--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When Beethoven went deaf, the mynah bird…" description: "\"When Beethoven went deaf, the mynah bird just used to mime.\" — Graham Chapman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8d/graham-chapman-15627_bird_when-beethoven-went-deaf-the-mynah-bird_1335862.jpg" --- # When Beethoven went deaf, the mynah bird just used to mime. ![“When Beethoven went deaf, the mynah bird just used to mime.” quote by Graham Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8d/graham-chapman-15627_bird_when-beethoven-went-deaf-the-mynah-bird_1335862.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8d/graham-chapman-15627_bird_when-beethoven-went-deaf-the-mynah-bird_1335862.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8d/graham-chapman-15627_bird_when-beethoven-went-deaf-the-mynah-bird_1335862.jpg) > “When Beethoven went deaf, the mynah bird just used to mime.” [Graham Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-chapman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Even when faced with loss, humor can become a coping mechanism. **In simple terms:** Humor helps endure hardship. Key Takeaway Use humor to navigate adversity. Themes resilience humor adaptation Mood lighthearted empathetic Type inspirational humorous When to use this quote - grief - health challenges - creative work Key Concepts catharsis absurdity Questions to Reflect On - How does humor change your perception of loss? - When is humor inappropriate? A Different Perspective Humor may mask deeper pain. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bird/) ## Related quotes > [“The heart fools the mind, where eyes went deaf to words, that fell on blinded ears to easy to fall in love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-liccione/the-heart-fools-the-mind-where-eyes-went-deaf-to-words-that-fell-on/) [Anthony Liccione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-liccione/) > [“The reputation of a girl ... is a delicate thing. Like a mynah bird in your hands. slacken your grip and away it flies.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khaled-hosseini/the-reputation-of-a-girl-is-a-delicate-thing-like-a-mynah-bird-in/) [Khaled Hosseini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khaled-hosseini/) > [“Listen up, BIG SHOTS, BIGWIGS, and MUCKETY-MUCKS! What am I dressed for?" I'll ask. Success!" they'll yell. And what do clothes make?" I'll ask.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-shea/listen-up-big-shots-bigwigs-and-muckety-mucks-what-am-i-dressed-for-i/) bob shea > [Top Of The Pops' was the show to be on. Youd go in in the afternoon, re-record the track for them, and then youd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-campbell/top-of-the-pops-was-the-show-to-be-on-youd-go-in-in-the-afternoon-re/) [Mike Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-campbell/) > [ I've always liked walking; that's one of my favorite things to do, and I try to walk every day. \[In Washington, D.C.\] I can't… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-bush/i-ve-always-liked-walking-that-s-one-of-my-favorite-things-to-do-and/) [Laura Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-bush/) > [A mime is a terrible thing to waste.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-marceau/a-mime-is-a-terrible-thing-to-waste/) [Marcel Marceau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-marceau/) > [I always loved to dance and move. I probably should have been a mime or something like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-wright/i-always-loved-to-dance-and-move-i-probably-should-have-been-a-mime/) [Robin Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-wright/) > [I was a mime. I'm not kidding. I went to Northwestern University and they have a mime company, so we did a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-bishe/i-was-a-mime-i-m-not-kidding-i-went-to-northwestern-university-and/) [Kerry Bishe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-bishe/) > [Everybody uses mime and gesture in real life, though we don't realize it. It's very useful as a performance technique, though it can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-daniels/everybody-uses-mime-and-gesture-in-real-life-though-we-don-t-realize/) [Anthony Daniels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-daniels/) > [I really loved animals when I was little - my friend and I had an imaginary vet's office; we would mime doing surgery on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-murray/i-really-loved-animals-when-i-was-little-my-friend-and-i-had-an/) [Hannah Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-murray/) > [The Musicians Union declared you couldn't mime on Top Of The Pops, which is obviously impossible, if you've got a studio-based record that you'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-toop/the-musicians-union-declared-you-couldn-t-mime-on-top-of-the-pops/) [David Toop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-toop/) > [It's interesting - a lot of good actors are good mimes. But I'm terrible. If I tried to do an impression, nobody would know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-walken/it-s-interesting-a-lot-of-good-actors-are-good-mimes-but-i-m-terrible/) [Christopher Walken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-walken/) > [I'm not one of them who will get up and mime - I want to completely perform.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-mckenna/i-m-not-one-of-them-who-will-get-up-and-mime-i-want-to-completely/) [Megan McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-mckenna/) > [When I see professional clowns, mimes, or people who makes ballon animals, I think of their relatives and how disappointed they must be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-fallon/when-i-see-professional-clowns-mimes-or-people-who-makes-ballon/) [Jimmy Fallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-fallon/) > [I went to the University of Minnesota to study art. I left the university to come to New York and live in Soho. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-lange/i-went-to-the-university-of-minnesota-to-study-art-i-left-the/) [Jessica Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-lange/) ## More by Graham Chapman > [No one expects the Spanish Inquisition! Our chief weapon is surprise, fear and surprise; two chief weapons, fear, surprise, and ruthless efficiency! Er, among…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-chapman/no-one-expects-the-spanish-inquisition-our-chief-weapon-is-surprise/) [Graham Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-chapman/) > [I don't want to talk to you no more, you empty headed animal food trough wiper. I fart in your general direction. Your mother…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-chapman/i-don-t-want-to-talk-to-you-no-more-you-empty-headed-animal-food/) [Graham Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-chapman/) > [She turned me into a newt. ... But I got better...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-chapman/she-turned-me-into-a-newt-but-i-got-better/) [Graham Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-chapman/) > [I am known by many names, but you may call me...Tim.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-chapman/i-am-known-by-many-names-but-you-may-call-me-tim/) [Graham Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-chapman/) > [Oh, you're in television! That's interesting. No, I mean, the word television is interesting. It's a hybrid, you see: tele- comes from the greek,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-chapman/oh-you-re-in-television-that-s-interesting-no-i-mean-the-word/) [Graham Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-chapman/) > [I fart in your general direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-chapman/i-fart-in-your-general-direction/) [Graham Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-chapman/) > [Camelot is a silly place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-chapman/camelot-is-a-silly-place/) [Graham Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-chapman/) > [All ideas come about through some sort of observation. It sparks an attitude; some object or emotion causes a reaction in the other person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-chapman/all-ideas-come-about-through-some-sort-of-observation-it-sparks-an/) [Graham Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-chapman/) > [Are you suggesting coconuts migrate?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-chapman/are-you-suggesting-coconuts-migrate/) [Graham Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-chapman/) > [Nudge, nudge, wink, wink. Know what I mean?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-chapman/nudge-nudge-wink-wink-know-what-i-mean/) [Graham Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-chapman/) > [I hope I will have achieved something lasting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-chapman/i-hope-i-will-have-achieved-something-lasting/) [Graham Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-chapman/) > [Stormy in love, stormy in interviews, breakfast in bed - that's me, love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-chapman/stormy-in-love-stormy-in-interviews-breakfast-in-bed-that-s-me-love/) [Graham Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-chapman/) > [Tis but a scratch!" "A scratch? Your arm's off!" "No it isn't." "Then what's that?" "Oh come on, pansy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-chapman/tis-but-a-scratch-a-scratch-your-arm-s-off-no-it-isn-t-then-what-s/) [Graham Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-chapman/) > [I'm afraid I'm not personally qualified to confuse cats, but I can recommend an extremely good service.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-chapman/i-m-afraid-i-m-not-personally-qualified-to-confuse-cats-but-i-can/) [Graham Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-chapman/) > [World War II... did not happen to everyone, but it happened to most. There were people from Germany who were throwing bombs at us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-chapman/world-war-ii-did-not-happen-to-everyone-but-it-happened-to-most-there/) [Graham Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-chapman/) [Explore all 42 Graham Chapman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-chapman/) ## More Beethoven quotes > [For me, musicians are poets. Beethoven describes himself as a poet of tones, just like Coltrane's a poet of tempo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/for-me-musicians-are-poets-beethoven-describes-himself-as-a-poet-of/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [I believe so, but at first he must know. He must know in which spirit Beethoven has composed this piece. He must try to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-masur/i-believe-so-but-at-first-he-must-know-he-must-know-in-which-spirit/) [Kurt Masur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-masur/) > [And now, in honour of the 150th anniversary of Beethoven's death, I would like to play 'Clear the Saloon', er, 'Clair de Lune', by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-borge/and-now-in-honour-of-the-150th-anniversary-of-beethoven-s-death-i/) [Victor Borge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-borge/) > [“That Beethoven was capable of producing the ultimate musical definition of heroism in this context is itself extraordinary, for he was able to evoke…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maynard-solomon/that-beethoven-was-capable-of-producing-the-ultimate-musical/) Maynard Solomon > [“He had said it bravely, and that is why one can trust Beethoven when he says other things.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster-2/he-had-said-it-bravely-and-that-is-why-one-can-trust-beethoven-when/) [E.M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster-2/) > [The point of recapitulation in the first movement of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony unleashes one of the most horrifyingly violent episodes in the history of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-mcclary/the-point-of-recapitulation-in-the-first-movement-of-beethoven-s/) [Susan McClary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-mcclary/) > [“You'll have a good, secure life when being alive means more to you than security, love more than money, your freedom more than public…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-reich/you-ll-have-a-good-secure-life-when-being-alive-means-more-to-you/) [Wilhelm Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-reich/) > [I shall never forget Juliek. How could I forget this concert given before an audience of the dead and dying? Even today, when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/i-shall-never-forget-juliek-how-could-i-forget-this-concert-given/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [“Did Beethoven create his symphonies for his glorification? I don't believe it. I believe he created them because the music in his soul demanded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/did-beethoven-create-his-symphonies-for-his-glorification-i-don-t/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [“On behalf of all that is good and melodic, Ludwig van Beethoven, I apologize.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-strohmeyer/on-behalf-of-all-that-is-good-and-melodic-ludwig-van-beethoven-i/) [Sarah Strohmeyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-strohmeyer/) > [Beethoven can't really be great because his picture isn't on a bubble gum card.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-m-schulz/beethoven-can-t-really-be-great-because-his-picture-isn-t-on-a-bubble/) [Charles M. Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-m-schulz/) > [“I hope Ludwig van Beethoven gets his cut, Langdon thought, fairly certain that the original inventor of bone conduction technology was the eighteenth-century composer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-brown/i-hope-ludwig-van-beethoven-gets-his-cut-langdon-thought-fairly/) [Dan Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-brown/) > [“A deaf composer's like a cook who's lost his sense of taste. A frog that's lost its webbed feet. A truck driver with his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/a-deaf-composer-s-like-a-cook-who-s-lost-his-sense-of-taste-a-frog/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [Pulse as an active means of expression, Stravinsky and Beethoven are the two masters of that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esa-pekka-salonen/pulse-as-an-active-means-of-expression-stravinsky-and-beethoven-are/) [Esa-Pekka Salonen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esa-pekka-salonen/) > [I think there are very few people that I would give the title of genius to, really, but Beethoven unquestionably is one of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hough/i-think-there-are-very-few-people-that-i-would-give-the-title-of/) [Stephen Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hough/) Browse all 240 Beethoven quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When Beethoven went deaf, the mynah bird just used to mime.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Graham Chapman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-chapman/when-beethoven-went-deaf-the-mynah-bird-just-used-to-mime/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Beethoven" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-chapman/when-beethoven-went-deaf-the-mynah-bird-just-used-to-mime/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8d/graham-chapman-15627_bird_when-beethoven-went-deaf-the-mynah-bird_1335862.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8d/graham-chapman-15627_bird_when-beethoven-went-deaf-the-mynah-bird_1335862.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8d/graham-chapman-15627_bird_when-beethoven-went-deaf-the-mynah-bird_1335862.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When Beethoven went deaf, the mynah bird just used to mime.” — Graham Chapman", "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": "Graham Chapman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-chapman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When Beethoven went deaf, the mynah...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-chapman/when-beethoven-went-deaf-the-mynah-bird-just-used-to-mime/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-chapman/when-beethoven-went-deaf-the-mynah-bird-just-used-to-mime/#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 } } ] } ```