---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You have to learn where people's…"
description: "\"You have to learn where people's funnybone is before you can start to poke fun and work out where that joy lies.\" — Chris Harris"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a47/chris-harris-13444_comedy_you-have-to-learn-where-people-s-funnybo_794765.jpg"
---

#  You have to learn where people's funnybone is before you…

![“You have to learn where people's funnybone is before you can start to poke fun and work out where that joy lies.” quote by Chris Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a47/chris-harris-13444_comedy_you-have-to-learn-where-people-s-funnybo_794765.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a47/chris-harris-13444_comedy_you-have-to-learn-where-people-s-funnybo_794765.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a47/chris-harris-13444_comedy_you-have-to-learn-where-people-s-funnybo_794765.jpg)

> “You have to learn where people's funnybone is before you can start to poke fun and work out where that joy lies.”

[Chris Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-harris/)

## About This Quote

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

Understanding where someone’s sense of humor lies is essential before attempting jokes, ensuring the humor lands and respects boundaries.

**In simple terms:** Know a person’s humor before joking.

Key Takeaway

Identify comedic boundaries before teasing.

Themes

humor communication empathy social dynamics

Mood

thoughtful playful cautious

Type

self‑ business communication

When to use this quote

- public speaking
- relationship management

Key Concepts

comedy personal interaction team building

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you gauge someone’s comedic comfort?
- When is teasing appropriate?

A Different Perspective

Misreading humor can cause offense.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Fun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fun/) [Fun work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fun-work/) [Funnybone Start](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funnybone-start-6096979/) [Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) [Learn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learn/) [Learn People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learn-people/) [People Funnybone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-funnybone-6096978/) [Poke Fun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poke-fun-802487/) [Start](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/start/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/)

## Related quotes

> [It's fun for someone to poke fun at himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kattan/it-s-fun-for-someone-to-poke-fun-at-himself/)

[Chris Kattan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kattan/)

> [I think anything that you can't poke fun at is a little too precious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-e-clark/i-think-anything-that-you-can-t-poke-fun-at-is-a-little-too-precious/)

[Annie E. Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-e-clark/)

> [I poke fun of everybody and everything. And who's easier to make fun of than your mother?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-stewart/i-poke-fun-of-everybody-and-everything-and-who-s-easier-to-make-fun/)

[Alexis Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-stewart/)

> [You can't take yourself too seriously; it's important to poke fun at yourself. Once in a while, it is great to show your inadequacies,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-kapoor/you-can-t-take-yourself-too-seriously-it-s-important-to-poke-fun-at/)

[Ram Kapoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-kapoor/)

> [Let's Wrestle would rather poke fun than point fingers, even if there's a problem that needs fixing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-fantano/let-s-wrestle-would-rather-poke-fun-than-point-fingers-even-if-there/)

[Anthony Fantano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-fantano/)

> [I thought somebody was trying to put me on. Someone trying to poke fun at me. I'll tell you what, I didn't fall for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-walsh/i-thought-somebody-was-trying-to-put-me-on-someone-trying-to-poke-fun/)

[Bill Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-walsh/)

> [Trolling taps into people's desire to poke fun, make trouble and cause annoyance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-manuel/trolling-taps-into-people-s-desire-to-poke-fun-make-trouble-and-cause/)

[Rob Manuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-manuel/)

> [I'll do humor about myself, I'll poke fun and everything, but that's me and I can do it to me. I think it's cruel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/delta-burke/i-ll-do-humor-about-myself-i-ll-poke-fun-and-everything-but-that-s-me/)

[Delta Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/delta-burke/)

> [I don't think I'm too mean to celebrities. I poke fun, but I think in the end, they always win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-dawson/i-don-t-think-i-m-too-mean-to-celebrities-i-poke-fun-but-i-think-in/)

[Shane Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-dawson/)

> [We can never be a nation of snobs so long as we are willing to poke fun at ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-wilson-nye/we-can-never-be-a-nation-of-snobs-so-long-as-we-are-willing-to-poke/)

[Edgar Wilson Nye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-wilson-nye/)

> [I never, ever see myself as a celebrity or famous, so I poke fun at that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kendra-wilkinson/i-never-ever-see-myself-as-a-celebrity-or-famous-so-i-poke-fun-at-that/)

[Kendra Wilkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kendra-wilkinson/)

> [I think it's so much fun to work with people who you like and love and are close to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustaf-skarsgard/i-think-it-s-so-much-fun-to-work-with-people-who-you-like-and-love/)

[Gustaf Skarsgard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustaf-skarsgard/)

> [“Playwright Noel Coward once said, “Work is more fun than fun.” I included that quote in a seminar guidebook for a sales group a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-chandler/playwright-noel-coward-once-said-work-is-more-fun-than-fun-i-included/)

[Steve Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-chandler/)

> [With acting, it's like you form chemistry with different people in different ways, so it's really added even more fun to work, you know?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-blackburn/with-acting-it-s-like-you-form-chemistry-with-different-people-in/)

[Tyler Blackburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-blackburn/)

> [It's fun to work the robotic arm in part because it's really a team effort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-ochoa/it-s-fun-to-work-the-robotic-arm-in-part-because-it-s-really-a-team/)

[Ellen Ochoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-ochoa/)

## More by Chris Harris

> [I love a bit of rough and tumble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-harris/i-love-a-bit-of-rough-and-tumble/)

[Chris Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-harris/)

> [You think you can drive accurately in confined spaces until someone puts something like a shipping container in the way and you suddenly think:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-harris/you-think-you-can-drive-accurately-in-confined-spaces-until-someone/)

[Chris Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-harris/)

> [A lot of sports cars are just not designed for the larger gentleman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-harris/a-lot-of-sports-cars-are-just-not-designed-for-the-larger-gentleman/)

[Chris Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-harris/)

> [I think you can tell just how much fun we're going to have making 'Top Gear' with Paddy and Freddie. They're both brilliant, natural…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-harris/i-think-you-can-tell-just-how-much-fun-we-re-going-to-have-making-top/)

[Chris Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-harris/)

> [My first car was a Mini, a little red Mini. I cherished it and I stripped the seats out of it and 'boy-racered' it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-harris/my-first-car-was-a-mini-a-little-red-mini-i-cherished-it-and-i/)

[Chris Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-harris/)

> [The big picture, for me, having grown up with 'Top Gear,' is that it was loved. We need to get that back. It needs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-harris/the-big-picture-for-me-having-grown-up-with-top-gear-is-that-it-was/)

[Chris Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-harris/)

> [People have short memories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-harris/people-have-short-memories/)

[Chris Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-harris/)

> [Matt LeBlanc thinks his own jokes are funny which is problematic when you're driving along - he expects you to laugh and often they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-harris/matt-leblanc-thinks-his-own-jokes-are-funny-which-is-problematic-when/)

[Chris Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-harris/)

> [Top Gear' is the thing that helped shape my life with cars, my perception of cars and my obsession with cars, and I'm raring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-harris/top-gear-is-the-thing-that-helped-shape-my-life-with-cars-my/)

[Chris Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-harris/)

> [The one thing I'm a firm believer in is that cars are the best thing to be around on television. They are exciting. They're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-harris/the-one-thing-i-m-a-firm-believer-in-is-that-cars-are-the-best-thing/)

[Chris Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-harris/)

> [Top Gear' is for the whole family, regardless of gender, sitting down together to enjoy some slightly silly escapism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-harris/top-gear-is-for-the-whole-family-regardless-of-gender-sitting-down/)

[Chris Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-harris/)

> [You have to see other cultures to understand the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-harris/you-have-to-see-other-cultures-to-understand-the-world/)

[Chris Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-harris/)

> [Rory... well Rory likes winning. No one has ever won with less grace than Rory Reid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-harris/rory-well-rory-likes-winning-no-one-has-ever-won-with-less-grace-than/)

[Chris Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-harris/)

> [Top Gear' is a huge brand. We were always going to come across negative comments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-harris/top-gear-is-a-huge-brand-we-were-always-going-to-come-across-negative/)

[Chris Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-harris/)

> [I'm not really into houses, well other than I'd just like to have somewhere to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-harris/i-m-not-really-into-houses-well-other-than-i-d-just-like-to-have/)

[Chris Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-harris/)

[Explore all 50 Chris Harris quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-harris/)

## 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": "You have to learn where people's funnybone is before you can start to poke fun and work out where that joy lies.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Chris Harris"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-harris/you-have-to-learn-where-people-s-funnybone-is-before-you-can-start-to/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Comedy"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-harris/you-have-to-learn-where-people-s-funnybone-is-before-you-can-start-to/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a47/chris-harris-13444_comedy_you-have-to-learn-where-people-s-funnybo_794765.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a47/chris-harris-13444_comedy_you-have-to-learn-where-people-s-funnybo_794765.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a47/chris-harris-13444_comedy_you-have-to-learn-where-people-s-funnybo_794765.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“You have to learn where people's funnybone is before you can start to poke fun and work out where that joy…” — Chris Harris",
                "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": "Chris Harris",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-harris/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "You have to learn where people's...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-harris/you-have-to-learn-where-people-s-funnybone-is-before-you-can-start-to/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-harris/you-have-to-learn-where-people-s-funnybone-is-before-you-can-start-to/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
