--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I can't seem to filter myself ever. I…" description: "\"I can't seem to filter myself ever. I used to say when I first started, the unspoken rule was 'no cancer, no AIDS.' But then I started going to hospice..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b86/kathy-griffin-4016_cancer_i-can-t-seem-to-filter-myself-ever-i-use_1864193.png" --- # I can't seem to filter myself ever. I used to say when I… ![“I can't seem to filter myself ever. I used to say when I first started, the unspoken rule was 'no cancer, no AIDS.' But then I started going to hospices and I found that when people are in those kinds of dire situations, they want to hear the joke that is too far,” quote by Kathy Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b86/kathy-griffin-4016_cancer_i-can-t-seem-to-filter-myself-ever-i-use_1864193.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b86/kathy-griffin-4016_cancer_i-can-t-seem-to-filter-myself-ever-i-use_1864193.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b86/kathy-griffin-4016_cancer_i-can-t-seem-to-filter-myself-ever-i-use_1864193.png) > “I can't seem to filter myself ever. I used to say when I first started, the unspoken rule was 'no cancer, no AIDS.' But then I started going to hospices and I found that when people are in those kinds of dire situations, they want to hear the joke that is too far,” [Kathy Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-griffin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Griffin notes that in extreme illness, people may prefer dark humor, challenging the taboo of joking about serious diseases. **In simple terms:** People sometimes want dark jokes in dire times. Key Takeaway Use humor sensitively to ease suffering. Themes humor death taboo Mood empathetic thoughtful Type comedic reflective When to use this quote - hospital care - palliative support - friendship Key Concepts dark comedy coping mechanisms empathy Questions to Reflect On - When is dark humor appropriate? - How can comedians gauge audience comfort? A Different Perspective Humor can offend or hurt vulnerable individuals. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cancer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cancer/) [Cancer Aids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cancer-aids-2530359/) [Going Hospices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going-hospices-2530356/) [Hospices People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hospices-people-2530358/) [Rule Cancer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rule-cancer-2530357/) [Too far](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/too-far/) [Unspoken Rule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unspoken-rule-1141811/) ## Related quotes > [When does life start? When does it end? Who makes these decisions?... Every day, in hospitals and homes and hospices... people are struggling with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/when-does-life-start-when-does-it-end-who-makes-these-decisions-every/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [There's an unspoken rule post-Cold War American Presidents have used when describing the awesome power of our nuclear arsenal; the more devastating the ability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-wilson/there-s-an-unspoken-rule-post-cold-war-american-presidents-have-used/) [Rick Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-wilson/) > [Wizard's Eleventh and Final Rule The "Rule Unspoken", the "Rule Unwritten", "The rule from the beginning of time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-goodkind/wizard-s-eleventh-and-final-rule-the-rule-unspoken-the-rule-unwritten/) [Terry Goodkind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-goodkind/) > [There's kind of an unspoken rule where if you're unpleased with what's going on in the UFC, especially if you don't have a name,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-schaub/there-s-kind-of-an-unspoken-rule-where-if-you-re-unpleased-with-what/) [Brendan Schaub](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-schaub/) > [“The unspoken rule of magic in Zmeyreka— and maybe all of Kievan Rus’— was that if you were going to use it, make sure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sofiya-pasternack/the-unspoken-rule-of-magic-in-zmeyreka-and-maybe-all-of-kievan-rus/) [Sofiya Pasternack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sofiya-pasternack/) > [There is this idea in Hollywood, and I've seen it work for people, where the unspoken rule is 'Do two for them and one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-gosling/there-is-this-idea-in-hollywood-and-i-ve-seen-it-work-for-people/) [Ryan Gosling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-gosling/) > [“We never told on each other. That was an unspoken rule.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenni-rivera/we-never-told-on-each-other-that-was-an-unspoken-rule/) [Jenni Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenni-rivera/) > [You never date someone's ex-boyfriend. Period. That's not even the unspoken rule - that's the spoken rule.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-longoria/you-never-date-someone-s-ex-boyfriend-period-that-s-not-even-the/) [Eva Longoria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-longoria/) > [“If you want to kill me then go ahead, but remember the unspoken rule between us. You are mine, Liam. You belong to me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-mcavoy/if-you-want-to-kill-me-then-go-ahead-but-remember-the-unspoken-rule/) [J.J. McAvoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-mcavoy/) > [If in the middle of an argument I suddenly fall silent it does not mean you have won... No it means you should probably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hussein-nishah/if-in-the-middle-of-an-argument-i-suddenly-fall-silent-it-does-not/) [Hussein Nishah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hussein-nishah/) > [“Not very long ago I was driving with my husband on the back roads of Grey County, which is to the north and east…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-munro/not-very-long-ago-i-was-driving-with-my-husband-on-the-back-roads-of/) [Alice Munro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-munro/) > [All movements go too far.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/all-movements-go-too-far/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [People do want to know the personal things. How far is too far to go with personal lives?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-hart/people-do-want-to-know-the-personal-things-how-far-is-too-far-to-go/) [Mary Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-hart/) > [Sam dropped me off. When she was too far away to see me, I started to cry again. Because she was my friend again.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chbosky/sam-dropped-me-off-when-she-was-too-far-away-to-see-me-i-started-to/) [Stephen Chbosky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chbosky/) > [“Not that it matters, when you dream, there's no outside or in. Your mind is an unimaginable bloom. A willow catkin as big as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-shapero/not-that-it-matters-when-you-dream-there-s-no-outside-or-in-your-mind/) [Rich Shapero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-shapero/) ## More by Kathy Griffin > [Well, the coffeehouse audiences never know what they're going to get, and all the comics are different, as opposed to when you go to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-griffin/well-the-coffeehouse-audiences-never-know-what-they-re-going-to-get/) [Kathy Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-griffin/) > [I hate it, it is tedious... when I write for my act, it is very improvisational, I write bullet points, I cannot sit in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-griffin/i-hate-it-it-is-tedious-when-i-write-for-my-act-it-is-very/) [Kathy Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-griffin/) > [I am an outsider looking in, absolutely. You're not going to see me at the Academy Awards 'Vanity Fair' party any time soon. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-griffin/i-am-an-outsider-looking-in-absolutely-you-re-not-going-to-see-me-at/) [Kathy Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-griffin/) > [ “Presentation was the name of the Catholic church \[my mother's family\] attended, and this is what I love about the Irish: My mother became… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-griffin/presentation-was-the-name-of-the-catholic-church-my-mother-s-family/) [Kathy Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-griffin/) > [“It always pisses me off when I’m calling in to some Morning Zoo radio show to promote God-only-knows what—probably this book, so get ready,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-griffin/it-always-pisses-me-off-when-i-m-calling-in-to-some-morning-zoo-radio/) [Kathy Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-griffin/) > [When my pals in high school were starting to drink, it always looked unappealing to me. I would be at a big party and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-griffin/when-my-pals-in-high-school-were-starting-to-drink-it-always-looked/) [Kathy Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-griffin/) > [I'm always listening and watching; my ear is like a boom mike. And judging, frankly. Constantly judging.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-griffin/i-m-always-listening-and-watching-my-ear-is-like-a-boom-mike-and/) [Kathy Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-griffin/) > [My act is based on my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-griffin/my-act-is-based-on-my-life/) [Kathy Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-griffin/) > [I love to work. I love doing standup.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-griffin/i-love-to-work-i-love-doing-standup/) [Kathy Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-griffin/) > [I can criticize your religion all I want, and you can criticize mine. I don't like this whole climate of, 'You can't ever say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-griffin/i-can-criticize-your-religion-all-i-want-and-you-can-criticize-mine-i/) [Kathy Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-griffin/) > [A lot of celebrities, especially when you're talking about the really big ones, live in what I call the fame bubble. Nobody ever says…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-griffin/a-lot-of-celebrities-especially-when-you-re-talking-about-the-really/) [Kathy Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-griffin/) > [I certainly immerse myself in as many crazy Hollywood events as I can because you never know where you can pick up material.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-griffin/i-certainly-immerse-myself-in-as-many-crazy-hollywood-events-as-i-can/) [Kathy Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-griffin/) > [It was sweaty Whitney (Houston) in Central Park. She knew that park pretty well. Every bush!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-griffin/it-was-sweaty-whitney-houston-in-central-park-she-knew-that-park/) [Kathy Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-griffin/) > [ “We all make our own deals. \[...\] No one knows what happens in a relationship except the two people who are in it.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-griffin/we-all-make-our-own-deals-no-one-knows-what-happens-in-a-relationship/) [Kathy Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-griffin/) > [I prefer big Oprah. I know Oprah wants to be skinny Oprah, but her head is too gigantic to fit on a skinny body.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-griffin/i-prefer-big-oprah-i-know-oprah-wants-to-be-skinny-oprah-but-her-head/) [Kathy Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-griffin/) [Explore all 116 Kathy Griffin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-griffin/) ## More Cancer quotes > [Women still, when they have breast cancer, go to work; they still lead their lives. They have to. I just did what I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-potter/women-still-when-they-have-breast-cancer-go-to-work-they-still-lead/) [Monica Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-potter/) > [If one truly has lost hope, one would not be on hand to say so.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-bentley/if-one-truly-has-lost-hope-one-would-not-be-on-hand-to-say-so/) [Eric Bentley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-bentley/) > [Racism is a cancer. You cannot ignore it and it'll go away. If you ignore cancer, it simply metastasizes and consumes the whole body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daryl-davis/racism-is-a-cancer-you-cannot-ignore-it-and-it-ll-go-away-if-you/) [Daryl Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daryl-davis/) > [Historically, more people have died of religion than cancer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-francis/historically-more-people-have-died-of-religion-than-cancer/) [Dick Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-francis/) > [“Our kind of love can go into remission, but it's always waiting to return. Like the world sweetest cancer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-flynn/our-kind-of-love-can-go-into-remission-but-it-s-always-waiting-to/) [Gillian Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-flynn/) > [Bollywood is a cancer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-banerjee/bollywood-is-a-cancer/) [Victor Banerjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-banerjee/) > [You should be angry. You must not be bitter. 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"those aren't stars. it's cancer." - forty years a smoker”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-lovelace/the-doctor-hesitated-before-breaking-the-news-to-her-those-aren-t/) [Amanda Lovelace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-lovelace/) > [I loved you to the moon and back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-swift/i-loved-you-to-the-moon-and-back/) [Taylor Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-swift/) > [The risk of developing carcinoma of the lung increases steadily as the amount smoked increases. If the risk among non-smokers is taken as unity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-doll/the-risk-of-developing-carcinoma-of-the-lung-increases-steadily-as/) [Richard Doll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-doll/) > [I would do away with super PACs. 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Cancer is very democratic in the sense that it attacks people regardless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-h-koch/the-way-i-look-at-it-is-cancer-research-is-absolutely-nonpartisan/) [David H. Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-h-koch/) [Browse all 3,177 Cancer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cancer/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I can't seem to filter myself ever. I used to say when I first started, the unspoken rule was 'no cancer, no AIDS.' 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