--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The intention is to make people laugh, to…" description: "\"The intention is to make people laugh, to make people happy. It's unselfish, it's in the service of others, and as a comedian you are making yourself v..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8dd/margaret-cho-1136_comedian_the-intention-is-to-make-people-laugh-to_2980507.png" --- # The intention is to make people laugh, to make people… ![“The intention is to make people laugh, to make people happy. It's unselfish, it's in the service of others, and as a comedian you are making yourself vulnerable in order to make others happy. And it has a transformative power.” quote by Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8dd/margaret-cho-1136_comedian_the-intention-is-to-make-people-laugh-to_2980507.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8dd/margaret-cho-1136_comedian_the-intention-is-to-make-people-laugh-to_2980507.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8dd/margaret-cho-1136_comedian_the-intention-is-to-make-people-laugh-to_2980507.png) > “The intention is to make people laugh, to make people happy. It's unselfish, it's in the service of others, and as a comedian you are making yourself vulnerable in order to make others happy. And it has a transformative power.” [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Comedy aims to bring joy, requiring self‑exposure and serving others, which can change both performer and audience. **In simple terms:** Comedy seeks joy by exposing the self for others. Key Takeaway Embrace vulnerability to uplift others. Themes humor service vulnerability transformation Mood joyful reflective hopeful Type inspirational philosophical humorous When to use this quote - stand‑up shows - team building workshops - therapy sessions - public speaking - online content creation Key Concepts empathy social connection psychology Questions to Reflect On - How does vulnerability affect your comedic voice? - When can humor become harmful? A Different Perspective If the audience is hostile, humor can backfire and deepen isolation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Comedian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedian/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Intention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intention/) [Laugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laugh/) [Make others happy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-others-happy/) [Making people happy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/making-people-happy/) [Making people laugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/making-people-laugh/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [As a comedian you are making yourself vulnerable in order to make others happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/as-a-comedian-you-are-making-yourself-vulnerable-in-order-to-make/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [As a comedian, you're making so many observations, so many measurements. You might catch someone's eyes as you're telling a joke, and they can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-lock/as-a-comedian-you-re-making-so-many-observations-so-many-measurements/) [Sean Lock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-lock/) > [A happy disposition is largely a disposition to make others happy. One life permeates all things, and there is no corner of the cosmos…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-happy-disposition-is-largely-a-disposition-to-make-others-happy-one/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Give what you want to receive. If you want happiness, make others happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-simmons/give-what-you-want-to-receive-if-you-want-happiness-make-others-happy/) [Russell Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-simmons/) > [Don't sell out who you really are to make others happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-dee-messina/don-t-sell-out-who-you-really-are-to-make-others-happy/) [Jo Dee Messina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-dee-messina/) > [You must love yourself before you love another. By accepting yourself and fully being what you are, your simple presence can make others happy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/you-must-love-yourself-before-you-love-another-by-accepting-yourself/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [By accepting yourself and being fully what you are, your presence can make others happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-roberts/by-accepting-yourself-and-being-fully-what-you-are-your-presence-can/) [Jane Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-roberts/) > [I've found that there is always some beauty left-in nature, sunshine, freedom, in yourself; these can all help you. Look at these things, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-frank/i-ve-found-that-there-is-always-some-beauty-left-in-nature-sunshine-2/) [Anne Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-frank/) > [You will never live if you are looking for the meaning of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/you-will-never-live-if-you-are-looking-for-the-meaning-of-life/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [During the year 1957, I experienced, by the grace of God, a spiritual awakening which was to lead me to a richer, fuller, more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-coltrane/during-the-year-1957-i-experienced-by-the-grace-of-god-a-spiritual/) [John Coltrane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-coltrane/) > [For what pleasure can compare the pleasure of bringing joy and hope to other hearts. The more we make others happy the greater will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shoghi-effendi/for-what-pleasure-can-compare-the-pleasure-of-bringing-joy-and-hope/) [Shoghi Effendi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shoghi-effendi/) > [“Making others happy can give us happiness. I treated the staff in a restaurant to a plate of Momos. Little things can make our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avijeet-das/making-others-happy-can-give-us-happiness-i-treated-the-staff-in-a/) [Avijeet Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avijeet-das/) > [If you want happiness for a year, inherit a fortune. If you want happiness for a lifetime, help someone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/if-you-want-happiness-for-a-year-inherit-a-fortune-if-you-want/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [We have two choices in life: One is to fulfill ourselves. The other is to take the time and energy that we would utilize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/we-have-two-choices-in-life-one-is-to-fulfill-ourselves-the-other-is/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [The greatest happiness in the world is to make others happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-burbank/the-greatest-happiness-in-the-world-is-to-make-others-happy/) [Luther Burbank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-burbank/) ## More by Margaret Cho > [As a child, I had a lot of older gay men taking care of me. There's a trust there. I feel like little girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/as-a-child-i-had-a-lot-of-older-gay-men-taking-care-of-me-there-s-a/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [I'm super-obsessed with 'Intervention.' I wrote a song about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/i-m-super-obsessed-with-intervention-i-wrote-a-song-about-it/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [I have 3 dogs myself - I actually have a kennel license in order to do so. I love them so much I couldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/i-have-3-dogs-myself-i-actually-have-a-kennel-license-in-order-to-do/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [I think self-deprecation is such a disease, and I want to cure everybody of it and so that's my contribution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/i-think-self-deprecation-is-such-a-disease-and-i-want-to-cure/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [I don't like pot anymore -- I forget why.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/i-don-t-like-pot-anymore-i-forget-why/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [I'm not a mom, but I think the word 'mother' is about wisdom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/i-m-not-a-mom-but-i-think-the-word-mother-is-about-wisdom/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [That we are selfish gives us the opportunity to gain the power so that, in time, we might be selfless. To give back what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/that-we-are-selfish-gives-us-the-opportunity-to-gain-the-power-so/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [Why can't all different types of women be considered beautiful? Why can't we can't we all be considered possible love interests?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/why-can-t-all-different-types-of-women-be-considered-beautiful-why/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [I think that failure is just as important as success. In a way, failure is a kind of success if you can look at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/i-think-that-failure-is-just-as-important-as-success-in-a-way-failure/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [I could never make a joke about somebody unless I could say it to their face and they'd laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/i-could-never-make-a-joke-about-somebody-unless-i-could-say-it-to/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [Sometimes when we are generous in small, barely detectable ways it can change someone else's life forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/sometimes-when-we-are-generous-in-small-barely-detectable-ways-it-can/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [ Something as important as marriage equality, which is now a constitutional right \[in the USA\], is something that cannot be denied. It's also very… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/something-as-important-as-marriage-equality-which-is-now-a/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [It's not the best between my family and me. There are so many crimes left unpunished, debts unpaid, white elephants in the middle of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/it-s-not-the-best-between-my-family-and-me-there-are-so-many-crimes/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [It's okay for you to have relationships, but it's not okay to talk about them. It's not okay to be out or to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/it-s-okay-for-you-to-have-relationships-but-it-s-not-okay-to-talk/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [My attitude toward peace does not depend on which war we are discussing. I think that words should do the work of bombs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/my-attitude-toward-peace-does-not-depend-on-which-war-we-are/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) [Explore all 285 Margaret Cho quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) ## More Comedian quotes > [I would say most comedians have a very cynical worldview of the way the world can work. It's almost like if you didn't, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-quinn/i-would-say-most-comedians-have-a-very-cynical-worldview-of-the-way/) [Colin Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-quinn/) > [At one point when I was very young, when I was first starting out, I thought, 'Well, one day I'll be able to put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/at-one-point-when-i-was-very-young-when-i-was-first-starting-out-i/) [Bo Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/) > [I like to turn up my collar when I'm leaving the theatre and feel like I'm some heroic comedian figure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-skinner/i-like-to-turn-up-my-collar-when-i-m-leaving-the-theatre-and-feel/) [Frank Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-skinner/) > [The only difference between a comedian and someone else? We need to make people laugh more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-davies/the-only-difference-between-a-comedian-and-someone-else-we-need-to/) [Greg Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-davies/) > [When a soldier of the night's watch dies they say, "And now his watch is over." That's what they say when a comedian dies.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-williams/when-a-soldier-of-the-night-s-watch-dies-they-say-and-now-his-watch/) [Brad Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-williams/) > [My mom is two people to me. She's my mom number one, and then she's this lady most comedians know as being a legendary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauly-shore/my-mom-is-two-people-to-me-she-s-my-mom-number-one-and-then-she-s/) [Pauly Shore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauly-shore/) > [If I had a choice, I would rather watch a comedian not involve themselves in politics at all but be hilarious than someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-richardson/if-i-had-a-choice-i-would-rather-watch-a-comedian-not-involve/) [Jon Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-richardson/) > [I wouldn't mind gigging around the same era as Jesus, after he gives his speech about the meek and how blessed they are and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-jefferies/i-wouldn-t-mind-gigging-around-the-same-era-as-jesus-after-he-gives/) [Jim Jefferies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-jefferies/) > [If someone doesn't like a comedian that's fine; a lot of people probably don't like my standup, and that's fine. But I think that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-norton/if-someone-doesn-t-like-a-comedian-that-s-fine-a-lot-of-people/) [Jim Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-norton/) > [It's very rare that an older comedian sort of slips into an old-school clunker. You know, you don't hear too much of that anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-ross/it-s-very-rare-that-an-older-comedian-sort-of-slips-into-an-old/) [Jeff Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-ross/) > [I was a kid, and I would watch standup comics do the 'Tonight Show,' and if Johnny Carson liked you, he'd wave you over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-koy/i-was-a-kid-and-i-would-watch-standup-comics-do-the-tonight-show-and/) [Jo Koy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-koy/) > [Gary Greenberg is a thoughtful comedian and a cranky philosopher and a humble pest of a reporter, equal parts Woody Allen, Kierkegaard, and Columbo.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gideon-lewis-kraus/gary-greenberg-is-a-thoughtful-comedian-and-a-cranky-philosopher-and/) [Gideon Lewis-Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gideon-lewis-kraus/) > [For me, comedians are like the epitome for everything great, and they terrify me. I just want to be them. I want to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tatiana-maslany/for-me-comedians-are-like-the-epitome-for-everything-great-and-they/) [Tatiana Maslany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tatiana-maslany/) > [No matter what town we went to, if there was a comedian playing, I'd go watch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-waltrip/no-matter-what-town-we-went-to-if-there-was-a-comedian-playing-i-d-go/) [Michael Waltrip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-waltrip/) > [I'm a comedian who happens to be Latino. What's the difference? The difference is, my special will air on Comedy Central, not Telemundo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-iglesias/i-m-a-comedian-who-happens-to-be-latino-what-s-the-difference-the/) [Gabriel Iglesias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-iglesias/) [Browse all 1,775 Comedian quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedian/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The intention is to make people laugh, to make people happy. It's unselfish, it's in the service of others, and as a comedian you are making yourself vulnerable in order to make others happy. 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