--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think when you go on trial they should…" description: "\"I think when you go on trial they should have a parrot there that says guilty or not guilty for you, as a sort of courtesy.\" — Jack Handey" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aaa/jack-handey-829_courtesy_i-think-when-you-go-on-trial-they-should_2687563.jpg" --- # I think when you go on trial they should have a parrot… ![“I think when you go on trial they should have a parrot there that says guilty or not guilty for you, as a sort of courtesy.” quote by Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aaa/jack-handey-829_courtesy_i-think-when-you-go-on-trial-they-should_2687563.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aaa/jack-handey-829_courtesy_i-think-when-you-go-on-trial-they-should_2687563.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aaa/jack-handey-829_courtesy_i-think-when-you-go-on-trial-they-should_2687563.jpg) > “I think when you go on trial they should have a parrot there that says guilty or not guilty for you, as a sort of courtesy.” [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. A trial could be made more humane by using a neutral, non‑human arbiter to decide guilt, reducing human bias. **In simple terms:** A parrot could decide guilt impartially. Key Takeaway Consider fair, impartial decision tools. Themes justice fairness humor Mood thoughtful lighthearted Type satirical reflective When to use this quote - courtroom reform - AI judges - mediators Key Concepts legal theory ethics Questions to Reflect On - Would a non‑human arbiter be trusted? - What are the limits of impartiality? A Different Perspective Human judgment is complex; a simple tool may miss nuance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Courtesy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courtesy/) [Deep thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deep-thought/) [Guilty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guilty/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Trials](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trials/) ## Related quotes > [I bet the sparrow looks at the parrot and thinks, yes, you can talk, but LISTEN TO YOURSELF!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/i-bet-the-sparrow-looks-at-the-parrot-and-thinks-yes-you-can-talk-but/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [“When Gregory says, ‘Are they guilty?’ he means, ‘Did they do it?’ But when he says, ‘Are they guilty?’ he means, ‘Did the court…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/when-gregory-says-are-they-guilty-he-means-did-they-do-it-but-when-he/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [That parrot's non-co-operation with the cage, with its master, will live for ever because it looks upon renunciation, non-co-operation, as a joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/that-parrot-s-non-co-operation-with-the-cage-with-its-master-will/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Intellectual is a parrot; wise man is a crow. One is repetitive; other is creative!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/intellectual-is-a-parrot-wise-man-is-a-crow-one-is-repetitive-other/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [She is not refined. She is not unrefined. She keeps a parrot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/she-is-not-refined-she-is-not-unrefined-she-keeps-a-parrot/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [Most of the time, I get auditions for deaf characters where the scene has them communicating in really convoluted ways, like reading lips from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shoshannah-stern/most-of-the-time-i-get-auditions-for-deaf-characters-where-the-scene/) [Shoshannah Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shoshannah-stern/) > [The speech of one who utters with his tongue what he thinks with his ear, and feels the pride of a creator in accomplishing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/the-speech-of-one-who-utters-with-his-tongue-what-he-thinks-with-his/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [I think my wife is cheating on me, the only thing the parrot knows how to say is, quick out the window.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-dangerfield/i-think-my-wife-is-cheating-on-me-the-only-thing-the-parrot-knows-how/) [Rodney Dangerfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-dangerfield/) > [I have two dogs and a parrot, so they require a lot of attention. They deserve it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassie-steele/i-have-two-dogs-and-a-parrot-so-they-require-a-lot-of-attention-they/) [Cassie Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassie-steele/) > [If they'd wanted a nice parrot, they wouldn't have asked for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-gottfried/if-they-d-wanted-a-nice-parrot-they-wouldn-t-have-asked-for-me/) [Gilbert Gottfried](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-gottfried/) > [I wanted to get a tape recorder, but I got a parrot instead. I think I did that joke backwards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-wanted-to-get-a-tape-recorder-but-i-got-a-parrot-instead-i-think-i/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [ The parrot holds its food for prim consumption as daintily as any debutante, \[with\] a predilection for pot roast, hashed-brown potatoes, duck skin, butter,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-theroux/the-parrot-holds-its-food-for-prim-consumption-as-daintily-as-any/) [Alexander Theroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-theroux/) > [Cant is the parrot talk of a profession.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/cant-is-the-parrot-talk-of-a-profession/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [Eric Clapton always wanted to come out onstage with a stuffed parrot on his shoulder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-innes/eric-clapton-always-wanted-to-come-out-onstage-with-a-stuffed-parrot/) [Neil Innes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-innes/) > [I don't think you see a pirate with a parrot on his shoulder, for example. And even with the accents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-stevenson/i-don-t-think-you-see-a-pirate-with-a-parrot-on-his-shoulder-for/) [Ray Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-stevenson/) ## 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 Courtesy quotes > [If we accept being talked to any kind of a way, then we are telling ourselves we are not quite worth the best. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/if-we-accept-being-talked-to-any-kind-of-a-way-then-we-are-telling/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [Less of your courtesy and more of your purse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/proverb/less-of-your-courtesy-and-more-of-your-purse/) Proverb > [Dullness is a courteous fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammad-mustafa/dullness-is-a-courteous-fear/) [Mohammad MUSTAFA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammad-mustafa/) > [Lobbying' is the activity of attempting to influence legislation by privately influencing the legislators. It is the result and creation of a mixed economy-of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/lobbying-is-the-activity-of-attempting-to-influence-legislation-by/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [“...a great man who is vicious will only be a great doer of evil, and a rich man who is not liberal will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-cervantes/a-great-man-who-is-vicious-will-only-be-a-great-doer-of-evil-and-a/) Miguel Cervantes > [“I would court you, with all the grace and courtesy that you deserve,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-pacat/i-would-court-you-with-all-the-grace-and-courtesy-that-you-deserve/) [C.S. Pacat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-pacat/) > [The greater the man the greater the courtesy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-the-great/the-greater-the-man-the-greater-the-courtesy/) [Alfred the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-the-great/) > [“Out of all its squalor and human decay, its eruptions of butchery, India produced so many people of grace and beauty, ruled by elaborate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/out-of-all-its-squalor-and-human-decay-its-eruptions-of-butchery/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Show some mercy to this chair which has stretched out its arms to you for so long; please satisfy its desire to embrace you!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moliere/show-some-mercy-to-this-chair-which-has-stretched-out-its-arms-to-you/) [Moliere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moliere/) > [Manners are a sensitive awareness of the feelings of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-post/manners-are-a-sensitive-awareness-of-the-feelings-of-others/) [Emily Post](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-post/) > [His courtesy was somewhat extravagant. He would write and thank people who wrote to thank him for wedding presents and when he encountered anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/his-courtesy-was-somewhat-extravagant-he-would-write-and-thank-people/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [They who sow courtesy reap friendship, and they who plant kindness gather love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-basil/they-who-sow-courtesy-reap-friendship-and-they-who-plant-kindness/) [Saint Basil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-basil/) > [“If a lady offers you a kindness, you absolutely have to accept”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-wallingford/if-a-lady-offers-you-a-kindness-you-absolutely-have-to-accept/) Maria Wallingford > [though I be but the prince of Wales, yet I am king of courtesy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/though-i-be-but-the-prince-of-wales-yet-i-am-king-of-courtesy/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Princes of courtesy, merciful, proud and strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-newbolt/princes-of-courtesy-merciful-proud-and-strong/) [Henry Newbolt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-newbolt/) [Browse all 527 Courtesy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courtesy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think when you go on trial they should have a parrot there that says guilty or not guilty for you, as a sort of courtesy.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jack Handey" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/i-think-when-you-go-on-trial-they-should-have-a-parrot-there-that/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Courtesy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/i-think-when-you-go-on-trial-they-should-have-a-parrot-there-that/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aaa/jack-handey-829_courtesy_i-think-when-you-go-on-trial-they-should_2687563.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aaa/jack-handey-829_courtesy_i-think-when-you-go-on-trial-they-should_2687563.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aaa/jack-handey-829_courtesy_i-think-when-you-go-on-trial-they-should_2687563.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think when you go on trial they should have a parrot there that says guilty or not guilty for you, as a…” — 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": "I think when you go on...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/i-think-when-you-go-on-trial-they-should-have-a-parrot-there-that/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/i-think-when-you-go-on-trial-they-should-have-a-parrot-there-that/#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 } } ] } ```