--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Life's funny. You have to find a way to…" description: "\"Life's funny. You have to find a way to keep going, to keep laughing, even after you realize that none of your dreams will come true. When you realize ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd5/claire-messud-1372_comedy_life-s-funny-you-have-to-find-a-way-to-k_43251.jpg" --- # Life's funny. You have to find a way to keep going, to… ![“Life's funny. You have to find a way to keep going, to keep laughing, even after you realize that none of your dreams will come true. When you realize that, there's still so much of a life to get through.” quote by Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd5/claire-messud-1372_comedy_life-s-funny-you-have-to-find-a-way-to-k_43251.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd5/claire-messud-1372_comedy_life-s-funny-you-have-to-find-a-way-to-k_43251.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd5/claire-messud-1372_comedy_life-s-funny-you-have-to-find-a-way-to-k_43251.jpg) > “Life's funny. You have to find a way to keep going, to keep laughing, even after you realize that none of your dreams will come true. When you realize that, there's still so much of a life to get through.” [Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Recognizes the harsh reality that many aspirations remain unfulfilled, yet urges perseverance and humor to navigate life's ongoing challenges. **In simple terms:** Perseverance despite unmet dreams. Key Takeaway Keep moving forward with humor. Themes Resilience Existential realism Humor as coping Life's unpredictability Hope Mood Bittersweet Reflective Hopeful Type Philosophical Motivational Reflective When to use this quote - Facing career setbacks - Coping with personal loss - Dealing with chronic illness - Navigating midlife crisis Key Concepts Dreams vs reality Emotional endurance Perspective shift Practical Applications - Therapeutic counseling - Motivational speaking Questions to Reflect On - What does it mean to find meaning when goals fail? - How can humor sustain you in hardship? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Dreams Will Come True](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams-will-come-true/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) ## Related quotes > [“My mother, toward the end, had said to me, but with a sweet smile, "Life's funny. You have to find a way to keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud-the-woman-upstairs/my-mother-toward-the-end-had-said-to-me-but-with-a-sweet-smile-life-s/) [Claire Messud - The Woman Upstairs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud-the-woman-upstairs/) > [Only you and your best friend could laugh for hours about something, stop laughing, realize they forgot what they we laughing about, and laugh…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/only-you-and-your-best-friend-could-laugh-for-hours-about-something/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [NEVER GIVE UP; Never lose hope. Always have Faith, it allows you to cope. Trying times will pass as they always do. Just have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/never-give-up-never-lose-hope-always-have-faith-it-allows-you-to-cope/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Your dreams will come true, if you have the courage to believe in...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaw/your-dreams-will-come-true-if-you-have-the-courage-to-believe-in/) [Isaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaw/) > [“Your dreams will come true, but do not be overly demanding. Be logical – there are not enough mansions for everyone in the world,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-richards/your-dreams-will-come-true-but-do-not-be-overly-demanding-be-logical/) [Stephen Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-richards/) > [If happy ever after did exist I would still be holding you like this all those fairy tales are fool of shit one more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/precious-anne-gamboa/if-happy-ever-after-did-exist-i-would-still-be-holding-you-like-this/) Precious Anne Gamboa > [You have to overcome your fear of dreaming before you dreams will come true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-have-to-overcome-your-fear-of-dreaming-before-you-dreams-will/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Your dreams will come true, if you can see it, if you believe in it, then you can achieve it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/your-dreams-will-come-true-if-you-can-see-it-if-you-believe-in-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [All big men are dreamers. 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But you have to give it all your time, effort, and soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-mccarthy/just-keep-trying-and-your-dreams-will-come-true-but-you-have-to-give/) [Jenny McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-mccarthy/) > [If you trust in yourself and fight for it until the end, your dreams will come true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa/if-you-trust-in-yourself-and-fight-for-it-until-the-end-your-dreams/) [Lisa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa/) > [“Until then, have great expectations. Keep believing you dreams will come true. And remember, when life throws you a pit... plant a cherry tree.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coleen-murtagh-paratore/until-then-have-great-expectations-keep-believing-you-dreams-will/) Coleen Murtagh Paratore > [“Dreams will come true as long as you give some effort towards your goal”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dayana/dreams-will-come-true-as-long-as-you-give-some-effort-towards-your/) Dayana ## More by Claire Messud > [I'd wish for my work to be remembered rather than myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud/i-d-wish-for-my-work-to-be-remembered-rather-than-myself/) [Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/) > [I have said it somewhere - our literary lived lives are as important as our literally lived lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud/i-have-said-it-somewhere-our-literary-lived-lives-are-as-important-as/) [Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/) > [“Life is about deciding what matters. It’s about the fantasy that determines the reality. Have you ever asked yourself whether you’d rather fly or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud/life-is-about-deciding-what-matters-it-s-about-the-fantasy-that/) [Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/) > [It's the strangest thing about being human: to know so much, to communicate so much, and yet always to fall so drastically short of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud/it-s-the-strangest-thing-about-being-human-to-know-so-much-to/) [Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/) > [The fictional narratives that television, film, and the news provide for girls and young women are appalling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud/the-fictional-narratives-that-television-film-and-the-news-provide/) [Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/) > [“I don't want to sleep,' my mother said. 'I want -- for God's sake, I want to wake up.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud/i-don-t-want-to-sleep-my-mother-said-i-want-for-god-s-sake-i-want-to/) [Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/) > [“It was supposed to say “Great Artist” on my tombstone, but if I died right now it would say “such a good teacher/​daughter/​friend” instead;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud/it-was-supposed-to-say-great-artist-on-my-tombstone-but-if-i-died/) [Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/) > [“Live, my dear Nora. Satisfy your hunger. There's food all around you, you know.' 'What kind of food, I'd like to know?' 'Ah'-he smiled-…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud/live-my-dear-nora-satisfy-your-hunger-there-s-food-all-around-you-you/) [Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/) > [I digress a lot - it's how I experience the world. I would like to write in a way that will convey that to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud/i-digress-a-lot-it-s-how-i-experience-the-world-i-would-like-to-write/) [Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/) > [We think that - as kids, you know - that kids make up stories and live in a sort of fictional place, but that,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud/we-think-that-as-kids-you-know-that-kids-make-up-stories-and-live-in/) [Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/) > [“It makes sense that if you stand almost daily in the middle of a perfect crescent of shore, with a vista open to eternity,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud/it-makes-sense-that-if-you-stand-almost-daily-in-the-middle-of-a/) [Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/) > [“Once aware of my isolation, I was afraid not of it but of its interruption.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud/once-aware-of-my-isolation-i-was-afraid-not-of-it-but-of-its/) [Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/) > [“who I am in my head, very few people really get to see that. Almost none. It’s the most precious gift I can give,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud/who-i-am-in-my-head-very-few-people-really-get-to-see-that-almost/) [Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/) > [“My everyday Appleton life, my phones calls to my father, my occasional beers with friends, my Saturday-morning jobs around the reservoir - what was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud/my-everyday-appleton-life-my-phones-calls-to-my-father-my-occasional/) [Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/) > [“Without it being said, I was treated as a kid with a bright future and Cassie, well, she wasn’t necessarily not going to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud/without-it-being-said-i-was-treated-as-a-kid-with-a-bright-future-and/) [Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/) [Explore all 249 Claire Messud quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/) ## 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. 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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. 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