--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: And if you can offer an explanation as to…" description: "\"And if you can offer an explanation as to why it doesn't work then you've got to the whole root of comedy.\" — Denis Norden" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c8/denis-norden-20199_comedy_and-if-you-can-offer-an-explanation-as-t_1485364.png" --- # And if you can offer an explanation as to why it doesn't… ![“And if you can offer an explanation as to why it doesn't work then you've got to the whole root of comedy.” quote by Denis Norden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c8/denis-norden-20199_comedy_and-if-you-can-offer-an-explanation-as-t_1485364.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c8/denis-norden-20199_comedy_and-if-you-can-offer-an-explanation-as-t_1485364.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c8/denis-norden-20199_comedy_and-if-you-can-offer-an-explanation-as-t_1485364.png) > “And if you can offer an explanation as to why it doesn't work then you've got to the whole root of comedy.” [Denis Norden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-norden/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Explaining why something fails reveals its core comedic flaw, essential for humor. **In simple terms:** Understanding failure improves comedy. Key Takeaway Analyze the root of jokes. Themes humor analysis creativity Mood playful critical Type educational entertaining When to use this quote - stand‑up writing - script editing - improv - teaching comedy Key Concepts comedic timing failure analysis Questions to Reflect On - What makes a joke fall flat? - How can failure become funny? A Different Perspective May ignore audience reaction. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [When you get down to it, at it's root, Comedy is truth, absurdity, and pain. One of my little mottos is: 'Do you remember…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lev-yilmaz/when-you-get-down-to-it-at-it-s-root-comedy-is-truth-absurdity-and/) [Lev Yilmaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lev-yilmaz/) > [“Do you think things always have an explanation?” “Yes. I believe that they do. But I think that with our human limitations we’re not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/do-you-think-things-always-have-an-explanation-yes-i-believe-that/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [Just because we don't understand doesn't mean that the explanation doesn't exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/just-because-we-don-t-understand-doesn-t-mean-that-the-explanation/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [When doesn't life make sense, an explanation doesn't ease your pain; the presence of God does...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unkown/when-doesn-t-life-make-sense-an-explanation-doesn-t-ease-your-pain/) Unkown > [“Al’s explanation doesn’t appease John. “It’s”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-kofman/al-s-explanation-doesn-t-appease-john-it-s/) [Fred Kofman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-kofman/) > [The third fallacy is that affirmative action doesn't work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-washington/the-third-fallacy-is-that-affirmative-action-doesn-t-work/) [Harold Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-washington/) > [They say you can't do it, but sometimes it doesn't always work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/casey-stengel/they-say-you-can-t-do-it-but-sometimes-it-doesn-t-always-work/) [Casey Stengel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/casey-stengel/) > [Being humble doesn't work as well as being aware.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/being-humble-doesn-t-work-as-well-as-being-aware/) [Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/) > [No bill works if it doesn't work in a zip code where somebody lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-kaine/no-bill-works-if-it-doesn-t-work-in-a-zip-code-where-somebody-lives/) [Tim Kaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-kaine/) > [What has worked before is never as good as something that has never been tried before, even if it doesn't work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-webb/what-has-worked-before-is-never-as-good-as-something-that-has-never/) [Jimmy Webb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-webb/) > [Doing more of what doesn't work doesn't work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/doing-more-of-what-doesn-t-work-doesn-t-work/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [A beautiful product that doesn't work very well is ugly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-ive/a-beautiful-product-that-doesn-t-work-very-well-is-ugly/) [Jonathan Ive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-ive/) > [Do something. If it doesn't work, do something else. No idea is too crazy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-hightower/do-something-if-it-doesn-t-work-do-something-else-no-idea-is-too-crazy/) [Jim Hightower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-hightower/) > [If it doesn't work, at least it will be an interesting train wreck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/if-it-doesn-t-work-at-least-it-will-be-an-interesting-train-wreck/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [It's when someone has an agenda of their own for the record that it doesn't work for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alanis-morissette/it-s-when-someone-has-an-agenda-of-their-own-for-the-record-that-it/) [Alanis Morissette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alanis-morissette/) ## More by Denis Norden > [There's an unseen force which lets birds know when you've just washed your car.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-norden/there-s-an-unseen-force-which-lets-birds-know-when-you-ve-just-washed/) [Denis Norden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-norden/) > [Middle age is when, whenever you go on holiday, you pack a sweater.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-norden/middle-age-is-when-whenever-you-go-on-holiday-you-pack-a-sweater/) [Denis Norden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-norden/) > [We saw more of each other than we did of our wives. We wrote everything together. But how long can you go on doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-norden/we-saw-more-of-each-other-than-we-did-of-our-wives-we-wrote/) [Denis Norden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-norden/) > [And when you're on your own there is that terrifying possibility that you may be the only person on the planet who thinks it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-norden/and-when-you-re-on-your-own-there-is-that-terrifying-possibility-that/) [Denis Norden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-norden/) > [I used to like writing for comedians - I enjoyed the challenge of making other people funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-norden/i-used-to-like-writing-for-comedians-i-enjoyed-the-challenge-of/) [Denis Norden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-norden/) > [I have better peripheral vision in my left. It is quite hard to remain optimistic, but I have found the Macular Society, of whom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-norden/i-have-better-peripheral-vision-in-my-left-it-is-quite-hard-to-remain/) [Denis Norden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-norden/) > [You know you're getting old when a four-letter word for something pleasurable two people can do in bed together is R-E-A-D.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-norden/you-know-you-re-getting-old-when-a-four-letter-word-for-something/) [Denis Norden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-norden/) > [If all the world is a stage, and all the men and women merely players, where do all the audiences come from?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-norden/if-all-the-world-is-a-stage-and-all-the-men-and-women-merely-players/) [Denis Norden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-norden/) > [A counter tenor is anyone who can count to ten.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-norden/a-counter-tenor-is-anyone-who-can-count-to-ten/) [Denis Norden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-norden/) > [I've written not milestones of cinema but millstones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-norden/i-ve-written-not-milestones-of-cinema-but-millstones/) [Denis Norden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-norden/) > [I recognise the pure gold that runs in Andy Hamilton and Guy Jenkin's work for 'Outnumbered' on TV. And on radio, I really enjoy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-norden/i-recognise-the-pure-gold-that-runs-in-andy-hamilton-and-guy-jenkin-s/) [Denis Norden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-norden/) > [Then after that came word processors and it's hard to make those laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-norden/then-after-that-came-word-processors-and-it-s-hard-to-make-those-laugh/) [Denis Norden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-norden/) > [You can't have your kayak and heat it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-norden/you-can-t-have-your-kayak-and-heat-it/) [Denis Norden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-norden/) > [If the laughter of the audience was malicious we wouldn't show it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-norden/if-the-laughter-of-the-audience-was-malicious-we-wouldn-t-show-it/) [Denis Norden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-norden/) > [It's a funny kind of month, October. For the really keen cricket fan it's when you discover that your wife left you in May.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-norden/it-s-a-funny-kind-of-month-october-for-the-really-keen-cricket-fan-it/) [Denis Norden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-norden/) [Explore all 31 Denis Norden quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-norden/) ## 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": "And if you can offer an explanation as to why it doesn't work then you've got to the whole root of comedy.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Denis Norden" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-norden/and-if-you-can-offer-an-explanation-as-to-why-it-doesn-t-work-then/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Comedy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-norden/and-if-you-can-offer-an-explanation-as-to-why-it-doesn-t-work-then/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c8/denis-norden-20199_comedy_and-if-you-can-offer-an-explanation-as-t_1485364.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c8/denis-norden-20199_comedy_and-if-you-can-offer-an-explanation-as-t_1485364.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c8/denis-norden-20199_comedy_and-if-you-can-offer-an-explanation-as-t_1485364.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“And if you can offer an explanation as to why it doesn't work then you've got to the whole root of comedy.” — Denis Norden", "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": "Denis Norden", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-norden/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "And if you can offer an...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-norden/and-if-you-can-offer-an-explanation-as-to-why-it-doesn-t-work-then/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-norden/and-if-you-can-offer-an-explanation-as-to-why-it-doesn-t-work-then/#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 } } ] } ```