--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If the only reason to be on stage…" description: "\"If the only reason to be on stage communicating with people is to tell them a joke and make them laugh, that seems thin for me. That has a place - I do..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/936/hannah-gadsby-17115_joke_if-the-only-reason-to-be-on-stage-commun_2047303.jpg" --- # If the only reason to be on stage communicating with… ![“If the only reason to be on stage communicating with people is to tell them a joke and make them laugh, that seems thin for me. That has a place - I don't think it should stop happening - but for me, I don't know. I just don't.” quote by Hannah Gadsby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/936/hannah-gadsby-17115_joke_if-the-only-reason-to-be-on-stage-commun_2047303.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/936/hannah-gadsby-17115_joke_if-the-only-reason-to-be-on-stage-commun_2047303.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/936/hannah-gadsby-17115_joke_if-the-only-reason-to-be-on-stage-commun_2047303.jpg) > “If the only reason to be on stage communicating with people is to tell them a joke and make them laugh, that seems thin for me. That has a place - I don't think it should stop happening - but for me, I don't know. I just don't.” [Hannah Gadsby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-gadsby/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The performer argues that comedy alone is insufficient; art should also provoke thought, challenge norms, and convey deeper meaning. **In simple terms:** Comedy isn’t enough; art needs purpose beyond jokes. Key Takeaway Seek purpose beyond humor. Themes art purpose comedy authenticity Mood reflective thoughtful critical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - stand‑up shows - public speaking - creative workshops - social activism Key Concepts performance theory social critique audience engagement Questions to Reflect On - What deeper message do you want to share? - How can humor serve a larger purpose? A Different Perspective Humor can mask avoidance of serious topics. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Joke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joke/) [Laugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laugh/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [The reason I can do what I do on stage is because I couldn't fake it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doseone/the-reason-i-can-do-what-i-do-on-stage-is-because-i-couldn-t-fake-it/) [Doseone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doseone/) > [I always need a reason to do something on stage, for me. I am not judging anyone: there is not a good way; there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stromae/i-always-need-a-reason-to-do-something-on-stage-for-me-i-am-not/) [Stromae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stromae/) > [This is what I believe about performing: There is no reason to be on stage - there is no reason to be there -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moschen/this-is-what-i-believe-about-performing-there-is-no-reason-to-be-on/) [Michael Moschen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moschen/) > [I use a lot of humor, and I follow the saying that if you want to tell people the truth, you better make them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sayed-kashua/i-use-a-lot-of-humor-and-i-follow-the-saying-that-if-you-want-to-tell/) [Sayed Kashua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sayed-kashua/) > [So when you tell a joke, you want to make someone laugh, or if you tell a story about someone who had a heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-guber/so-when-you-tell-a-joke-you-want-to-make-someone-laugh-or-if-you-tell/) [Peter Guber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-guber/) > [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 > [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'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/) > [I love the people who can make me laugh when I think I can't even smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/i-love-the-people-who-can-make-me-laugh-when-i-think-i-can-t-even/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [I do manage to make others laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashish-vidyarthi/i-do-manage-to-make-others-laugh/) [Ashish Vidyarthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashish-vidyarthi/) > [I think that sometimes you do something that makes a small group of people laugh, which is all we were trying to do; we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cleese/i-think-that-sometimes-you-do-something-that-makes-a-small-group-of/) [John Cleese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cleese/) > [There comes a time in life when you have to let go of all the pointless drama and the people who create it, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-comes-a-time-in-life-when-you-have-to-let-go-of-all-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Hannah Gadsby > [We need to hear stories from older women. There's a wealth of wisdom and real resilience there, but they're silenced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-gadsby/we-need-to-hear-stories-from-older-women-there-s-a-wealth-of-wisdom/) [Hannah Gadsby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-gadsby/) > [I always kept my expectations in life very tame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-gadsby/i-always-kept-my-expectations-in-life-very-tame/) [Hannah Gadsby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-gadsby/) > [A lot of people are intimated by art, but it's something to be revered beyond criticism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-gadsby/a-lot-of-people-are-intimated-by-art-but-it-s-something-to-be-revered/) [Hannah Gadsby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-gadsby/) > [I don't want to be a didactic voice. I like to ask more questions than I answer, just to get people thinking and to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-gadsby/i-don-t-want-to-be-a-didactic-voice-i-like-to-ask-more-questions-than/) [Hannah Gadsby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-gadsby/) > [I'm a pretty good procrastinator.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-gadsby/i-m-a-pretty-good-procrastinator/) [Hannah Gadsby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-gadsby/) > [I found that pottering is very conducive to my creative process, so now, I find myself being incredibly creative because I've got such much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-gadsby/i-found-that-pottering-is-very-conducive-to-my-creative-process-so/) [Hannah Gadsby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-gadsby/) > [The art world doesn't exist in a vacuum.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-gadsby/the-art-world-doesn-t-exist-in-a-vacuum/) [Hannah Gadsby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-gadsby/) > [I've walked away in the middle of a conversation and had no idea that was wrong until someone told me I was being rude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-gadsby/i-ve-walked-away-in-the-middle-of-a-conversation-and-had-no-idea-that/) [Hannah Gadsby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-gadsby/) > [Most accountants are strange - let's be honest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-gadsby/most-accountants-are-strange-let-s-be-honest/) [Hannah Gadsby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-gadsby/) > [“Ironically, I believe Picasso was right. I believe we could paint a better world if we learned to see it from all perspectives, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-gadsby/ironically-i-believe-picasso-was-right-i-believe-we-could-paint-a/) [Hannah Gadsby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-gadsby/) > [I've got Asperger's. I come at things from sideways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-gadsby/i-ve-got-asperger-s-i-come-at-things-from-sideways/) [Hannah Gadsby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-gadsby/) > [I've always done live art history lectures and small documentaries in the past in Australia, on Australian art and art galleries, so I've already…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-gadsby/i-ve-always-done-live-art-history-lectures-and-small-documentaries-in/) [Hannah Gadsby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-gadsby/) > [There are times I've been surprised by how emotional I can be on stage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-gadsby/there-are-times-i-ve-been-surprised-by-how-emotional-i-can-be-on-stage/) [Hannah Gadsby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-gadsby/) > [The thing about comedy is it gives you a platform to expose your own shortcomings, so it becomes a public display of weirdness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-gadsby/the-thing-about-comedy-is-it-gives-you-a-platform-to-expose-your-own/) [Hannah Gadsby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-gadsby/) > [I've always wanted to make Australian art interesting. To get a different audience watching art documentaries would be great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-gadsby/i-ve-always-wanted-to-make-australian-art-interesting-to-get-a/) [Hannah Gadsby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-gadsby/) [Explore all 38 Hannah Gadsby quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-gadsby/) ## More Joke quotes > [“You know where you can shove your joke. Just get me a new drink and try not to include and of your STD-laced body…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-harrington/you-know-where-you-can-shove-your-joke-just-get-me-a-new-drink-and/) [Kim Harrington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-harrington/) > [Nobody calls me a racist when I do redneck jokes. Jeff Foxworthy can do as many 'You might be a redneck jokes' as he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-mencia/nobody-calls-me-a-racist-when-i-do-redneck-jokes-jeff-foxworthy-can/) [Carlos Mencia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-mencia/) > [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/) > [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/) > [We're all basically decent human beings so if 3,000 people are laughing at a joke then it's worth telling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-mack/we-re-all-basically-decent-human-beings-so-if-3-000-people-are/) [Lee Mack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-mack/) > [I don't like it when I see a racist comedian go up and say, 'What are we gonna do about all these immigrants?' and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/i-don-t-like-it-when-i-see-a-racist-comedian-go-up-and-say-what-are/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [Westminster is no joke. I took some tough classes there. It prepared me for a tough career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brooke-baldwin/westminster-is-no-joke-i-took-some-tough-classes-there-it-prepared-me/) [Brooke Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brooke-baldwin/) > [If there's something tender going on like that, I can't make up a joke and put it on Twitter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-beaumont/if-there-s-something-tender-going-on-like-that-i-can-t-make-up-a-joke/) [Lucy Beaumont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-beaumont/) > [Tell me that I misunderstood a joke, but don't tell me that my choice of cravat is wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-niven/tell-me-that-i-misunderstood-a-joke-but-don-t-tell-me-that-my-choice/) [David Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-niven/) > [There were guys in 'The State' who would take one script and rewrite it and rewrite it and rewrite it and fight for it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-ben-garant/there-were-guys-in-the-state-who-would-take-one-script-and-rewrite-it/) [Robert Ben Garant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-ben-garant/) > [“Well, you better look out. They got a new bureau in the guvamint files. It’s called U.W. Stands for Useless Wimmen. Tha’s secret plans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/well-you-better-look-out-they-got-a-new-bureau-in-the-guvamint-files/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [“Caleb fed me better food during my kidnapping than these people. I laugh at my own joke”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-roberts/caleb-fed-me-better-food-during-my-kidnapping-than-these-people-i/) [C.J. Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-roberts/) > [I remember I would always joke among my friends about a remake of 'Point Break'. I would say, 'You know what? Whenever there's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-ramirez/i-remember-i-would-always-joke-among-my-friends-about-a-remake-of/) [Edgar Ramirez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-ramirez/) > [The joke is the purest, most essential form of storytelling. Every word has to count.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-auster/the-joke-is-the-purest-most-essential-form-of-storytelling-every-word/) [Paul Auster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-auster/) > [“Perhaps I can make you understand. Let’s start from the beginning. A man is hired to give advice to the readers of a newspaper.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathanael-west/perhaps-i-can-make-you-understand-let-s-start-from-the-beginning-a/) [Nathanael West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathanael-west/) [Browse all 2,321 Joke quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joke/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If the only reason to be on stage communicating with people is to tell them a joke and make them laugh, that seems thin for me. That has a place - I don't think it should stop happening - but for me, I don't know. 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