--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You can go your whole life and not need…" description: "\"You can go your whole life and not need math or physics for a minute, but the ability to tell a joke is always handy.\" — Garrison Keillor" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/309/garrison-keillor-1037_ability_you-can-go-your-whole-life-and-not-need_1913785.jpg" --- # You can go your whole life and not need math or physics… ![“You can go your whole life and not need math or physics for a minute, but the ability to tell a joke is always handy.” quote by Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/309/garrison-keillor-1037_ability_you-can-go-your-whole-life-and-not-need_1913785.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/309/garrison-keillor-1037_ability_you-can-go-your-whole-life-and-not-need_1913785.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/309/garrison-keillor-1037_ability_you-can-go-your-whole-life-and-not-need_1913785.jpg) > “You can go your whole life and not need math or physics for a minute, but the ability to tell a joke is always handy.” [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Humor is a universally useful skill, often more practical than formal science in daily life. **In simple terms:** Jokes are always handy. Key Takeaway Cultivate humor daily. Themes humor practicality communication Mood lighthearted practical Type social inspirational When to use this quote - public speaking - teaching - team building Key Concepts social intelligence creativity Questions to Reflect On - When has humor solved a problem for you? - How can jokes improve teamwork? A Different Perspective Humor may not replace technical expertise when needed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Handy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/handy/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Joke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joke/) [Joke Handy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joke-handy-2898495/) [Jokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jokes/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Math](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/math/) [Mathematics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mathematics/) [Minute Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/minute-ability-2898496/) [Minutes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/minutes/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Physics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/physics/) [Tell Joke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tell-joke/) [Whole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whole/) [Whole life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whole-life/) ## Related quotes > [I'm always looking at new ways to tell a joke so that it doesn't get stale while working on new jokes every night or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-burr/i-m-always-looking-at-new-ways-to-tell-a-joke-so-that-it-doesn-t-get/) [Bill Burr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-burr/) > [The awkward momment when you tell a joke and no one laughs lol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mochy/the-awkward-momment-when-you-tell-a-joke-and-no-one-laughs-lol/) [MoCHY](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mochy/) > [I never could tell a joke. I just started talking to the audience, and when the drunks would yell, "Hey, when do the broads…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-rickles/i-never-could-tell-a-joke-i-just-started-talking-to-the-audience-and/) [Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rickles/) > [A lot of the comedians don't even tell the joke. Like only three tell the joke, the rest of them dissect it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-saget/a-lot-of-the-comedians-don-t-even-tell-the-joke-like-only-three-tell/) [Bob Saget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-saget/) > [A comic strip has a rhythm and a pattern, and you got to get in and out quick. So you set up a joke,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-pastis/a-comic-strip-has-a-rhythm-and-a-pattern-and-you-got-to-get-in-and/) [Stephan Pastis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-pastis/) > [I don't do plays without jokes anymore. I've retired from those plays. I think it's bad manners to invite people to sit in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-nighy/i-don-t-do-plays-without-jokes-anymore-i-ve-retired-from-those-plays/) [Bill Nighy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-nighy/) > [I joke around all the time, 'I'm Asian; I'm really good at math.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brenda-song/i-joke-around-all-the-time-i-m-asian-i-m-really-good-at-math/) [Brenda Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brenda-song/) > [Same thing, like my commercials are often times really funny because I tend to find 30 seconds is a really good amount of time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-winter/same-thing-like-my-commercials-are-often-times-really-funny-because-i/) [Alex Winter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-winter/) > [When I tell a joke, I immediately know whether it's funny or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-mencia/when-i-tell-a-joke-i-immediately-know-whether-it-s-funny-or-not/) [Carlos Mencia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-mencia/) > [Humor is so culturally based that when I try to tell a joke as me being a white American, if I tell other white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-emerson/humor-is-so-culturally-based-that-when-i-try-to-tell-a-joke-as-me/) [Michael Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-emerson/) > [I'm very much of the "make it dark, make it grim, make it tough", but then, for the love of God, tell a joke.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/i-m-very-much-of-the-make-it-dark-make-it-grim-make-it-tough-but-then/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) > [“Tell me a joke and I will know how you behave ~ Tell me a quote and I may be your wise slave”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasser-kashef/tell-me-a-joke-and-i-will-know-how-you-behave-tell-me-a-quote-and-i/) [Yasser Kashef](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasser-kashef/) > [Rick said, "Is there some place we can go and talk?" "You want to talk?," Keir raised an eyebrow. "I never thought I'd see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-lanyon/rick-said-is-there-some-place-we-can-go-and-talk-you-want-to-talk/) [Josh Lanyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-lanyon/) > [Growing up, 'wocka wocka' was like my thing...I would tell a joke and then go, 'Wocka wocka!' I was a bit of a nerd.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-adams/growing-up-wocka-wocka-was-like-my-thing-i-would-tell-a-joke-and-then/) [Amy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-adams/) > [I don't really tell a joke per se, I build up an attitude and it becomes a joke.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-rickles/i-don-t-really-tell-a-joke-per-se-i-build-up-an-attitude-and-it/) [Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rickles/) ## More by Garrison Keillor > [God writes a lot of comedy... the trouble is, he's stuck with so many bad actors who don't know how to play funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/god-writes-a-lot-of-comedy-the-trouble-is-he-s-stuck-with-so-many-bad/) [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) > [The socially redeeming aspect of golf lies in the vast number of lawyers and bankers and managers who play it, and when you think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/the-socially-redeeming-aspect-of-golf-lies-in-the-vast-number-of/) [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) > [God plays a lot of jokes on us to get our attention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/god-plays-a-lot-of-jokes-on-us-to-get-our-attention/) [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) > [Ha! Easy for nuns to talk about giving up things. That's what they do for a living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/ha-easy-for-nuns-to-talk-about-giving-up-things-that-s-what-they-do/) [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) > [This is the big reason most humorists fail. Drunks don't read books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/this-is-the-big-reason-most-humorists-fail-drunks-don-t-read-books/) [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) > [Before the world was made, when it was only darkness and mist and waters, God was well aware of Lake Wobegon, my family, our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/before-the-world-was-made-when-it-was-only-darkness-and-mist-and/) [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) > [On investments, 1998: Where I'm from we don't trust paper. Wealth is what's here on the premises. If I open a cupboard and see,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/on-investments-1998-where-i-m-from-we-don-t-trust-paper-wealth-is/) [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) > [“The rich can afford to be progressive. Poor people have reason to be afraid of the future.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/the-rich-can-afford-to-be-progressive-poor-people-have-reason-to-be/) [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) > [English is the perfect language for preachers because it allows you to talk until you think of what to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/english-is-the-perfect-language-for-preachers-because-it-allows-you/) [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) > [“If you can't read a simple goddam sign and follow one simple goddam instruction then get your fat butt the hell out of here.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/if-you-can-t-read-a-simple-goddam-sign-and-follow-one-simple-goddam/) [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) > [“The Gospel is meant to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/the-gospel-is-meant-to-comfort-the-afflicted-and-afflict-the/) [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) > [I don't want them to be told to remember me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/i-don-t-want-them-to-be-told-to-remember-me/) [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) > [Childhood is the small town everyone came from.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/childhood-is-the-small-town-everyone-came-from/) [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) > [I have taken so many wrong turns and been so careless with precious things and managed to lose, or break, or leave out in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/i-have-taken-so-many-wrong-turns-and-been-so-careless-with-precious/) [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) > [Where I'm from we don't trust paper. Wealth is what's here on the premises. If I open a cupboard and see, say, thirty cans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/where-i-m-from-we-don-t-trust-paper-wealth-is-what-s-here-on-the/) [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) [Explore all 304 Garrison Keillor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [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/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You can go your whole life and not need math or physics for a minute, but the ability to tell a joke is always handy.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Garrison Keillor" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/you-can-go-your-whole-life-and-not-need-math-or-physics-for-a-minute/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ability" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/you-can-go-your-whole-life-and-not-need-math-or-physics-for-a-minute/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/309/garrison-keillor-1037_ability_you-can-go-your-whole-life-and-not-need_1913785.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/309/garrison-keillor-1037_ability_you-can-go-your-whole-life-and-not-need_1913785.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/309/garrison-keillor-1037_ability_you-can-go-your-whole-life-and-not-need_1913785.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You can go your whole life and not need math or physics for a minute, but the ability to tell a joke is…” — Garrison Keillor", "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": "Garrison Keillor", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "You can go your whole life...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/you-can-go-your-whole-life-and-not-need-math-or-physics-for-a-minute/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/you-can-go-your-whole-life-and-not-need-math-or-physics-for-a-minute/#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 } } ] } ```