--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The more you know about somebody's back…" description: "\"The more you know about somebody's back story, the deeper you can delve into that well, and the more your comedic choices resonate full-body instead of..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ba/constance-wu-16043_choices_the-more-you-know-about-somebody-s-back_1793793.jpg" --- # The more you know about somebody's back story, the deeper… ![“The more you know about somebody's back story, the deeper you can delve into that well, and the more your comedic choices resonate full-body instead of just being quick, quippy one-liners that are just like a bunch of people trying to be clever. Because after a while, cleverness is just really…” quote by Constance Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ba/constance-wu-16043_choices_the-more-you-know-about-somebody-s-back_1793793.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ba/constance-wu-16043_choices_the-more-you-know-about-somebody-s-back_1793793.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ba/constance-wu-16043_choices_the-more-you-know-about-somebody-s-back_1793793.jpg) > “The more you know about somebody's back story, the deeper you can delve into that well, and the more your comedic choices resonate full-body instead of just being quick, quippy one-liners that are just like a bunch of people trying to be clever. Because after a while, cleverness is just really obnoxious!” [Constance Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/constance-wu/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Knowing a person's background lets comedy be deeper and more authentic, while shallow jokes become annoying. **In simple terms:** Deep knowledge makes humor richer; shallow jokes feel obnoxious. Key Takeaway Invest in understanding people before joking. Themes humor empathy authenticity creativity Mood thoughtful reflective playful Type observational creative When to use this quote - stand‑up routines - scriptwriting - improv workshops Key Concepts storytelling character development comedy writing Questions to Reflect On - How does personal history shape comedic timing? - When does humor cross into obnoxiousness? A Different Perspective Depth requires time and effort to research. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Clever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clever/) [Clever Cleverness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clever-cleverness-1970512/) [Cleverness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cleverness/) [Cleverness Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cleverness-just-1970513/) [Comedic Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedic-choices-703220/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/more/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/story/) [Trying Clever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying-clever-1970514/) ## Related quotes > [A man likes his wife to be just clever enough to appreciate his cleverness, and just stupid enough to admire it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israel-zangwill/a-man-likes-his-wife-to-be-just-clever-enough-to-appreciate-his/) [Israel Zangwill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israel-zangwill/) > [It's no use trying to be clever-we are all clever here; just try to be kind-a little kind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-j-foakes-jackson/it-s-no-use-trying-to-be-clever-we-are-all-clever-here-just-try-to-be/) [F. J. Foakes-Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-j-foakes-jackson/) > [I didn't realize quite how liberal I was until I was asked to make passionate comedic choices as opposed to necessarily successful comedic choices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/i-didn-t-realize-quite-how-liberal-i-was-until-i-was-asked-to-make/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [“Sarcasm is a bad mood trying to be clever,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvie-granotier/sarcasm-is-a-bad-mood-trying-to-be-clever/) [Sylvie Granotier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvie-granotier/) > [Your style is who you are when you’re not trying to be clever or better than you actually are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-currin/your-style-is-who-you-are-when-you-re-not-trying-to-be-clever-or/) [John Currin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-currin/) > [Clever people will recognize and tolerate nothing but cleverness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-frederic-amiel/clever-people-will-recognize-and-tolerate-nothing-but-cleverness/) [Henri Frederic Amiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-frederic-amiel/) > [The great thing about Twitter is, you get a lot back, and I read through a lot, and I want my fans to know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-banks/the-great-thing-about-twitter-is-you-get-a-lot-back-and-i-read/) [Elizabeth Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-banks/) > [I am not clear that God manoeuvres physical things? After all, a conjuring trick with bones only proves that it is as clever as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jenkins/i-am-not-clear-that-god-manoeuvres-physical-things-after-all-a/) [David Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jenkins/) > [A clever person solves a problem no one can solve. A genius solves a problem no one can see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-den-heijer/a-clever-person-solves-a-problem-no-one-can-solve-a-genius-solves-a/) [Alexander Den Heijer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-den-heijer/) > [“The most holy cannibalism you can perform is to eat the flesh and blood of sagacity, and by sharing it with other wisdom thirsty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/the-most-holy-cannibalism-you-can-perform-is-to-eat-the-flesh-and/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [Many of the greatest men have owed their success to industry rather than to cleverness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lubbock/many-of-the-greatest-men-have-owed-their-success-to-industry-rather/) [John Lubbock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lubbock/) > [Sometimes people try way too hard to sound clever on Facebook.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-people-try-way-too-hard-to-sound-clever-on-facebook/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A fool is a person who guesses and gets it wrong, a clever man is one who guesses, regardless of time period, and gets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/a-fool-is-a-person-who-guesses-and-gets-it-wrong-a-clever-man-is-one/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [“Passion often makes a madman of the cleverest man, and renders the greatest fools clever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/passion-often-makes-a-madman-of-the-cleverest-man-and-renders-the/) [François de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [“Rumi observed, “Sell your cleverness and purchase bewilderment.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-w-dyer/rumi-observed-sell-your-cleverness-and-purchase-bewilderment/) [Wayne W. Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-w-dyer/) ## More by Constance Wu > [I am definitely trying not to take films that are mostly about dude problems, not because I don't think they're worthy problems, but there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/constance-wu/i-am-definitely-trying-not-to-take-films-that-are-mostly-about-dude/) [Constance Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/constance-wu/) > [I'm constantly paranoid that I'll be unemployed for the rest of my life... and have to go back folding shirts at the Gap, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/constance-wu/i-m-constantly-paranoid-that-i-ll-be-unemployed-for-the-rest-of-my/) [Constance Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/constance-wu/) > [The one dream I have is to do a musical. I love singing, but most people don't know because I don't sell myself as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/constance-wu/the-one-dream-i-have-is-to-do-a-musical-i-love-singing-but-most/) [Constance Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/constance-wu/) > [If the expression of and advocating for your values makes you lose a job or a person, then that person/job sorta just... wasn't your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/constance-wu/if-the-expression-of-and-advocating-for-your-values-makes-you-lose-a/) [Constance Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/constance-wu/) > [Being an actor, in and of itself, is just hard. You have to just do it for its own sake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/constance-wu/being-an-actor-in-and-of-itself-is-just-hard-you-have-to-just-do-it/) [Constance Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/constance-wu/) > [If somebody judges me, then they're not my people, and that's all right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/constance-wu/if-somebody-judges-me-then-they-re-not-my-people-and-that-s-all-right/) [Constance Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/constance-wu/) > [At one point, I quit acting for a little bit to study psycholinguistics - somewhat a more practical career. It just didn't feel right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/constance-wu/at-one-point-i-quit-acting-for-a-little-bit-to-study/) [Constance Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/constance-wu/) > [Public service is about serving all the people, including the ones who are not like you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/constance-wu/public-service-is-about-serving-all-the-people-including-the-ones-who/) [Constance Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/constance-wu/) > [People's passion and desire for authenticity is strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/constance-wu/people-s-passion-and-desire-for-authenticity-is-strong/) [Constance Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/constance-wu/) > [I feel like I could carry a movie or a show, and I'll mess up here and there, and I'll learn from those things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/constance-wu/i-feel-like-i-could-carry-a-movie-or-a-show-and-i-ll-mess-up-here-and/) [Constance Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/constance-wu/) > [If the writing is good, then the writing is already funny. All you have to do is make this funny writing true to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/constance-wu/if-the-writing-is-good-then-the-writing-is-already-funny-all-you-have/) [Constance Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/constance-wu/) > [Authentic programming that shows the outside world garners authentic interest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/constance-wu/authentic-programming-that-shows-the-outside-world-garners-authentic/) [Constance Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/constance-wu/) > [I passionately support Hillary Clinton for president because she has devoted her life to public service and has been willing to learn and change…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/constance-wu/i-passionately-support-hillary-clinton-for-president-because-she-has/) [Constance Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/constance-wu/) > [I don't have the best family life. I'm not going to have a sob story and be like, my parents abandoned me, because they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/constance-wu/i-don-t-have-the-best-family-life-i-m-not-going-to-have-a-sob-story/) [Constance Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/constance-wu/) > [Specificity is what makes good storytelling, and good storytelling is what makes money, and making money is then what encourages new producers to invest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/constance-wu/specificity-is-what-makes-good-storytelling-and-good-storytelling-is/) [Constance Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/constance-wu/) [Explore all 41 Constance Wu quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/constance-wu/) ## More Choices quotes > [Of all the people who have affected my life and influenced the choices I've made, none has been more important than my father. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-atlas/of-all-the-people-who-have-affected-my-life-and-influenced-the/) [Teddy Atlas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-atlas/) > [“Don’t allow anyone to pressure you into taking a job in a field that doesn’t feel right in your gut. You are the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-james/don-t-allow-anyone-to-pressure-you-into-taking-a-job-in-a-field-that/) [Alison James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-james/) > [When you have a choice, choose happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-barnes/when-you-have-a-choice-choose-happy/) [Pancho Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pancho-barnes/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Movies have power. Power to impact society and the choices we make. I want to entertain, but I also want to say something to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-prince-bythewood/movies-have-power-power-to-impact-society-and-the-choices-we-make-i/) [Gina Prince-Bythewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-prince-bythewood/) > [If you have a different mindset, you will have a different outcome: if you make different choices from your peers, your life will then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/if-you-have-a-different-mindset-you-will-have-a-different-outcome-if/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [Personally, I prefer contemporary films, but the market calls for more period choices, especially since China opened up a cinema market in Hong Kong.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-yen/personally-i-prefer-contemporary-films-but-the-market-calls-for-more/) [Donnie Yen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-yen/) > [Clarissa," he said, "here with the vampire, I see. When things have settled a bit, we really must discuss you choice in pets..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/clarissa-he-said-here-with-the-vampire-i-see-when-things-have-settled/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Change is inevitable but personal growth is a choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/change-is-inevitable-but-personal-growth-is-a-choice/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [If you choose to draw from the inner well of free will, then you can make choices that are outside your current karmic patterns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-choose-to-draw-from-the-inner-well-of-free-will-then-you-can/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Act always so as to increase the number of choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinz-von-foerster/act-always-so-as-to-increase-the-number-of-choices/) [Heinz von Foerster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinz-von-foerster/) > [Give me a platter of choice finnan haddie, freshly cooked in its bath of water and milk, add melted butter, a slice or two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-claiborne/give-me-a-platter-of-choice-finnan-haddie-freshly-cooked-in-its-bath/) [Craig Claiborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-claiborne/) > [I don't know that any woman could ever not think about that at some point - even making the choice not to do it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-watts/i-don-t-know-that-any-woman-could-ever-not-think-about-that-at-some/) [Naomi Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-watts/) > [In this choice of inheritance we have given to our frame of polity the image of a relation in blood; binding up the constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/in-this-choice-of-inheritance-we-have-given-to-our-frame-of-polity/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) [Browse all 11,466 Choices quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The more you know about somebody's back story, the deeper you can delve into that well, and the more your comedic choices resonate full-body instead of just being quick, quippy one-liners that are just like a bunch of people trying to be clever. 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