--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think a joke is a form of…" description: "\"I think a joke is a form of truth-telling. A good joke that's absurd contains elements of our daily darkness and also a possibility to escape that dark..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/162/colson-whitehead-1042_comedy_i-think-a-joke-is-a-form-of-truth-tellin_2485144.jpg" --- # I think a joke is a form of truth-telling. A good joke… ![“I think a joke is a form of truth-telling. A good joke that's absurd contains elements of our daily darkness and also a possibility to escape that darkness. So, for me, humor is an attempt to capture everyday tragedy and everyday hopeful moments that we experience all of the time.” quote by Colson Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/162/colson-whitehead-1042_comedy_i-think-a-joke-is-a-form-of-truth-tellin_2485144.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/162/colson-whitehead-1042_comedy_i-think-a-joke-is-a-form-of-truth-tellin_2485144.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/162/colson-whitehead-1042_comedy_i-think-a-joke-is-a-form-of-truth-tellin_2485144.jpg) > “I think a joke is a form of truth-telling. A good joke that's absurd contains elements of our daily darkness and also a possibility to escape that darkness. So, for me, humor is an attempt to capture everyday tragedy and everyday hopeful moments that we experience all of the time.” [Colson Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colson-whitehead/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Humor reveals truth by exaggerating daily darkness, offering a way to confront and escape tragedy while highlighting hope. **In simple terms:** Jokes expose truth and give hope. Key Takeaway Use humor to face hardship. Themes humor truth escape hope tragedy Mood reflective wry Type observational philosophical When to use this quote - personal coping - stand‑up comedy - writing - social commentary Key Concepts existentialism catharsis absurdism Questions to Reflect On - How does absurdity help you process pain? - When can humor become harmful? A Different Perspective Humor may trivialize serious issues if overused. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experience/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Joke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joke/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [I'll say things that are serious and put them in a joke form so people can enjoy them. We laugh to keep from crying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/i-ll-say-things-that-are-serious-and-put-them-in-a-joke-form-so/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [A lot of times people come up to me saying 'oh my god you can see,' and they think they're the first person to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-wolff/a-lot-of-times-people-come-up-to-me-saying-oh-my-god-you-can-see-and/) [Nat Wolff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-wolff/) > [The moment you think of a joke is the best moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judd-apatow/the-moment-you-think-of-a-joke-is-the-best-moment/) [Judd Apatow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judd-apatow/) > [“Didn’t anyone ever teach you why it’s a bad idea to make assumptions?” He raises his eyebrows, waiting for an answer. Oh, dear God.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rysa-walker/didn-t-anyone-ever-teach-you-why-it-s-a-bad-idea-to-make-assumptions/) [Rysa Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rysa-walker/) > [“What do we do now?” Adam asked. “Get a doghouse. Damn. You’re right. I really can’t think of another joke.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/what-do-we-do-now-adam-asked-get-a-doghouse-damn-you-re-right-i/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [I think if the joke is in good taste - it's a good joke.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-andre/i-think-if-the-joke-is-in-good-taste-it-s-a-good-joke/) [Eric Andre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-andre/) > [Comedy, in my opinion, is best when it's in the gray, and you're kind of pushing people's thoughts that they sort of had but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-wolf/comedy-in-my-opinion-is-best-when-it-s-in-the-gray-and-you-re-kind-of/) [Michelle Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-wolf/) > [There's no amount of money that makes you feel better when people think of you as a joke or a hack or a failure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-stump/there-s-no-amount-of-money-that-makes-you-feel-better-when-people/) [Patrick Stump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-stump/) > [It always bothered me when people would think the joke was that I was playing a woman. I never saw myself as a boy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cole-escola/it-always-bothered-me-when-people-would-think-the-joke-was-that-i-was/) [Cole Escola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cole-escola/) > [I think because people can't understand our style, they think it's a joke. Our music isn't intellectual - we make music for the common…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/watkin-tudor-jones/i-think-because-people-can-t-understand-our-style-they-think-it-s-a/) [Watkin Tudor Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/watkin-tudor-jones/) > [It doesn't mean you can't discuss important things, but I would never do a joke about cancer, just because I don't think any joke…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-richardson/it-doesn-t-mean-you-can-t-discuss-important-things-but-i-would-never/) [Jon Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-richardson/) > [If I think of a joke that's really dirty and I think it's funny I'll try it but what I've found over the years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetri-martin/if-i-think-of-a-joke-that-s-really-dirty-and-i-think-it-s-funny-i-ll/) [Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/) > [What people who don't write don't understand is that they think you make up the line consciously — but you don't. It proceeds from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/what-people-who-don-t-write-don-t-understand-is-that-they-think-you/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [It was always the most fun thing in the world to think of a joke area and talk about it with someone like Jim…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judd-apatow/it-was-always-the-most-fun-thing-in-the-world-to-think-of-a-joke-area/) [Judd Apatow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judd-apatow/) > [I found by daily experience, the more I did, the more I might do for God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-whitefield/i-found-by-daily-experience-the-more-i-did-the-more-i-might-do-for-god/) [George Whitefield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-whitefield/) ## More by Colson Whitehead > [I'd never been much of an athlete, due to a physical condition I'd had since birth (unathleticism). Perhaps if there were a sport centered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colson-whitehead/i-d-never-been-much-of-an-athlete-due-to-a-physical-condition-i-d-had/) [Colson Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colson-whitehead/) > [I want to keep growing as a writer. I find myself doing unexpected projects and sort of challenging my idea of where I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colson-whitehead/i-want-to-keep-growing-as-a-writer-i-find-myself-doing-unexpected/) [Colson Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colson-whitehead/) > [“Every Tuesday, James Fulton (and later, Orville Lever) stood in the downstairs drawing room and lectured on the intricacies of his science. 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Cora”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colson-whitehead/the-great-war-had-always-been-between-the-white-and-the-black-it/) [Colson Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colson-whitehead/) > [“The worst sort of scoundrels took up the chase. Drunkards, incorrigibles, poor whites who didn’t even own shoes delighted in this opportunity to scourge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colson-whitehead/the-worst-sort-of-scoundrels-took-up-the-chase-drunkards/) [Colson Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colson-whitehead/) > [Don’t go searching for a subject, let your subject find you. You can’t rush inspiration. … Once your subject finds you, it’s like falling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colson-whitehead/don-t-go-searching-for-a-subject-let-your-subject-find-you-you-can-t/) [Colson Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colson-whitehead/) > [“its terms? Homer watched her as she dressed, like a valet who had waited on her since the cradle. “I’m caught,” Cora said. “You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colson-whitehead/its-terms-homer-watched-her-as-she-dressed-like-a-valet-who-had/) [Colson Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colson-whitehead/) > [These days I find myself wanting to avoid being pigeon-holed, ghettoized, held in a different category than other authors. And when people ask me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colson-whitehead/these-days-i-find-myself-wanting-to-avoid-being-pigeon-holed/) [Colson Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colson-whitehead/) > [Part of any book is establishing the rules at the end of the world. My first book, 'The Intuitionist,' takes place in an alternative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colson-whitehead/part-of-any-book-is-establishing-the-rules-at-the-end-of-the-world-my/) [Colson Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colson-whitehead/) > [There's always an attack on the sophomore novel from some quarters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colson-whitehead/there-s-always-an-attack-on-the-sophomore-novel-from-some-quarters/) [Colson Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colson-whitehead/) > [“All he felt now was envy. These people had expectations. Of the world, of the future, it didn't matter--expectation was such an innovative concept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colson-whitehead/all-he-felt-now-was-envy-these-people-had-expectations-of-the-world/) [Colson Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colson-whitehead/) > [Growing up as a product of the black civil-rights movement, I had a lot of different models for black weirdness, whether it's Richard Pryor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colson-whitehead/growing-up-as-a-product-of-the-black-civil-rights-movement-i-had-a/) [Colson Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colson-whitehead/) > [Schools don't teach American history that well, especially a lot of black American history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colson-whitehead/schools-don-t-teach-american-history-that-well-especially-a-lot-of/) [Colson Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colson-whitehead/) [Explore all 302 Colson Whitehead quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colson-whitehead/) ## 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. 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