--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Audiences are always better pleased with…" description: "\"Audiences are always better pleased with a smart retort, some joke or epigram, than with any amount of reasoning.\" — Charlotte Perkins Gilman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7aa/charlotte-perkins-gilman-2420_amount_audiences-are-always-better-pleased-with_263845.png" --- # Audiences are always better pleased with a smart retort… ![“Audiences are always better pleased with a smart retort, some joke or epigram, than with any amount of reasoning.” quote by Charlotte Perkins Gilman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7aa/charlotte-perkins-gilman-2420_amount_audiences-are-always-better-pleased-with_263845.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7aa/charlotte-perkins-gilman-2420_amount_audiences-are-always-better-pleased-with_263845.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7aa/charlotte-perkins-gilman-2420_amount_audiences-are-always-better-pleased-with_263845.png) > “Audiences are always better pleased with a smart retort, some joke or epigram, than with any amount of reasoning.” [Charlotte Perkins Gilman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-perkins-gilman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People prefer witty remarks over logical arguments because humor is more engaging and memorable. **In simple terms:** Humor wins over dry logic. Key Takeaway Use humor to make ideas stick. Themes communication humor logic Mood lighthearted analytical Type persuasive reflective When to use this quote - political speeches - classroom teaching - advertising - debates Key Concepts rhetoric persuasion cognitive bias Questions to Reflect On - When is humor inappropriate? - How can humor enhance persuasion? A Different Perspective Humor can oversimplify complex issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) [Reasoning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reasoning/) [Retort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/retort/) [Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smart/) ## Related quotes > [I would tell filmmakers: 'Don't just be seduced by the same old, same old. There are interesting things you can explore that may get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-gibney/i-would-tell-filmmakers-don-t-just-be-seduced-by-the-same-old-same/) [Alex Gibney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-gibney/) > [A joke is an epigram on the death of a feeling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/a-joke-is-an-epigram-on-the-death-of-a-feeling/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“How dare you call me lazy? I'd come up with a scathing retort but, meh, I'm just not motivated.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-weir/how-dare-you-call-me-lazy-i-d-come-up-with-a-scathing-retort-but-meh/) [Andy Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-weir/) > [One doesn't come to Italy for niceness," was the retort; "one comes for life. Buon giorno! Buon giorno!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-doesn-t-come-to-italy-for-niceness-was-the-retort-one-comes-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I said, 'Don't talk rot, Old Tom Travers." "I am not accustomed to talk rot," he said. "Then, for a beginner," I said, "you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-g-wodehouse/i-said-don-t-talk-rot-old-tom-travers-i-am-not-accustomed-to-talk-rot/) [P.G. Wodehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-g-wodehouse/) > [“Well, Karou had wanted to retort, with all the gravity and maturity she could muster. Duh.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/well-karou-had-wanted-to-retort-with-all-the-gravity-and-maturity-she/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [“Demaratus, being asked in a troublesome manner by an importunate fellow, Who was the best man in Lacedaemon? answered at last, 'He, Sir, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/demaratus-being-asked-in-a-troublesome-manner-by-an-importunate/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [I can be just as effective with a quick retort or a one-liner than with a big paragraph.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-colmes/i-can-be-just-as-effective-with-a-quick-retort-or-a-one-liner-than/) [Alan Colmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-colmes/) > [“About two hours afterwards Gethryn discovered a suitable retort, but, coming to the conclusion that better late than never does not apply to repartees,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-g-wodehouse/about-two-hours-afterwards-gethryn-discovered-a-suitable-retort-but/) [P.G. Wodehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-g-wodehouse/) > [“You can't do a blocking spell, and you've never heard of L'Occhio di Dio? Man, what kind of witch are you?" I had an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/you-can-t-do-a-blocking-spell-and-you-ve-never-heard-of-l-occhio-di/) [Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/) > [REPARTEE, n. Prudent insult in retort. Practiced by gentlemen with a constitutional aversion to violence, but a strong disposition to offend. In a war…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/repartee-n-prudent-insult-in-retort-practiced-by-gentlemen-with-a/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [A woman springs a sudden reproach upon you which provokes a hot retort, and then she will presently ask you to apologize.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/a-woman-springs-a-sudden-reproach-upon-you-which-provokes-a-hot/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [“Billy, honey, could you get me another drink from the bar? I’m almost done with this one.” Kate pulls on his arm, cutting off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-chase/billy-honey-could-you-get-me-another-drink-from-the-bar-i-m-almost/) [Emma Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-chase/) > [“When people ask me that absurd question "Do you like children?" I always feel like retorting - and sometimes do, if I think the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-m-montgomery/when-people-ask-me-that-absurd-question-do-you-like-children-i-always/) [L.M. Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-m-montgomery/) > [“I don't like you with Becky. She's not a very nice girl.' 'I don't like you with Jake. He's not me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-summers/i-don-t-like-you-with-becky-she-s-not-a-very-nice-girl-i-don-t-like/) [Courtney Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-summers/) ## More by Charlotte Perkins Gilman > [“They were inconveniently reasonable, these women.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-perkins-gilman/they-were-inconveniently-reasonable-these-women/) [Charlotte Perkins Gilman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-perkins-gilman/) > [Architecture might be more sportive and varied if every man built his own house, but it would not be the art and science that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-perkins-gilman/architecture-might-be-more-sportive-and-varied-if-every-man-built-his/) [Charlotte Perkins Gilman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-perkins-gilman/) > [To-day there is hardly a woman of intelligence in all America ... who is not definitely and actively concerned in some social interest, who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-perkins-gilman/to-day-there-is-hardly-a-woman-of-intelligence-in-all-america-who-is/) [Charlotte Perkins Gilman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-perkins-gilman/) > [“Here she comes, running, out of prison and off the pedestal: chains off, crown off, halo off, just a live woman.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-perkins-gilman/here-she-comes-running-out-of-prison-and-off-the-pedestal-chains-off/) [Charlotte Perkins Gilman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-perkins-gilman/) > [“I never saw so much expression in an inanimate thing before, and we all know how much expression they have! I used to lie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-perkins-gilman/i-never-saw-so-much-expression-in-an-inanimate-thing-before-and-we/) [Charlotte Perkins Gilman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-perkins-gilman/) > [In New York City, everyone is an exile, none more so than the Americans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-perkins-gilman/in-new-york-city-everyone-is-an-exile-none-more-so-than-the-americans/) [Charlotte Perkins Gilman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-perkins-gilman/) > [The fact that women in the home have shut themselves away from the thought and life of the world has done much to retard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-perkins-gilman/the-fact-that-women-in-the-home-have-shut-themselves-away-from-the/) [Charlotte Perkins Gilman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-perkins-gilman/) > [Eternity is not something that begins after you are dead. It is going on all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-perkins-gilman/eternity-is-not-something-that-begins-after-you-are-dead-it-is-going/) [Charlotte Perkins Gilman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-perkins-gilman/) > [Now why should that man have fainted? But he did,and right across my path by the wall, so that I had to creep over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-perkins-gilman/now-why-should-that-man-have-fainted-but-he-did-and-right-across-my/) [Charlotte Perkins Gilman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-perkins-gilman/) > [The best proof of man's dissatisfaction with the home is found in his universal absence from it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-perkins-gilman/the-best-proof-of-man-s-dissatisfaction-with-the-home-is-found-in-his/) [Charlotte Perkins Gilman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-perkins-gilman/) > [The home is the centre and circumference, the start and the finish, of most of our lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-perkins-gilman/the-home-is-the-centre-and-circumference-the-start-and-the-finish-of/) [Charlotte Perkins Gilman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-perkins-gilman/) > [No matter what the belief, if it had modestly said, 'This is our best thought, go on, think farther!' then we could have smoothly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-perkins-gilman/no-matter-what-the-belief-if-it-had-modestly-said-this-is-our-best/) [Charlotte Perkins Gilman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-perkins-gilman/) > [A house does not need a wife any more than it needs a husband.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-perkins-gilman/a-house-does-not-need-a-wife-any-more-than-it-needs-a-husband/) [Charlotte Perkins Gilman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-perkins-gilman/) > [The home is a human institution. All human institutions are open to improvement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-perkins-gilman/the-home-is-a-human-institution-all-human-institutions-are-open-to/) [Charlotte Perkins Gilman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-perkins-gilman/) > [It would have saved trouble had I remained Perkins from the first, this changing of women's names is a nuisance we are now happily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-perkins-gilman/it-would-have-saved-trouble-had-i-remained-perkins-from-the-first/) [Charlotte Perkins Gilman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-perkins-gilman/) [Explore all 167 Charlotte Perkins Gilman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-perkins-gilman/) ## More Amount quotes > [Dating someone on the opposite end of the happy spectrum teaches you an incredible amount of patience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-pine/dating-someone-on-the-opposite-end-of-the-happy-spectrum-teaches-you/) [Chris Pine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-pine/) > [When the amount of change externally exceeds the amount of change internally, the end is in sight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/when-the-amount-of-change-externally-exceeds-the-amount-of-change/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [A human being can only absorb a small amount of the mystical kundalini, you can be exposed again and again to it, but it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/a-human-being-can-only-absorb-a-small-amount-of-the-mystical/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [It's a great story for us whenever an entrepreneur makes a crazy amount of money and we get to tell the world about it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-lacy/it-s-a-great-story-for-us-whenever-an-entrepreneur-makes-a-crazy/) [Sarah Lacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-lacy/) > [It's a challenge to work a character's arc into a format in which you only have a very limited amount of time to grow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginnifer-goodwin/it-s-a-challenge-to-work-a-character-s-arc-into-a-format-in-which-you/) [Ginnifer Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginnifer-goodwin/) > [The amount of things you can do with a kettlebell is unsurpassed by any other training equipment - dumbbells, resistance machines, free weights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laird-hamilton/the-amount-of-things-you-can-do-with-a-kettlebell-is-unsurpassed-by/) [Laird Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laird-hamilton/) > [The amount you give isn't important. What matters is what that amount represents in terms of your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/the-amount-you-give-isn-t-important-what-matters-is-what-that-amount/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [There's a place in Botswana where there are 100,000 elephants living in a single population. Think of the amount of space they need. Remember,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-bergin/there-s-a-place-in-botswana-where-there-are-100-000-elephants-living/) [Patrick Bergin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-bergin/) > [How could you justify giving Holland twice the amount of money that you gave Belgium? Well, finally, I put it up to them. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-averell-harriman/how-could-you-justify-giving-holland-twice-the-amount-of-money-that/) [W. Averell Harriman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-averell-harriman/) > [I am not a great believer in dialectical struggle. I am much more of a fusion person. I see it as a dialogue, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-warner/i-am-not-a-great-believer-in-dialectical-struggle-i-am-much-more-of-a/) [Marina Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-warner/) > [The risk of developing carcinoma of the lung increases steadily as the amount smoked increases. If the risk among non-smokers is taken as unity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-doll/the-risk-of-developing-carcinoma-of-the-lung-increases-steadily-as/) Richard Doll > [Both fact and logic seem to me to support the view that savings invested in privately owned economic tools of production amount to an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-a-harper/both-fact-and-logic-seem-to-me-to-support-the-view-that-savings/) F. A. 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To have to worry about your loved ones and still try and live a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashanti/i-have-a-tremendous-amount-of-respect-for-military-families-to-have/) [Ashanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashanti/) > [In sports teams, apart from talk of sporting prowess and the imparting of inspirational thought, an extraordinary amount of time is spent discussing, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harsha-bhogle/in-sports-teams-apart-from-talk-of-sporting-prowess-and-the-imparting/) [Harsha Bhogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harsha-bhogle/) Browse all 4,202 Amount quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Audiences are always better pleased with a smart retort, some joke or epigram, than with any amount of reasoning.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Charlotte Perkins Gilman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-perkins-gilman/audiences-are-always-better-pleased-with-a-smart-retort-some-joke-or/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Amount" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-perkins-gilman/audiences-are-always-better-pleased-with-a-smart-retort-some-joke-or/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7aa/charlotte-perkins-gilman-2420_amount_audiences-are-always-better-pleased-with_263845.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7aa/charlotte-perkins-gilman-2420_amount_audiences-are-always-better-pleased-with_263845.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7aa/charlotte-perkins-gilman-2420_amount_audiences-are-always-better-pleased-with_263845.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Audiences are always better pleased with a smart retort, some joke or epigram, than with any amount of…” — Charlotte Perkins Gilman", "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": "Charlotte Perkins Gilman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-perkins-gilman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Audiences are always better pleased with...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-perkins-gilman/audiences-are-always-better-pleased-with-a-smart-retort-some-joke-or/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-perkins-gilman/audiences-are-always-better-pleased-with-a-smart-retort-some-joke-or/#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 } } ] } ```