---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: -Hardly knowing what i was doing, i began…"
description: "\"“-Hardly knowing what i was doing, i began to hit the table with one hand as i sang in a low voice. Big cows\" -thump- \"lumps of meat\" -thump. His widen..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0cc/julianne-donaldson-10666_laughter_hardly-knowing-what-i-was-doing-i-began_50003.jpg"
---

#  -Hardly knowing what i was doing, i began to hit the table…

![“-Hardly knowing what i was doing, i began to hit the table with one hand as i sang in a low voice. Big cows" -thump- "lumps of meat" -thump. His widened. "Give me milk" -thump- "warm and sweet." I stopped abruptly, pressing my lips together as I realized what I had just sung. The ridiculousness of…” quote by Julianne Donaldson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0cc/julianne-donaldson-10666_laughter_hardly-knowing-what-i-was-doing-i-began_50003.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0cc/julianne-donaldson-10666_laughter_hardly-knowing-what-i-was-doing-i-began_50003.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0cc/julianne-donaldson-10666_laughter_hardly-knowing-what-i-was-doing-i-began_50003.jpg)

> ““-Hardly knowing what i was doing, i began to hit the table with one hand as i sang in a low voice. Big cows" -thump- "lumps of meat" -thump. His widened. "Give me milk" -thump- "warm and sweet." I stopped abruptly, pressing my lips together as I realized what I had just sung. The ridiculousness of it struck me forcibly and I knew I could not goon without laughing. We stared at each other,locked in a stalemate, his eyes brimming with laughter, his lips trembling. My chin quivered. Against my will, a sound burst from me. It was a very unladylike snort.-””

[Julianne Donaldson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-donaldson/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A moment of spontaneous, absurd performance reveals how humor can break tension and expose our inner child, prompting self‑awareness through laughter.

**In simple terms:** Absurd humor uncovers hidden feelings.

Key Takeaway

Laughter can dissolve awkwardness.

Themes

humor self‑awareness spontaneity vulnerability joy

Mood

playful embarrassed amused

Type

anecdotal reflective

When to use this quote

- improvised performance
- unexpected laughter
- social standoff
- self‑consciousness

Key Concepts

absurdity performance social interaction embarrassment

Practical Applications

- using humor to ease tension
- creative writing exercises

Questions to Reflect On

- What does the sudden laughter reveal about the characters?
- How can absurdity be used to confront discomfort?

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Laughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laughter/)

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> [You have to start laughing at yourself at some point.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-mcvie/you-have-to-start-laughing-at-yourself-at-some-point/)

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[Tina Fey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-fey/)

> [Women liked me because I made them laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickey-rooney/women-liked-me-because-i-made-them-laugh/)

[Mickey Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickey-rooney/)

> [ A mind conscious of right laughs at the falsehoods of rumour. \[Lat., Conscia mens recti famae mendacia risit.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/a-mind-conscious-of-right-laughs-at-the-falsehoods-of-rumour-lat/)

[Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/)

> [Nothing's funnier to me than laughing at myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-mcgraw/nothing-s-funnier-to-me-than-laughing-at-myself/)

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[Ignatius of Loyola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ignatius-of-loyola/)

> [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/)

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## More by Julianne Donaldson

> [“My heart would obey me, I was certain. I simply needed to be strict with it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-donaldson/my-heart-would-obey-me-i-was-certain-i-simply-needed-to-be-strict/)

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[Julianne Donaldson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-donaldson/)

> [“I know my heart. It has always been yours, Kate. Always.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-donaldson/i-know-my-heart-it-has-always-been-yours-kate-always/)

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[Explore all 64 Julianne Donaldson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-donaldson/)

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> [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/)

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