--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Basically, there are three ways the skunk…" description: "\"Basically, there are three ways the skunk and I are a lot alike. The first is, we both like to spread our \"stink\" around. The second is we both get hit..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af0/jack-handey-829_car_basically-there-are-three-ways-the-skunk_743007.jpg" --- # Basically, there are three ways the skunk and I are a lot… ![“Basically, there are three ways the skunk and I are a lot alike. The first is, we both like to spread our "stink" around. The second is we both get hit by cars a lot. The third is stripes.” quote by Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af0/jack-handey-829_car_basically-there-are-three-ways-the-skunk_743007.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af0/jack-handey-829_car_basically-there-are-three-ways-the-skunk_743007.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af0/jack-handey-829_car_basically-there-are-three-ways-the-skunk_743007.jpg) > “Basically, there are three ways the skunk and I are a lot alike. The first is, we both like to spread our "stink" around. The second is we both get hit by cars a lot. The third is stripes.” [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker likens himself to a skunk, emphasizing shared traits of being offensive, vulnerable, and striped, using self‑deprecating humor. **In simple terms:** He compares himself to a smelly, striped animal. Key Takeaway Accept flaws and find humor in them. Themes self‑deprecation humor identity Mood playful self‑aware Type humorous philosophical When to use this quote - personal reflection - social interaction - road safety Key Concepts animal metaphor vulnerability Questions to Reflect On - How does self‑mockery help cope with vulnerability? - What are the limits of comparing humans to animals? A Different Perspective The comparison may trivialize serious issues like road safety. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Deep thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deep-thought/) ## Related quotes > [What's that smell?" I froze. What? Did I really smell so distasteful he had only to lean in my direction to catch a putrid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gena-showalter/what-s-that-smell-i-froze-what-did-i-really-smell-so-distasteful-he/) [Gena Showalter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gena-showalter/) > [If you see an animal and you can't tell if it's a skunk or a cat, here's a good saying to help: "Black-and-white, stinks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/if-you-see-an-animal-and-you-can-t-tell-if-it-s-a-skunk-or-a-cat-here/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [“One thing about a skunk—once you recognize the markings, you know things are gonna stink.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/one-thing-about-a-skunk-once-you-recognize-the-markings-you-know/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [“The boy raised the can to his nose and smelled, his lips wrinkling back as if he'd caught the business end of a skunk.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-j-lawrence/the-boy-raised-the-can-to-his-nose-and-smelled-his-lips-wrinkling/) [R.J. Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-j-lawrence/) > [A skunk by any other name still stinks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-a-criswell/a-skunk-by-any-other-name-still-stinks/) [W. A. Criswell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-a-criswell/) > [It's not the skunk's fault that he's a skunk or that he gives off this really bad stink. If I am a skunk, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hrithik-roshan/it-s-not-the-skunk-s-fault-that-he-s-a-skunk-or-that-he-gives-off/) [Hrithik Roshan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hrithik-roshan/) > [Too bad there's not such a thing as a GOLDEN skunk, because you'd probably be PROUD to be sprayed by one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/too-bad-there-s-not-such-a-thing-as-a-golden-skunk-because-you-d/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [“I skinned a skunk to make a rug. You know, for the bathroom.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-skinned-a-skunk-to-make-a-rug-you-know-for-the-bathroom/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [“Dr. Stern told me that the wilderness of Carolina is alive wi’ fierce creatures—bears and wildcats and wicked panthers—and a great foul thing the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/dr-stern-told-me-that-the-wilderness-of-carolina-is-alive-wi-fierce/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [Sometimes when you get in a fight with a skunk, you can't tell who started it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-doggett/sometimes-when-you-get-in-a-fight-with-a-skunk-you-can-t-tell-who/) Lloyd Doggett > [Back in the 1950s, there was a top-secret program code-named SUNTAN being conducted at a top-secret facility called Skunk Works. Its objective? To develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-jacobsen/back-in-the-1950s-there-was-a-top-secret-program-code-named-suntan/) [Annie Jacobsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-jacobsen/) > [“No use trying to cat fight with a skunk.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-michael-quinn/no-use-trying-to-cat-fight-with-a-skunk/) [D. Michael Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-michael-quinn/) > [“The hair compromise he finally agreed to is a white strip on the left side – geriatric punk, he’d whispered to himself – with,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/the-hair-compromise-he-finally-agreed-to-is-a-white-strip-on-the-left/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [ I will not get into a pissing contest with that skunk \[Joseph McCarthy\]. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/i-will-not-get-into-a-pissing-contest-with-that-skunk-joseph-mccarthy/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [A skunk is better company than a person who prides himself on being 'frank'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/a-skunk-is-better-company-than-a-person-who-prides-himself-on-being/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) ## More by Jack Handey > [Sometimes life seems like a dream, especially when I look down and see that I forgot to put on my pants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/sometimes-life-seems-like-a-dream-especially-when-i-look-down-and-see/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [I think the best Thanksgiving we ever had was one where we didn't even have a turkey. Mom and Dad sat us kids down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/i-think-the-best-thanksgiving-we-ever-had-was-one-where-we-didn-t/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [At first I thought, if I were Superman, a perfect secret identity would be "Clark Kent, Dentist," because you could save money on tooth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/at-first-i-thought-if-i-were-superman-a-perfect-secret-identity-would/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [Sometimes I wonder if I'm patriotic enough. Yes, I want to kill people, but on both sides.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/sometimes-i-wonder-if-i-m-patriotic-enough-yes-i-want-to-kill-people/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [I don't understand people who say life is a mystery, because what is it they want to know?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/i-don-t-understand-people-who-say-life-is-a-mystery-because-what-is/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [It's probably not a good idea to be chewing on a toothpick if you're talking to the president, because what if he tells a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/it-s-probably-not-a-good-idea-to-be-chewing-on-a-toothpick-if-you-re/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [Probably to a shark, about the funniest thing there is is a wounded seal, trying to swim to shore, because WHERE DOES HE THINK…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/probably-to-a-shark-about-the-funniest-thing-there-is-is-a-wounded/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [I wish I lived back in the Old West days, because I'd save up my money for about twenty years so I could buy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/i-wish-i-lived-back-in-the-old-west-days-because-i-d-save-up-my-money/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [Why do there have to be rules for everything? It's gotten to the point that rules dominate just about every aspect of our lives.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/why-do-there-have-to-be-rules-for-everything-it-s-gotten-to-the-point/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [Most people don't realize that large pieces of coral, which have been painted brown and attached to the skull by common wood screws, can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/most-people-don-t-realize-that-large-pieces-of-coral-which-have-been/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [Here's a suggestion for a new animal, if some new ones get created or evolve: something that stings you, then laughs at you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/here-s-a-suggestion-for-a-new-animal-if-some-new-ones-get-created-or/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [When you go ice-skating, try not to swing your arms too much, because that really annoys me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/when-you-go-ice-skating-try-not-to-swing-your-arms-too-much-because/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [When you go to a party at somebody's house, don't automatically assume that the drinks are free. Ask, and ask often.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/when-you-go-to-a-party-at-somebody-s-house-don-t-automatically-assume/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [He was a cowboy, mister, and he loved the land. He loved it so much he made a woman out of dirt and married…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/he-was-a-cowboy-mister-and-he-loved-the-land-he-loved-it-so-much-he/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [If you were a gladiator in olden days, I bet the inefficiency of how the gladiator fights were organized and scheduled would just drive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/if-you-were-a-gladiator-in-olden-days-i-bet-the-inefficiency-of-how/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) [Explore all 358 Jack Handey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) ## More Car quotes > [If you restore a car, and you're making money, then you're doing it wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/if-you-restore-a-car-and-you-re-making-money-then-you-re-doing-it/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [My embarrassing confession is that my father is a 'Camelot: The Musical' obsessive. So as a child, when we were going to visit relatives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-chibnall/my-embarrassing-confession-is-that-my-father-is-a-camelot-the-musical/) [Chris Chibnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-chibnall/) > [I don't own designer clothes, or a sports car, or a huge house, but I am seeing the world, experiencing amazing things, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roz-savage/i-don-t-own-designer-clothes-or-a-sports-car-or-a-huge-house-but-i-am/) [Roz Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roz-savage/) > [Television, radio, social media. The 24/7 news cycle plows forward mercilessly on our desks, in our cars and in our pockets. Thousands and thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/television-radio-social-media-the-24-7-news-cycle-plows-forward/) [Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/) > [I don't own a yacht or a flashy car. I've always had safe cars because I do so much driving. I don't think I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-rippon/i-don-t-own-a-yacht-or-a-flashy-car-i-ve-always-had-safe-cars-because/) [Angela Rippon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-rippon/) > [I am a horrible visual artist. I can't fix a car, sew, knit, cook, etc. Statistically, there is more I don't do than do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-brownstein/i-am-a-horrible-visual-artist-i-can-t-fix-a-car-sew-knit-cook-etc/) [Carrie Brownstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-brownstein/) > [I mean, you've kind of got the track down, especially with ovals. The only thing that improves is that when race conditions come, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danica-patrick/i-mean-you-ve-kind-of-got-the-track-down-especially-with-ovals-the/) [Danica Patrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danica-patrick/) > [I was with Dre when he was just selling tapes. He didn't have a car, a license or a job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-le/i-was-with-dre-when-he-was-just-selling-tapes-he-didn-t-have-a-car-a/) [Michel'le](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-le/) > ['Melanin Man' was inspired by the words of an Uber driver in L.A. Before I got out of the car he said, 'They're scared…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masego/melanin-man-was-inspired-by-the-words-of-an-uber-driver-in-l-a-before/) [Masego](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masego/) > [The things that don't happen to us that we'll never know didn't happen to us. The nonstories. The extra minute to find the briefcase…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-shreve/the-things-that-don-t-happen-to-us-that-we-ll-never-know-didn-t/) [Anita Shreve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-shreve/) > [“I hate the way you talk to me And the way you cut your hair I hate the way you drive my car I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/i-hate-the-way-you-talk-to-me-and-the-way-you-cut-your-hair-i-hate/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [It is amazing how may drivers, even at the Formula One Level, think that the brakes are for slowing the car down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-andretti/it-is-amazing-how-may-drivers-even-at-the-formula-one-level-think/) [Mario Andretti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-andretti/) > [Whether you are buying a car or casting a ballot, choosing a job or planning a family, follow your moral compass. Don't let others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-hayes/whether-you-are-buying-a-car-or-casting-a-ballot-choosing-a-job-or/) [Denis Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-hayes/) > [I don't have to have the biggest house or the biggest car or the longest mink, but quality of life is really glamorous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eartha-kitt/i-don-t-have-to-have-the-biggest-house-or-the-biggest-car-or-the/) [Eartha Kitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eartha-kitt/) Browse all 6,849 Car quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Basically, there are three ways the skunk and I are a lot alike. The first is, we both like to spread our \"stink\" around. The second is we both get hit by cars a lot. The third is stripes.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jack Handey" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/basically-there-are-three-ways-the-skunk-and-i-are-a-lot-alike-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Car" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/basically-there-are-three-ways-the-skunk-and-i-are-a-lot-alike-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af0/jack-handey-829_car_basically-there-are-three-ways-the-skunk_743007.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af0/jack-handey-829_car_basically-there-are-three-ways-the-skunk_743007.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af0/jack-handey-829_car_basically-there-are-three-ways-the-skunk_743007.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Basically, there are three ways the skunk and I are a lot alike. The first is, we both like to spread our…” — Jack Handey", "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": "Jack Handey", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Basically, there are three ways the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/basically-there-are-three-ways-the-skunk-and-i-are-a-lot-alike-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/basically-there-are-three-ways-the-skunk-and-i-are-a-lot-alike-the/#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 } } ] } ```