sorry for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-abramoff/i-m-not-asking-people-to-feel-sorry-for-me/) [Jack Abramoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-abramoff/) > [The boldness of asking deep questions may require unforeseen flexibility if we are to accept the answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-greene/the-boldness-of-asking-deep-questions-may-require-unforeseen/) [Brian Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-greene/) > [Use Google Before Asking A Stupid Question.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muskaan/use-google-before-asking-a-stupid-question/) [Muskaan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muskaan/) > [There were people asking 'Can women be funny?' People still ask that. It's like asking: 'Can women breathe in and out?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-walters/there-were-people-asking-can-women-be-funny-people-still-ask-that-it/) [Julie Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-walters/) > [Whether that's speaking up in your job or asking for a promotion or saying, 'I think I can do that.' Using your voice in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-shriver/whether-that-s-speaking-up-in-your-job-or-asking-for-a-promotion-or/) [Maria Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-shriver/) > [Love cannot be had for the asking; it comes only as a gift from the heart of another](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/love-cannot-be-had-for-the-asking-it-comes-only-as-a-gift-from-the/) [Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/) > [The Baseball Hall of Fame is something every player dreams about, but being a member of God's Hall of Fame is the greatest achievement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-carter/the-baseball-hall-of-fame-is-something-every-player-dreams-about-but/) [Gary Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-carter/) > [“In such a regime, I say you died a good death if your life had inspired someone to come forward and shoot your murdered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/in-such-a-regime-i-say-you-died-a-good-death-if-your-life-had/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) Browse all 3,313 Asking quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There are a lot of questions I keep asking myself about why I do comedy. 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