--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You can't always be 100-percent positive…" description: "\"You can't always be 100-percent positive that a joke will work, so you've just got to try it. Fortunately, if one new joke doesn't work, I've got lots ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc1/doug-benson-8961_backup_you-can-t-always-be-100-percent-positive_2256146.png" --- # You can't always be 100-percent positive that a joke will… ![“You can't always be 100-percent positive that a joke will work, so you've just got to try it. Fortunately, if one new joke doesn't work, I've got lots of old ones that do. Just like cops, it's important to have backup.” quote by Doug Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc1/doug-benson-8961_backup_you-can-t-always-be-100-percent-positive_2256146.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc1/doug-benson-8961_backup_you-can-t-always-be-100-percent-positive_2256146.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc1/doug-benson-8961_backup_you-can-t-always-be-100-percent-positive_2256146.png) > “You can't always be 100-percent positive that a joke will work, so you've just got to try it. Fortunately, if one new joke doesn't work, I've got lots of old ones that do. Just like cops, it's important to have backup.” [Doug Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-benson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Comedy requires risk‑taking; jokes may fail, so having many material is essential. **In simple terms:** Comedy needs many jokes and backup plans. Key Takeaway Keep a repertoire of jokes and try them. Themes humor risk preparation Mood lighthearted pragmatic Type motivational practical When to use this quote - stand‑up performance - writing sessions - improvisation - creative brainstorming Key Concepts comedy resilience Questions to Reflect On - How do you gauge audience reaction? - When do you discard a joke? A Different Perspective Not all jokes land; audience taste varies. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Cop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cop/) [Joke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joke/) [Jokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jokes/) ## Related quotes > [“I just think it's fortunate that Sir Isaac Newton didn't share the sense of humor of a member of the public, because had he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-lee/i-just-think-it-s-fortunate-that-sir-isaac-newton-didn-t-share-the/) [Stewart Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-lee/) > [A good joke can work in New York and Kentucky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-wolf/a-good-joke-can-work-in-new-york-and-kentucky/) [Michelle Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-wolf/) > [I found, especially with stand-up, that if a premise works, you can make the joke work. If a premise doesn't work, you can't force…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-kroll/i-found-especially-with-stand-up-that-if-a-premise-works-you-can-make/) [Nick Kroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-kroll/) > [I want to get the joke to work without having to put any words or to say anything. I just want the person to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetri-martin/i-want-to-get-the-joke-to-work-without-having-to-put-any-words-or-to/) [Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/) > [I love a stupid joke, something that doesn't make any sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-handler/i-love-a-stupid-joke-something-that-doesn-t-make-any-sense/) [Chelsea Handler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-handler/) > [What I love is getting a new joke, or a premise like a sketch idea or a movie idea. That's the best feeling for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-brennan/what-i-love-is-getting-a-new-joke-or-a-premise-like-a-sketch-idea-or/) [Neal Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-brennan/) > [I never do a whole new set of new material. I do one new joke at a time, and I wedge it in between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-jefferies/i-never-do-a-whole-new-set-of-new-material-i-do-one-new-joke-at-a/) [Jim Jefferies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-jefferies/) > [I don't mind being the butt of the joke... It doesn't really bother me. I quite enjoy it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-seacrest/i-don-t-mind-being-the-butt-of-the-joke-it-doesn-t-really-bother-me-i/) [Ryan Seacrest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-seacrest/) > [We have a new joke on the reservation: 'What is cultural deprivation?' Answer: 'Being an upper-middle class white kid living in a split-level suburban…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fire-lame-deer/we-have-a-new-joke-on-the-reservation-what-is-cultural-deprivation/) [John Fire Lame Deer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fire-lame-deer/) > [“The definition of wit is a joke that doesn't make you laugh.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-a-gill-2/the-definition-of-wit-is-a-joke-that-doesn-t-make-you-laugh/) [A.A. Gill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-a-gill-2/) > [I have a new joke today. Martha Stewart's on suicide watch. They had to unplug all of her ovens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rip-taylor/i-have-a-new-joke-today-martha-stewart-s-on-suicide-watch-they-had-to/) [Rip Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rip-taylor/) > [Sometimes a joke that doesn't work just needs a breath or a little word or the tiniest little change to be fixed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-silverman/sometimes-a-joke-that-doesn-t-work-just-needs-a-breath-or-a-little/) [Sarah Silverman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-silverman/) > [Your pregnant is the only AprilFool joke you women got? Find a new joke cause that been played out years ago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deon-crockett/your-pregnant-is-the-only-aprilfool-joke-you-women-got-find-a-new/) [Deon Crockett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deon-crockett/) > [I once told a journalist that girls call me 'Kitten,' but I couldn't have been more sarcastic, and no matter how many times I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/i-once-told-a-journalist-that-girls-call-me-kitten-but-i-couldn-t/) [Joaquin Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-phoenix/) > [If God is not with us, we do not want to continue. If the Sermon on the Mount is simply impractical, our mission work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heidi-baker/if-god-is-not-with-us-we-do-not-want-to-continue-if-the-sermon-on-the/) [Heidi Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heidi-baker/) ## More by Doug Benson > [I grew up in San Diego, so it wasn't hard to move to L.A. to get into show business, but I did the standard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-benson/i-grew-up-in-san-diego-so-it-wasn-t-hard-to-move-to-l-a-to-get-into/) [Doug Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-benson/) > [It's easier to do comedy with an audience, because their reactions tell you whether or not what your saying qualifies as comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-benson/it-s-easier-to-do-comedy-with-an-audience-because-their-reactions/) [Doug Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-benson/) > [The whole pot-to-alcohol thing is a huge issue with me, because I've grown to hate drunks so much, and like potheads.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-benson/the-whole-pot-to-alcohol-thing-is-a-huge-issue-with-me-because-i-ve/) [Doug Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-benson/) > [I know there's a lot of nasty humor directed at celebrities, but my feeling is, in most cases, they deserve it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-benson/i-know-there-s-a-lot-of-nasty-humor-directed-at-celebrities-but-my/) [Doug Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-benson/) > [Big deal... the only cats that don't have three legs are the ones with two through zero legs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-benson/big-deal-the-only-cats-that-don-t-have-three-legs-are-the-ones-with/) [Doug Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-benson/) > [Has anybody here ever been driving along in their car, smoking a cigarette, and you flick it out the window, and you drive for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-benson/has-anybody-here-ever-been-driving-along-in-their-car-smoking-a/) [Doug Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-benson/) > [A talking dog is not the answer. That's not a way to convince people not to smoke pot. If animals started talking to me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-benson/a-talking-dog-is-not-the-answer-that-s-not-a-way-to-convince-people/) [Doug Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-benson/) > [I think there is much more storytelling in stand-up now. Less emphasis on the joke. Jokes are still important, but it feels like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-benson/i-think-there-is-much-more-storytelling-in-stand-up-now-less-emphasis/) [Doug Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-benson/) > [I just broke up with my girlfriend because I caught her lying. Under another man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-benson/i-just-broke-up-with-my-girlfriend-because-i-caught-her-lying-under/) [Doug Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-benson/) > [Stand-up is a very scary, very solitary profession, but you have to experience it to figure out if it's right for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-benson/stand-up-is-a-very-scary-very-solitary-profession-but-you-have-to/) [Doug Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-benson/) > [People come to me with ideas for shows, and I certainly am thinking of stuff all the time. And it's always like, you know,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-benson/people-come-to-me-with-ideas-for-shows-and-i-certainly-am-thinking-of/) [Doug Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-benson/) > [Even if you are 18, my advice to you is: plan for your future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-benson/even-if-you-are-18-my-advice-to-you-is-plan-for-your-future/) [Doug Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-benson/) > [There was always, along the way in my career, as more and more I made marijuana a part of my act and my life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-benson/there-was-always-along-the-way-in-my-career-as-more-and-more-i-made/) [Doug Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-benson/) > [My parents took me to that I think is just one of those near-perfect comedies is Young Frankenstein. Gene Wilder and Mel Brooks, they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-benson/my-parents-took-me-to-that-i-think-is-just-one-of-those-near-perfect/) [Doug Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-benson/) > [Rappers should be forced to rhyme in their acceptance speeches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-benson/rappers-should-be-forced-to-rhyme-in-their-acceptance-speeches/) [Doug Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-benson/) [Explore all 76 Doug Benson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-benson/) ## More Backup quotes > [If God is not with us, we do not want to continue. If the Sermon on the Mount is simply impractical, our mission work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heidi-baker/if-god-is-not-with-us-we-do-not-want-to-continue-if-the-sermon-on-the/) [Heidi Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heidi-baker/) > [I thought I would make it (to the NBA). I believed that I would make it. But I had a Plan B. I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avery-johnson/i-thought-i-would-make-it-to-the-nba-i-believed-that-i-would-make-it/) [Avery Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avery-johnson/) > [When we have all data online it will be great for humanity. It is a prerequisite to solving many problems that humankind faces.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-cailliau/when-we-have-all-data-online-it-will-be-great-for-humanity-it-is-a/) [Robert Cailliau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-cailliau/) > [But I love singing, and I've been singing backup for friends' bands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alia-shawkat/but-i-love-singing-and-i-ve-been-singing-backup-for-friends-bands/) [Alia Shawkat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alia-shawkat/) > [Don't let uncertainty talk you into pursuing a backup plan instead of your purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-goff/don-t-let-uncertainty-talk-you-into-pursuing-a-backup-plan-instead-of/) [Bob Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-goff/) > [I was in 'Seussical,' and I was in a cage onstage in a purple yarn suit singing backup, and I was like: 'I've had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/casey-nicholaw/i-was-in-seussical-and-i-was-in-a-cage-onstage-in-a-purple-yarn-suit/) [Casey Nicholaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/casey-nicholaw/) > [I like to go full bore into something. If you have a backup plan, then you've already admitted defeat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cavill/i-like-to-go-full-bore-into-something-if-you-have-a-backup-plan-then/) [Henry Cavill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cavill/) > [Life is about falling Living is about getting backup.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kari-hillesland/life-is-about-falling-living-is-about-getting-backup/) Kari Hillesland > [My family was always very supportive. Whether you're an actor or not, everybody hears the horror stories of people going to L.A. and trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-levi/my-family-was-always-very-supportive-whether-you-re-an-actor-or-not/) [Zachary Levi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-levi/) > [“Always have a backup plan to the backup plan.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-flynn/always-have-a-backup-plan-to-the-backup-plan/) [Gillian Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-flynn/) > [What did Isabelle want?" Jace asked. Alec hesitated. "Isabelle says the Queen of the Seelie Court has requested an audience with us." "Sure," said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/what-did-isabelle-want-jace-asked-alec-hesitated-isabelle-says-the/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [When I was at the 'Philadelphia Inquirer,' I was promoted nine times in my first 13 years. I ultimately went from general assignment to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-a-smith/when-i-was-at-the-philadelphia-inquirer-i-was-promoted-nine-times-in/) [Stephen A. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-a-smith/) > [You might be a redneck if the dog catcher calls for a backup unit when he visits your house.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-foxworthy/you-might-be-a-redneck-if-the-dog-catcher-calls-for-a-backup-unit/) [Jeff Foxworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-foxworthy/) > [As a kid, Terry Bradshaw didn't amaze me. My hero was Steelers backup Terry Hanratty, who nabbed two Super Bowl rings while completing three…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-rodrick/as-a-kid-terry-bradshaw-didn-t-amaze-me-my-hero-was-steelers-backup/) [Stephen Rodrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-rodrick/) > [A well-defined backup plan is sabotage waiting to happen. Why push through the dip, why take the risk, why blow it all when there's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/a-well-defined-backup-plan-is-sabotage-waiting-to-happen-why-push/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) Browse all 161 Backup quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You can't always be 100-percent positive that a joke will work, so you've just got to try it. Fortunately, if one new joke doesn't work, I've got lots of old ones that do. 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