---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Matter never makes jokes: it is always…"
description: "\"“Matter never makes jokes: it is always full of the tragically serious. Who dares to think that you can play with matter, that you can shape it for a j..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/215/bruno-schulz-10193_matter-makes_matter-never-makes-jokes-it-is-always-fu_3031179.png"
---

#  Matter never makes jokes: it is always full of the…

![“Matter never makes jokes: it is always full of the tragically serious. Who dares to think that you can play with matter, that you can shape it for a joke, that the joke will not be built in, will not eat into it like fate, like destiny? Can you imagine the pain, the dull imprisoned suffering, hewn…” quote by Bruno Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/215/bruno-schulz-10193_matter-makes_matter-never-makes-jokes-it-is-always-fu_3031179.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/215/bruno-schulz-10193_matter-makes_matter-never-makes-jokes-it-is-always-fu_3031179.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/215/bruno-schulz-10193_matter-makes_matter-never-makes-jokes-it-is-always-fu_3031179.png)

> ““Matter never makes jokes: it is always full of the tragically serious. Who dares to think that you can play with matter, that you can shape it for a joke, that the joke will not be built in, will not eat into it like fate, like destiny? Can you imagine the pain, the dull imprisoned suffering, hewn into the matter of that dummy which does not know why it must be what it is, why it must remain in that forcibly imposed form which is no more than a parody? Do you understand the power of form, of expression, of pretense, the arbitrary tyranny imposed on a helpless block, and ruling it like its own, tyrannical, despotic soul?””

[Bruno Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-schulz/)

## About This Quote

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

Explores the seriousness of material existence, warning that treating matter lightly ignores its inherent suffering and the oppressive structures it embodies.

**In simple terms:** Matter is serious; treating it as a joke ignores its pain.

Key Takeaway

Respect the weight of reality and its constraints.

Themes

existence materialism oppression form seriousness

Mood

reflective somber introspective

Type

literary philosophical psychological

When to use this quote

- creative work
- ethical decision‑making
- personal reflection

Key Concepts

philosophy psychology literary analysis

Questions to Reflect On

- What does “matter” symbolize in your life?
- How do you balance creativity with responsibility?

A Different Perspective

Ignoring material constraints can lead to harmful outcomes.

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## Related quotes

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## More by Bruno Schulz

> [“A művészi tevékenység nem más, mint kész tételek dedukciója. A művészek később már semmi újat nem fedeznek fel, csak a kezdetben gondjaikra bízott titkot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-schulz/a-m-v-szi-tev-kenys-g-nem-m-s-mint-k-sz-t-telek-dedukci-ja-a-m-v-szek/)

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> [“On those luminous mornings Adela returned from the market, like Pomona emerging from the flames of day, spilling from her basket the coloful beauty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-schulz/on-those-luminous-mornings-adela-returned-from-the-market-like-pomona/)

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> [My ideal goal is to "mature" into childhood. That would be genuine maturity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-schulz/my-ideal-goal-is-to-mature-into-childhood-that-would-be-genuine/)

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> [“there is no dead matter," he taught us, "lifelessness is only a disguise behind which hide unknown forms of life. The range of these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-schulz/there-is-no-dead-matter-he-taught-us-lifelessness-is-only-a-disguise/)

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> [This enraged the other Nazi so much that the next morning he came to our house and he shot my father.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-schulz/this-enraged-the-other-nazi-so-much-that-the-next-morning-he-came-to/)

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## More Matter Makes quotes

> [“Annie: I wonder if when he talks dirty, he gets all science-y. Oooh, your matter makes my particles throb.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-buxbaum/annie-i-wonder-if-when-he-talks-dirty-he-gets-all-science-y-oooh-your/)

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Browse all 6 Matter Makes quotes

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