--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Things have to be funny first, and if…" description: "\"Things have to be funny first, and if they want to have a point, that's awesome.\" — John Mulaney" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/915/john-mulaney-7291_awesome_things-have-to-be-funny-first-and-if-the_2455321.jpg" --- # Things have to be funny first, and if they want to have a… ![“Things have to be funny first, and if they want to have a point, that's awesome.” quote by John Mulaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/915/john-mulaney-7291_awesome_things-have-to-be-funny-first-and-if-the_2455321.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/915/john-mulaney-7291_awesome_things-have-to-be-funny-first-and-if-the_2455321.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/915/john-mulaney-7291_awesome_things-have-to-be-funny-first-and-if-the_2455321.jpg) > “Things have to be funny first, and if they want to have a point, that's awesome.” [John Mulaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mulaney/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Humor should lead; any deeper message is a bonus, not a requirement. **In simple terms:** Funny first, point optional. Key Takeaway Prioritize humor, then meaning. Themes comedy communication message Mood playful irreverent Type observational entertainment When to use this quote - stand-up routine - social commentary - viral videos Key Concepts satire audience engagement Questions to Reflect On - Can a joke be both funny and profound? - When does humor undermine the message? A Different Perspective Humor may dilute seriousness of the point. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Awesome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awesome/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) ## Related quotes > [We want to be funny. We want to make people laugh... We'll do whatever it takes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-mochrie/we-want-to-be-funny-we-want-to-make-people-laugh-we-ll-do-whatever-it/) [Colin Mochrie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-mochrie/) > [It's funny we all want to change the world, but, most of us don't put the first foot in the door to do so.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-funny-we-all-want-to-change-the-world-but-most-of-us-don-t-put/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A lot of times girls think they're funny, but they want to pretty at the same time, and if you want to be funny,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-sedaris/a-lot-of-times-girls-think-they-re-funny-but-they-want-to-pretty-at/) [Amy Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-sedaris/) > [I don't feel any pressure to be funny at all. I'm funny because I want to be funny. I could sit here and be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-carrey/i-don-t-feel-any-pressure-to-be-funny-at-all-i-m-funny-because-i-want/) [Jim Carrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-carrey/) > [People are funny. They want the front of the bus, the middle of the road and the back of the church. —Mrs. Miracle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-macomber/people-are-funny-they-want-the-front-of-the-bus-the-middle-of-the/) [Debbie Macomber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-macomber/) > [If I feel you're funny, I want to work with you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-schneider/if-i-feel-you-re-funny-i-want-to-work-with-you/) [Danielle Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-schneider/) > [I'm always in situations where you can't be funny, and yet I want to do it anyway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-heidecker/i-m-always-in-situations-where-you-can-t-be-funny-and-yet-i-want-to/) [Tim Heidecker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-heidecker/) > [There's no great secret or plan, I just think I'm funny and I want to make people laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-kay/there-s-no-great-secret-or-plan-i-just-think-i-m-funny-and-i-want-to/) [Peter Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-kay/) > [I'm funny when I want to be. And I'm even funny when I don't want to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-stritch/i-m-funny-when-i-want-to-be-and-i-m-even-funny-when-i-don-t-want-to-be/) [Elaine Stritch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-stritch/) > [“However, human beings are funny; we always want what we don't have.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/apol-lejano-massebieau/however-human-beings-are-funny-we-always-want-what-we-don-t-have/) [Apol Lejano-Massebieau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/apol-lejano-massebieau/) > [If the audience knows you can be funny when you want to be, they will be willing to wait for that payoff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-cosby/if-the-audience-knows-you-can-be-funny-when-you-want-to-be-they-will/) [Bill Cosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-cosby/) > [I don't want no diamonds, no chocolates and none of your money, I just want you to hold me close and call me honey,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmine-karrit/i-don-t-want-no-diamonds-no-chocolates-and-none-of-your-money-i-just/) Yasmine Karrit > [Funny how I want to skip class in order to study.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/funny-how-i-want-to-skip-class-in-order-to-study/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“It is funny how no one seems to want my always excellent advice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/it-is-funny-how-no-one-seems-to-want-my-always-excellent-advice/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [People are funny, they want the front of the bus, the middle of the road, and the back of the church.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/people-are-funny-they-want-the-front-of-the-bus-the-middle-of-the-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by John Mulaney > [I don't know if there's a strategy really so much as, like I learned doing standup and had to learn fast, you always just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mulaney/i-don-t-know-if-there-s-a-strategy-really-so-much-as-like-i-learned/) [John Mulaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mulaney/) > [I never turn on the crowd. Sometimes, you think it's a terrible show, and then afterward, sometimes people say they really liked it. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mulaney/i-never-turn-on-the-crowd-sometimes-you-think-it-s-a-terrible-show/) [John Mulaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mulaney/) > [If I was at the Comedy Cellar at midnight you yelled at the back of the room. But you, for television, play it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mulaney/if-i-was-at-the-comedy-cellar-at-midnight-you-yelled-at-the-back-of/) [John Mulaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mulaney/) > [Ill book a ticket on some garbage airline. I dont wanna name an actual airline so lets make one up, lets just call it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mulaney/ill-book-a-ticket-on-some-garbage-airline-i-dont-wanna-name-an-actual/) [John Mulaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mulaney/) > [You can't always see both sides of the story. Eventually, you have to pick a side and stick with it. No more equivocating. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mulaney/you-can-t-always-see-both-sides-of-the-story-eventually-you-have-to/) [John Mulaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mulaney/) > [ With the first episode \[of John Mulaney Show\] I tell a story that happened to me accidentally chasing a woman down the subway. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mulaney/with-the-first-episode-of-john-mulaney-show-i-tell-a-story-that/) [John Mulaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mulaney/) > [Part of standup is being loose and having a good time yourself and that translates to the audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mulaney/part-of-standup-is-being-loose-and-having-a-good-time-yourself-and/) [John Mulaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mulaney/) > [Maybe I just have high self-esteem, but I have a lot that I really enjoy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mulaney/maybe-i-just-have-high-self-esteem-but-i-have-a-lot-that-i-really/) [John Mulaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mulaney/) > [I have a lot of stories about being a kid because it was the last time I was interesting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mulaney/i-have-a-lot-of-stories-about-being-a-kid-because-it-was-the-last/) [John Mulaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mulaney/) > [Going on the road for long stretches can seem daunting, and I certainly miss being home sometimes, but the chance to see so many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mulaney/going-on-the-road-for-long-stretches-can-seem-daunting-and-i/) [John Mulaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mulaney/) > [I do longer runs on things, a lot stories. I really like one-liners, I like a lot of different kinds of standup but I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mulaney/i-do-longer-runs-on-things-a-lot-stories-i-really-like-one-liners-i/) [John Mulaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mulaney/) > [I look back on being 17 and think, 'Oh my God, how did I not die?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mulaney/i-look-back-on-being-17-and-think-oh-my-god-how-did-i-not-die/) [John Mulaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mulaney/) > [ If you’re comparing the badness of two words and you won’t even say one of them \[the n-word\], that’s the worse word. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mulaney/if-you-re-comparing-the-badness-of-two-words-and-you-won-t-even-say/) [John Mulaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mulaney/) > [In every case, I find pre-planning noble, but not always that useful in comedy. You know comedy once you're doing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mulaney/in-every-case-i-find-pre-planning-noble-but-not-always-that-useful-in/) [John Mulaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mulaney/) > [Most open-mic experiences I had were okay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mulaney/most-open-mic-experiences-i-had-were-okay/) [John Mulaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mulaney/) [Explore all 92 John Mulaney quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mulaney/) ## More Awesome quotes > [It would be awesome to play in my backyard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashleigh-barty/it-would-be-awesome-to-play-in-my-backyard/) [Ashleigh Barty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashleigh-barty/) > [“I had a dream. I had an awesome dream.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-had-a-dream-i-had-an-awesome-dream/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Merlin' was awesome, but the costumes would drive you insane. Every day, you'd get into chain mail and wear 30 pounds of that stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-macken/merlin-was-awesome-but-the-costumes-would-drive-you-insane-every-day/) [Eoin Macken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-macken/) > [Literally, 'Dance Moms' was so amazing, and I have the world to thank for that. They were so awesome - the set, the cast,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jojo-siwa/literally-dance-moms-was-so-amazing-and-i-have-the-world-to-thank-for/) [JoJo Siwa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jojo-siwa/) > ['Smallville' was a really awesome opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-witwer/smallville-was-a-really-awesome-opportunity/) [Samuel Witwer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-witwer/) > [Why does the Internet get Awesome when I have work to do?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/why-does-the-internet-get-awesome-when-i-have-work-to-do/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you're going to do a job, do it right. If you're going to throw a birthday party, make it amazing. If you're going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-john-liautaud/if-you-re-going-to-do-a-job-do-it-right-if-you-re-going-to-throw-a/) [Jimmy John Liautaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-john-liautaud/) > [It was awesome because we were doing Ramones songs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-lowry/it-was-awesome-because-we-were-doing-ramones-songs/) [Mike Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-lowry/) > [Need to go to the pharmacy, because I'm so sick!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tasha-matthews/need-to-go-to-the-pharmacy-because-i-m-so-sick/) Tasha Matthews > [February 18 is the most awesome day of the year!!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yo-chica15/february-18-is-the-most-awesome-day-of-the-year/) [Yo-chica15](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yo-chica15/) > [At comedy festivals, we always get grouped with other musical comedians, so you can get to know them and see what everyone is doing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-micucci/at-comedy-festivals-we-always-get-grouped-with-other-musical/) [Kate Micucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-micucci/) > ['Dancing with the Stars' is awesome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sabrina-bryan/dancing-with-the-stars-is-awesome/) [Sabrina Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sabrina-bryan/) > [People forget we've got awesome entrepreneurs all over the country, especially in the North East.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-davies/people-forget-we-ve-got-awesome-entrepreneurs-all-over-the-country/) [Sara Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-davies/) > [Seeing how the kids react to you is pretty awesome. Not necessarily that they're star struck, but they're shy. They're kids. They don't know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-rendon/seeing-how-the-kids-react-to-you-is-pretty-awesome-not-necessarily/) [Anthony Rendon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-rendon/) > [I think a superhero would be awesome to play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maika-monroe/i-think-a-superhero-would-be-awesome-to-play/) [Maika Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maika-monroe/) [Browse all 1,244 Awesome quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awesome/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Things have to be funny first, and if they want to have a point, that's awesome.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Mulaney" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mulaney/things-have-to-be-funny-first-and-if-they-want-to-have-a-point-that-s/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Awesome" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mulaney/things-have-to-be-funny-first-and-if-they-want-to-have-a-point-that-s/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/915/john-mulaney-7291_awesome_things-have-to-be-funny-first-and-if-the_2455321.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/915/john-mulaney-7291_awesome_things-have-to-be-funny-first-and-if-the_2455321.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/915/john-mulaney-7291_awesome_things-have-to-be-funny-first-and-if-the_2455321.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Things have to be funny first, and if they want to have a point, that's awesome.” — John Mulaney", "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": "John Mulaney", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mulaney/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Things have to be funny first,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mulaney/things-have-to-be-funny-first-and-if-they-want-to-have-a-point-that-s/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mulaney/things-have-to-be-funny-first-and-if-they-want-to-have-a-point-that-s/#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 } } ] } ```