--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you can make someone laugh who's dead…" description: "\"If you can make someone laugh who's dead set against you, that's the first step to winning them over to your side.\" — John Waters" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42b/john-waters-751_first-step_if-you-can-make-someone-laugh-who-s-dead_2712369.jpg" --- # If you can make someone laugh who's dead set against you… ![“If you can make someone laugh who's dead set against you, that's the first step to winning them over to your side.” quote by John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42b/john-waters-751_first-step_if-you-can-make-someone-laugh-who-s-dead_2712369.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42b/john-waters-751_first-step_if-you-can-make-someone-laugh-who-s-dead_2712369.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42b/john-waters-751_first-step_if-you-can-make-someone-laugh-who-s-dead_2712369.jpg) > “If you can make someone laugh who's dead set against you, that's the first step to winning them over to your side.” [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Humor can disarm opponents, opening a path to persuasion and alliance. **In simple terms:** Make enemies laugh to win them over. Key Takeaway Use humor to bridge divides. Themes humor persuasion conflict resolution social dynamics Mood playful strategic Type tactical social When to use this quote - debates - team building - negotiations Key Concepts communication studies psychology political strategy Questions to Reflect On - When is humor inappropriate in conflict? - How do you gauge the right tone? A Different Perspective Humor may be misinterpreted as disrespect. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [First step](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-step/) [First steps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-steps/) [Laugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laugh/) [Make someone laugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-someone-laugh/) [Winning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winning/) ## Related quotes > [Humor is how you change people's opinions, and if you can make someone laugh, they'll listen, even if they hate you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/humor-is-how-you-change-people-s-opinions-and-if-you-can-make-someone/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [Anytime you make someone laugh or satirize something, it's the best way to change someone's opinion because they're defenseless - they laugh, they listen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/anytime-you-make-someone-laugh-or-satirize-something-it-s-the-best/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [If I can make someone laugh, I lift them out of their fundamentally tragic existence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-j-miller/if-i-can-make-someone-laugh-i-lift-them-out-of-their-fundamentally/) [T. J. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-j-miller/) > [If I had a choice, I would do comedy all the time. It's just the most challenging thing. To make someone laugh is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-willis/if-i-had-a-choice-i-would-do-comedy-all-the-time-it-s-just-the-most/) [Bruce Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-willis/) > [Write a smart joke and people want to talk about it and keep the dialogue going. Also, if you can make someone laugh, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lizz-winstead/write-a-smart-joke-and-people-want-to-talk-about-it-and-keep-the/) [Lizz Winstead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lizz-winstead/) > [I love people who make me laugh!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-hepburn/i-love-people-who-make-me-laugh/) [Audrey Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-hepburn/) > [Making people laugh is one of the highest achievements you can have. And when you can make someone laugh and cry, alternatively, as Chaplin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-erwitt/making-people-laugh-is-one-of-the-highest-achievements-you-can-have/) [Elliott Erwitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-erwitt/) > [There's so much living to be squeeze into the cracks of one little day. You can make someone laugh, smile, hope, sing, think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/regina-brett/there-s-so-much-living-to-be-squeeze-into-the-cracks-of-one-little/) [Regina Brett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/regina-brett/) > [Confidence is everything. From there, it's a small step to winning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-stadler/confidence-is-everything-from-there-it-s-a-small-step-to-winning/) Craig Stadler > [“The first step in winning is the willingness to try.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-sonnenberg/the-first-step-in-winning-is-the-willingness-to-try/) [Frank Sonnenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-sonnenberg/) > [I try to make the majority of my audience laugh. That's my audience. They'll laugh at the dead terrorist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-dunham/i-try-to-make-the-majority-of-my-audience-laugh-that-s-my-audience/) [Jeff Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-dunham/) > [“How can I not laugh? I'm already dead.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/how-can-i-not-laugh-i-m-already-dead/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [So,I was told by a so called,''Friend'' (She is a fake ass hoe nowXD) that this kid didn't like me. So,We were talking,He does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasmine-laura/so-i-was-told-by-a-so-called-friend-she-is-a-fake-ass-hoe-nowxd-that/) [Jasmine Laura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasmine-laura/) > [I am more comfortable doing comedy, and I want to perform comedy. When you can really make someone laugh, that's a healing experience. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-tenuta/i-am-more-comfortable-doing-comedy-and-i-want-to-perform-comedy-when/) [Judy Tenuta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-tenuta/) > [I took my first acting class at age 6 because I found out that's what Carol Burnett was doing - acting. Also she had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-lakin/i-took-my-first-acting-class-at-age-6-because-i-found-out-that-s-what/) [Christine Lakin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-lakin/) ## More by John Waters > [There was a cultural war going on, the '60s was going on. All the film critics were square.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/there-was-a-cultural-war-going-on-the-60s-was-going-on-all-the-film/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [I'm here today because of LSD. LSD gave me the confidence to be who I am today. Completely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/i-m-here-today-because-of-lsd-lsd-gave-me-the-confidence-to-be-who-i/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [When I was young, there were bars called the 'Hungry Hole,' and in those same neighbourhoods are now gay people pushing baby carriages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/when-i-was-young-there-were-bars-called-the-hungry-hole-and-in-those/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [True success is figuring out your life and career so you never have to be around jerks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/true-success-is-figuring-out-your-life-and-career-so-you-never-have/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [Around '62 in Baltimore, all the girls had those big hairdos. And then suddenly, a few of the really hip ones started doing their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/around-62-in-baltimore-all-the-girls-had-those-big-hairdos-and-then/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [“John!?” I ask in shock. This woman recognizes me? It can’t be! “How do you know my name?” I wonder out loud. Suddenly she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/john-i-ask-in-shock-this-woman-recognizes-me-it-can-t-be-how-do-you/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > ['Serial Mom' tested really well when we finally got with the right audience. But they would go to some shopping mall in a deep,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/serial-mom-tested-really-well-when-we-finally-got-with-the-right/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [One Christmas, Dennis Dermody, the movie critic of 'Paper,' gave me 'Rock Hudson: A Gathering of Friends,' the master invitation list from Rock Hudson's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/one-christmas-dennis-dermody-the-movie-critic-of-paper-gave-me-rock/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [Many hundred-million-dollar Hollywood comedies aren't any good. They're trying to shock you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/many-hundred-million-dollar-hollywood-comedies-aren-t-any-good-they/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [The Easter Bunny is a major reason for heroin addiction in America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/the-easter-bunny-is-a-major-reason-for-heroin-addiction-in-america/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [To use bad taste, you have to know the rules of good taste. I've always thanked my mother for that. She taught how to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/to-use-bad-taste-you-have-to-know-the-rules-of-good-taste-i-ve-always/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [I'm an old person because I still buy DVDs. I have every one of my albums and 45s - I even have a couple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/i-m-an-old-person-because-i-still-buy-dvds-i-have-every-one-of-my/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [I do like Christmas. I do understand that there are people who hate it, and there are other religions that resent it. So, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/i-do-like-christmas-i-do-understand-that-there-are-people-who-hate-it/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [I love to read about anger. A "feel bad" book always makes me feel good. And no other novel in the history of literature…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/i-love-to-read-about-anger-a-feel-bad-book-always-makes-me-feel-good/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [ Maybe I'll just write books. I'd like to make another movie, but I don't want to go back and \[do\] what they want you… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/maybe-i-ll-just-write-books-i-d-like-to-make-another-movie-but-i-don/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) [Explore all 381 John Waters quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) ## More First step quotes > [Peace is an ongoing process. It begins with the first step and it does not end. 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The first step is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-doblin/the-cultural-integration-of-psychedelics-won-t-happen-overnight-and/) [Rick Doblin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-doblin/) > [“Women create an idealized, hopeful vision for the future to inspire other women. Fiction and fantasy are the crucial first steps to changing the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-rodale/women-create-an-idealized-hopeful-vision-for-the-future-to-inspire/) [Maya Rodale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-rodale/) > [“What liberty we find when we trade self-esteem for God-esteem, relying on what God’s Word says about us rather than looking solely to our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-gallier/what-liberty-we-find-when-we-trade-self-esteem-for-god-esteem-relying/) [Laura Gallier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-gallier/) > [How do you turn the invisible into the visible? The first step is to define your dream precisely; the only limit to what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/how-do-you-turn-the-invisible-into-the-visible-the-first-step-is-to/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [Russia may soon get another chance to move closer to the West, to make a step - I do believe the first step toward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-voinovich/russia-may-soon-get-another-chance-to-move-closer-to-the-west-to-make/) [Vladimir Voinovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-voinovich/) > [The first step toward maintaining autonomy in any programmed environment is to be aware that there's programming going on. It's as simple as understanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-rushkoff/the-first-step-toward-maintaining-autonomy-in-any-programmed/) [Douglas Rushkoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-rushkoff/) > [I can turn an idea into a business before you know it's going to be important. 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