--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There were a great many jokes about the…" description: "\"“There were a great many jokes about the disaster (house falling on and killing Wicked Witch of the East), naturally. \"You can't hide from desinty, tha..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea7/gregory-maguire-547_great-man_there-were-a-great-many-jokes-about-the_150008.jpg" --- # There were a great many jokes about the disaster (house… ![“There were a great many jokes about the disaster (house falling on and killing Wicked Witch of the East), naturally. "You can't hide from desinty, that house had her name on it" "That Nessarose, she was giving such a good speech about religious lessons, she really brought down the house!"…” quote by Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea7/gregory-maguire-547_great-man_there-were-a-great-many-jokes-about-the_150008.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea7/gregory-maguire-547_great-man_there-were-a-great-many-jokes-about-the_150008.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea7/gregory-maguire-547_great-man_there-were-a-great-many-jokes-about-the_150008.jpg) > ““There were a great many jokes about the disaster (house falling on and killing Wicked Witch of the East), naturally. "You can't hide from desinty, that house had her name on it" "That Nessarose, she was giving such a good speech about religious lessons, she really brought down the house!" "Everybody needs to grow up and leave home sometimes, but sometimes HOME DOESN'T LIKE IT." "What's the different between a shooting star and a falling house?" "One which is propitious grants delicious wishes, the other which is vicious squishes witches." "What's big, thick, makes the earth move, and wants to have its way with you?" "I don't know, but can you introduce me?”” [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A series of dark jokes about a witch’s death and fate illustrate how tragedy can be twisted into humor, while also reflecting on home, destiny, and the absurd. **In simple terms:** Tragedy turned into dark humor about fate. Key Takeaway Find humor but confronting absurdity. Themes humor death fate home absurdity Mood playful macabre Type satirical narrative When to use this quote - storytelling - cultural critique - entertainment Key Concepts satire mythology psychology Questions to Reflect On - When is humor appropriate? - How does home shape identity? A Different Perspective Jokes can trivialize pain. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Falling House](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/falling-house-1670388/) [Great Jokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-jokes-383773/) [Great man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-man/) [House Falling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/house-falling-1670387/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Jokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jokes/) [Jokes Disaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jokes-disaster-1670386/) [Shooting star](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shooting-star/) [Wicked witch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wicked-witch/) ## Related quotes > [“What's the different between a shooting star and a falling house?" "One which is propitious grants delicious wishes, the other which is vicious squishes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/what-s-the-different-between-a-shooting-star-and-a-falling-house-one/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [I build homes. My brother and I will buy a house that's falling down and reconfigure the whole thing. We take care of everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-renner/i-build-homes-my-brother-and-i-will-buy-a-house-that-s-falling-down/) [Jeremy Renner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-renner/) > [“Shame on those who remain unmoved, whose pace fails to quicken, on entering one of these old habitations, a manor-house falling to wrack and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/petrus-borel/shame-on-those-who-remain-unmoved-whose-pace-fails-to-quicken-on/) [Petrus Borel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/petrus-borel/) > [I think that if one is faced by inevitable destruction -- if a house is falling upon you, for instance -- one must feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/i-think-that-if-one-is-faced-by-inevitable-destruction-if-a-house-is/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [People always did like to talk, didn't they? That's why I call myself a witch now: the Wicked Witch of the West, if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/people-always-did-like-to-talk-didn-t-they-that-s-why-i-call-myself-a/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [When I began 'Wicked', I really thought of it entirely as a one-off, as the English say. There was no intention that there should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/when-i-began-wicked-i-really-thought-of-it-entirely-as-a-one-off-as/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [And there the wicked witch stayed for a long long time.' Did she ever come out?' Not yet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/and-there-the-wicked-witch-stayed-for-a-long-long-time-did-she-ever/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [Great short stories and great jokes have a lot in common. Both depend on what communication-theorists sometimes called "exformation," which is a certain quantity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster-wallace/great-short-stories-and-great-jokes-have-a-lot-in-common-both-depend-2/) [David Foster Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster-wallace/) > [Like great art, something essential dies when great jokes are explained. So what's the key to telling a good joke/creating great art timing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-nichols/like-great-art-something-essential-dies-when-great-jokes-are/) [Travis Nichols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-nichols/) > [“Still,” he says, “if I shared my doubts with you, about God and love and life and death, that’s all you’d have: a bunch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-wallace/still-he-says-if-i-shared-my-doubts-with-you-about-god-and-love-and/) [Daniel Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-wallace/) > [“Great short stories and great jokes have a lot in common. Both depend on what communication-theorists sometimes call “exformation,” which is a certain quantity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster-wallace/great-short-stories-and-great-jokes-have-a-lot-in-common-both-depend/) [David Foster Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster-wallace/) > [I can't find someone funny whom I don't like. Hitler told great jokes. I didn't find it funny at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/i-can-t-find-someone-funny-whom-i-don-t-like-hitler-told-great-jokes/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [ Even the people who do great jokes, \[it's\] always coming out of a very real place. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-gelman/even-the-people-who-do-great-jokes-it-s-always-coming-out-of-a-very/) [Brett Gelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-gelman/) > [Billy (Martin) was a great one for jokes. He liked to play a joke more than anyone I ever knew.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickey-mantle/billy-martin-was-a-great-one-for-jokes-he-liked-to-play-a-joke-more/) [Mickey Mantle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickey-mantle/) > [“One of the great jokes of life is that by the time you're old enough to recognize how little you know, all you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-deberry-donna-grant/one-of-the-great-jokes-of-life-is-that-by-the-time-you-re-old-enough/) [Virginia DeBerry Donna Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-deberry-donna-grant/) ## More by Gregory Maguire > [“By so giving up, of course, it renews itself- that is the secret”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/by-so-giving-up-of-course-it-renews-itself-that-is-the-secret/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [Forgive us our trespasses," says Margarethe, "and get out of our way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/forgive-us-our-trespasses-says-margarethe-and-get-out-of-our-way/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [“There are two kinds of anger: hot and cold. 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She armed herself with two thorns…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/old-flossie-settle-down-on-the-other-side-of-what-the-dickens-and/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [I shall pray for your soul,' promised Nessarose. I shall wait for your shoes,' Elphie answered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/i-shall-pray-for-your-soul-promised-nessarose-i-shall-wait-for-your/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [My first job was scooping ice cream at Friendly's in Albany, New York. I hated the work, most of my colleagues, and the uniform,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/my-first-job-was-scooping-ice-cream-at-friendly-s-in-albany-new-york/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [“At its most elemental, a spell is no more than a recipe for change.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/at-its-most-elemental-a-spell-is-no-more-than-a-recipe-for-change/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [I write because I admire the act of rationalization, of seeking clarity in one's understanding of the complexities of life, and I'm bad at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/i-write-because-i-admire-the-act-of-rationalization-of-seeking/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [“Do good though, will you?" She blinked brightly at the green girl. "If not for your parents or your grandmother, then for me?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/do-good-though-will-you-she-blinked-brightly-at-the-green-girl-if-not/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [“You always had an eye for the fellow with a decent helping of sausage and hard-boiled eggs.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/you-always-had-an-eye-for-the-fellow-with-a-decent-helping-of-sausage/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [“You need my help? What for? Bread, cash, a fake identity to help you slip sideways through the cracks? Tell me what you need,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/you-need-my-help-what-for-bread-cash-a-fake-identity-to-help-you-slip/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) [Explore all 470 Gregory Maguire quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) ## More Great man quotes > [I think the next 50 years are going to present the human race with challenges that so far exceed the limitations of geopolitical boundaries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-quinto/i-think-the-next-50-years-are-going-to-present-the-human-race-with/) [Zachary Quinto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-quinto/) > [Football is a team sport. 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Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) [Browse all 1,429 Great man quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-man/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“There were a great many jokes about the disaster (house falling on and killing Wicked Witch of the East), naturally. \"You can't hide from desinty, that house had her name on it\" \"That Nessarose, she was giving such a good speech about religious lessons, she really brought down the house!\" \"Everybody needs to grow up and leave home sometimes, but sometimes HOME DOESN'T LIKE IT.\" \"What's the different between a shooting star and a falling house?\" \"One which is propitious grants delicious wishes, the other which is vicious squishes witches.\" \"What's big, thick, makes the earth move, and wants to have its way with you?\" \"I don't know, but can you introduce me?”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Gregory Maguire" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/there-were-a-great-many-jokes-about-the-disaster-house-falling-on-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Great man" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/there-were-a-great-many-jokes-about-the-disaster-house-falling-on-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea7/gregory-maguire-547_great-man_there-were-a-great-many-jokes-about-the_150008.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea7/gregory-maguire-547_great-man_there-were-a-great-many-jokes-about-the_150008.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea7/gregory-maguire-547_great-man_there-were-a-great-many-jokes-about-the_150008.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There were a great many jokes about the disaster (house falling on and killing Wicked Witch of the East)…” — Gregory Maguire", "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": "Gregory Maguire", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“There were a great many jokes...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/there-were-a-great-many-jokes-about-the-disaster-house-falling-on-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/there-were-a-great-many-jokes-about-the-disaster-house-falling-on-and/#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 } } ] } ```