--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A comedy ends with a wedding, and a…" description: "\"A comedy ends with a wedding, and a tragedy ends with a funeral: you always have to juxtapose sex and death.\" — Chuck Palahniuk" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/827/chuck-palahniuk-37_comedy_a-comedy-ends-with-a-wedding-and-a-trage_326613.jpg" --- # A comedy ends with a wedding, and a tragedy ends with a… ![“A comedy ends with a wedding, and a tragedy ends with a funeral: you always have to juxtapose sex and death.” quote by Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/827/chuck-palahniuk-37_comedy_a-comedy-ends-with-a-wedding-and-a-trage_326613.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/827/chuck-palahniuk-37_comedy_a-comedy-ends-with-a-wedding-and-a-trage_326613.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/827/chuck-palahniuk-37_comedy_a-comedy-ends-with-a-wedding-and-a-trage_326613.jpg) > “A comedy ends with a wedding, and a tragedy ends with a funeral: you always have to juxtapose sex and death.” [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Contrasting life’s extremes—sex and death—highlights how storytelling relies on opposing forces to create impact. **In simple terms:** Opposite themes create dramatic tension. Key Takeaway Use contrast to deepen narrative. Themes storytelling contrast human experience drama psychology Mood provocative darkly humorous intense Type literary cultural commentary When to use this quote - film scripts - novel writing - advertising - theatrical productions - visual art Key Concepts binary opposition symbolism emotional resonance Questions to Reflect On - How does juxtaposing extremes affect audience empathy? - When is contrast more effective than subtlety? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on shock can alienate audiences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Funeral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funeral/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [Sex](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sex/) [Sex and death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sex-and-death/) [Tragedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tragedy/) ## Related quotes > [There are basically only two subject matters in all Western culture: sex and death. We do have some ability to manipulate sex nowadays. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-greenaway/there-are-basically-only-two-subject-matters-in-all-western-culture/) [Peter Greenaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-greenaway/) > [The difference between sex and death is, death you can do alone and nobody laughs at you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/the-difference-between-sex-and-death-is-death-you-can-do-alone-and/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [And the druids, they were into sex and death in an interesting night-time telly sort of way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-izzard/and-the-druids-they-were-into-sex-and-death-in-an-interesting-night/) [Eddie Izzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-izzard/) > [Sex and death. Two things that come but once in my lifetime, but at least after death you're not nauseous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/sex-and-death-two-things-that-come-but-once-in-my-lifetime-but-at/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [Both sex and death are eternal themes. You could make thousands of movies on this theme, and whether you have a human being who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro-almodovar/both-sex-and-death-are-eternal-themes-you-could-make-thousands-of/) [Pedro Almodovar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro-almodovar/) > [If you're a Shakespeare fan, isn't that a way to negotiate sex and death?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-greenaway/if-you-re-a-shakespeare-fan-isn-t-that-a-way-to-negotiate-sex-and/) [Peter Greenaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-greenaway/) > [I believe in sex and death- two experiences that come once in a lifetime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/i-believe-in-sex-and-death-two-experiences-that-come-once-in-a/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [Abortion occurs so frequently in my stories. Abortion sort of synthesizes both sex and death. To have sex and death placed as close to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/abortion-occurs-so-frequently-in-my-stories-abortion-sort-of/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [“And I say no. The problem is the light, the dim light down here. Cupped in the palm of my hand, the cyanide and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/and-i-say-no-the-problem-is-the-light-the-dim-light-down-here-cupped/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [“Everything that begins as comedy ends as a comic monologue, but we aren't laughing anymore.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-bola-o/everything-that-begins-as-comedy-ends-as-a-comic-monologue-but-we/) [Roberto Bolaño](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-bola-o/) > [Fate never knows when comedy ends and tragedy begins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-frankfort-moore/fate-never-knows-when-comedy-ends-and-tragedy-begins/) [Frank Frankfort Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-frankfort-moore/) > [Endings of television shows are sometimes such depressing things. I think shows that have more of a narrative and are about what's going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-aukerman/endings-of-television-shows-are-sometimes-such-depressing-things-i/) [Scott Aukerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-aukerman/) > [What begins with comedy ends with comedy... in my short view of the matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/what-begins-with-comedy-ends-with-comedy-in-my-short-view-of-the/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [Merchandisers, by embedding subliminal trigger devices in media, are able to evoke a strong emotional relationship between, say, a product perceived in an advertisement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilson-bryan-key/merchandisers-by-embedding-subliminal-trigger-devices-in-media-are/) [Wilson Bryan Key](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilson-bryan-key/) > [The important thing, I think, is not to be bitter. You know, if it turns out that there is a God, I don't think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/the-important-thing-i-think-is-not-to-be-bitter-you-know-if-it-turns/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) ## More by Chuck Palahniuk > [Because after you've crossed some lines, you just keep crossing them. And there's no escaping from constant escape. Distracting ourselves. Avoiding confrontation. Getting past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/because-after-you-ve-crossed-some-lines-you-just-keep-crossing-them/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [According to Plato, we don't learn anything. Our soul has lived so many lives that we know everything. Teachers and education can only remind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/according-to-plato-we-don-t-learn-anything-our-soul-has-lived-so-many/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [His saliva tasted like the wet dicks of ten thousand lonely truck drivers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/his-saliva-tasted-like-the-wet-dicks-of-ten-thousand-lonely-truck/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [“shoulder. They weigh that much. Tyler’s a banquet waiter,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/shoulder-they-weigh-that-much-tyler-s-a-banquet-waiter/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [We'll never be as young as we are tonight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/we-ll-never-be-as-young-as-we-are-tonight/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [“We drive west the rest of the night, away from where the sun will come up, trying to outrace it, trying not to see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/we-drive-west-the-rest-of-the-night-away-from-where-the-sun-will-come/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [Just for the record, how I feel right now is very terrific.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/just-for-the-record-how-i-feel-right-now-is-very-terrific/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [Nobody's told me anything to date that I've been completely reviled by.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/nobody-s-told-me-anything-to-date-that-i-ve-been-completely-reviled-by/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [“Then you're trapped in your lovely nest, and the things you used to own, now they own you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/then-you-re-trapped-in-your-lovely-nest-and-the-things-you-used-to/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [Some stories, you use up. Others use you up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/some-stories-you-use-up-others-use-you-up/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [Verbs allow you to communicate a story in a much more converged or involuntary way for a reader. The verbs allow you to come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/verbs-allow-you-to-communicate-a-story-in-a-much-more-converged-or/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [Waiters will always pee in soup, people will always fall in love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/waiters-will-always-pee-in-soup-people-will-always-fall-in-love/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [“Branch Bacardi, star of The Da Vinci Load, To Drill a Mockingbird, The Postman Always Cums Twice, Chitty Chitty Gang Bang, The Twilight Bone,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/branch-bacardi-star-of-the-da-vinci-load-to-drill-a-mockingbird-the/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [“Every unkind remark or crude gesture by others is a blessing, an opportunity to exercise our own capacity to forgive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/every-unkind-remark-or-crude-gesture-by-others-is-a-blessing-an/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [“Nuestro deber es enseñar a esos hombres y mujeres la libertad a través de la esclavitud; y el coraje a través del miedo.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/nuestro-deber-es-ense-ar-a-esos-hombres-y-mujeres-la-libertad-a-trav/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) [Explore all 2,041 Chuck Palahniuk quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) ## 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": "A comedy ends with a wedding, and a tragedy ends with a funeral: you always have to juxtapose sex and death.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Chuck Palahniuk" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/a-comedy-ends-with-a-wedding-and-a-tragedy-ends-with-a-funeral-you/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Comedy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/a-comedy-ends-with-a-wedding-and-a-tragedy-ends-with-a-funeral-you/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/827/chuck-palahniuk-37_comedy_a-comedy-ends-with-a-wedding-and-a-trage_326613.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/827/chuck-palahniuk-37_comedy_a-comedy-ends-with-a-wedding-and-a-trage_326613.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/827/chuck-palahniuk-37_comedy_a-comedy-ends-with-a-wedding-and-a-trage_326613.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A comedy ends with a wedding, and a tragedy ends with a funeral: you always have to juxtapose sex and death.” — Chuck Palahniuk", "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": "Chuck Palahniuk", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A comedy ends with a wedding,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/a-comedy-ends-with-a-wedding-and-a-tragedy-ends-with-a-funeral-you/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/a-comedy-ends-with-a-wedding-and-a-tragedy-ends-with-a-funeral-you/#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 } } ] } ```