--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The Elephant Man claimed his head was big…" description: "\"The Elephant Man claimed his head was big because, it's so full of dreams. Actually, it's because his skull was shaped like a turkey.\" — Dana Gould" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0c/dana-gould-1290_bigs_the-elephant-man-claimed-his-head-was-bi_2983314.png" --- # The Elephant Man claimed his head was big because, it's so… ![“The Elephant Man claimed his head was big because, it's so full of dreams. Actually, it's because his skull was shaped like a turkey.” quote by Dana Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0c/dana-gould-1290_bigs_the-elephant-man-claimed-his-head-was-bi_2983314.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0c/dana-gould-1290_bigs_the-elephant-man-claimed-his-head-was-bi_2983314.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0c/dana-gould-1290_bigs_the-elephant-man-claimed-his-head-was-bi_2983314.png) > “The Elephant Man claimed his head was big because, it's so full of dreams. Actually, it's because his skull was shaped like a turkey.” [Dana Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gould/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker humorously contrasts a metaphorical “big head” of dreams with a literal, absurd reason about skull shape. **In simple terms:** Dreams are likened to a big head, but the joke reveals a physical explanation. Key Takeaway Recognize humor’s twist on expectations. Themes humor self‑deprecation absurdity Mood playful lighthearted Type comedic satirical When to use this quote - stand‑up comedy - public speaking - creative writing Key Concepts metaphor irony Questions to Reflect On - Do you enjoy jokes that subvert expectations? - How does absurdity affect humor? A Different Perspective The joke relies on audience knowledge of the Elephant Man’s story. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Big Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-dreams/) [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Elephants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elephants/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) ## Related quotes > [Sometimes I think my head is so big because its full of dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-i-think-my-head-is-so-big-because-its-full-of-dreams/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Sometimes I think my head is so big because it is so full of dreams”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-i-think-my-head-is-so-big-because-it-is-so-full-of-dreams/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Neanderthal man listened to stories, if one may judge by the shape of his skull.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/neanderthal-man-listened-to-stories-if-one-may-judge-by-the-shape-of/) [E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/) > [You should have seen the look on your skull...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-burlew/you-should-have-seen-the-look-on-your-skull/) [Rich Burlew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-burlew/) > [There was a sound like a human yawn, and then the skull turned slightly toward me and asked, "What's up, boss?" "Evil's afoot." "Well,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/there-was-a-sound-like-a-human-yawn-and-then-the-skull-turned/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [Hey," Dopey said when I was finished reading. "How come they never mentioned me? I'm the one who found the skeleton." "Oh, yeah," Sleepy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-cabot/hey-dopey-said-when-i-was-finished-reading-how-come-they-never/) [Meg Cabot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-cabot/) > [The destiny of every human being is decided by what goes on inside his skull when confronted by what goes on outside his skull.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-berne/the-destiny-of-every-human-being-is-decided-by-what-goes-on-inside/) [Eric Berne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-berne/) > [The three-pound organ in your skull - with its pink consistency of Jell-o - is an alien kind of computational material. It is composed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-eagleman/the-three-pound-organ-in-your-skull-with-its-pink-consistency-of-jell/) [David Eagleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-eagleman/) > [The skull is nature's sculpture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bailey/the-skull-is-nature-s-sculpture/) [David Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bailey/) > [I collect skulls; I think that a beautiful skull is a really good gift for a guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bella-heathcote/i-collect-skulls-i-think-that-a-beautiful-skull-is-a-really-good-gift/) [Bella Heathcote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bella-heathcote/) > [“Behold,' said the Voice, 'earthly beauty. It is nothing but seeming, for to the uninstructed eye the world appears fruitful and sweet, yet in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-mccann/behold-said-the-voice-earthly-beauty-it-is-nothing-but-seeming-for-to/) [Maria McCann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-mccann/) > [When you see me smash somebody's skull, you enjoy it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/when-you-see-me-smash-somebody-s-skull-you-enjoy-it/) [Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/) > [Neither an assembly line nor a stock market nor an oil well did it, simply what came from one small skull and that one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilka-chase/neither-an-assembly-line-nor-a-stock-market-nor-an-oil-well-did-it/) [Ilka Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilka-chase/) > [With his sunglasses gone and his scarf hanging down, there was no denying that he had no flesh, he had no skin, he had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/with-his-sunglasses-gone-and-his-scarf-hanging-down-there-was-no/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [Most people don't realize that large pieces of coral, which have been painted brown and attached to the skull by common wood screws, can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/most-people-don-t-realize-that-large-pieces-of-coral-which-have-been/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) ## More by Dana Gould > [As hard as I try to live with some degree of faith in my life, I just can't believe that the full moon can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gould/as-hard-as-i-try-to-live-with-some-degree-of-faith-in-my-life-i-just/) [Dana Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gould/) > [The older I get, the more I look like my favorite shoes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gould/the-older-i-get-the-more-i-look-like-my-favorite-shoes/) [Dana Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gould/) > [Somewhere, there's someone who's masturbation ritual ends with them setting up ventriloquist dummies facing the bed. I mean, someone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gould/somewhere-there-s-someone-who-s-masturbation-ritual-ends-with-them/) [Dana Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gould/) > [I feel very uncomfortable when I eat in restaurants. I'm obnoxiously polite with the waiters: 'I just want a tuna sandwich. I'll go get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gould/i-feel-very-uncomfortable-when-i-eat-in-restaurants-i-m-obnoxiously/) [Dana Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gould/) > [Cowboy boots with a suit? You're a rough, tough businessman. Chaps with a bow tie? You're in the rough, tough man business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gould/cowboy-boots-with-a-suit-you-re-a-rough-tough-businessman-chaps-with/) [Dana Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gould/) > [Despite a primitive brain, the octopus possesses an intricate system that helps it decide which tentacle to masturbate with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gould/despite-a-primitive-brain-the-octopus-possesses-an-intricate-system/) [Dana Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gould/) > [I got mugged about six months ago. The oddest thing about the entire situation, though, was that I wasn't afraid, which is strange because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gould/i-got-mugged-about-six-months-ago-the-oddest-thing-about-the-entire/) [Dana Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gould/) > [I'm the Forrest Gump of comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gould/i-m-the-forrest-gump-of-comedy/) [Dana Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gould/) > [It's gonna be awesome! A suspected pedophile dunks my kids head in a bucket so when she dies she can live in an invisible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gould/it-s-gonna-be-awesome-a-suspected-pedophile-dunks-my-kids-head-in-a/) [Dana Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gould/) > [If I ever go into a coma, one of you has to promise to come by occasionally and tweeze my unibrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gould/if-i-ever-go-into-a-coma-one-of-you-has-to-promise-to-come-by/) [Dana Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gould/) > [They say that God is in the details. Then again, they also say that the Devil is in the details. Boy, talk about awkward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gould/they-say-that-god-is-in-the-details-then-again-they-also-say-that-the/) [Dana Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gould/) > [I have one phobia, snakes. And by snakes I mean intimacy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gould/i-have-one-phobia-snakes-and-by-snakes-i-mean-intimacy/) [Dana Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gould/) > [My whole approach to marriage is simple: my wife will do something that drives me insane, I won't say anything, and then, later, I'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gould/my-whole-approach-to-marriage-is-simple-my-wife-will-do-something/) [Dana Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gould/) > [Wrote a science fiction novel about a man who wins an argument with his wife, but it was rejected for being too farfetched.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gould/wrote-a-science-fiction-novel-about-a-man-who-wins-an-argument-with/) [Dana Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gould/) > [If life begins at conception, but you can be born again later, only to live on eternally after death, what's the big deal about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gould/if-life-begins-at-conception-but-you-can-be-born-again-later-only-to/) [Dana Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gould/) [Explore all 260 Dana Gould quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gould/) ## More Bigs quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [It is said that history turns on small hinges. 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I'm sure other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jayson-werth/i-don-t-want-this-to-be-a-distraction-this-has-been-distracting/) [Jayson Werth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jayson-werth/) > [I didn't get how big it was until I went home, turned on the television and saw it on all the news, and later…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-simon/i-didn-t-get-how-big-it-was-until-i-went-home-turned-on-the/) [Paul Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-simon/) > [It’s a small thing to help one animal, but to that one animal it’s a big thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-baur/it-s-a-small-thing-to-help-one-animal-but-to-that-one-animal-it-s-a/) [Gene Baur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-baur/) > [Since I was a little child, my nose - I think it's too big.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celine-dion/since-i-was-a-little-child-my-nose-i-think-it-s-too-big/) [Celine Dion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celine-dion/) > [People forget that there is a big difference between coercion and persuasion. 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