--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I hate to lull the audience into letting…" description: "\"I hate to lull the audience into letting them think that something is something. It's always fun to defy expectations.\" — Martin Short" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0e/martin-short-9945_audience_i-hate-to-lull-the-audience-into-letting_1573649.jpg" --- # I hate to lull the audience into letting them think that… ![“I hate to lull the audience into letting them think that something is something. It's always fun to defy expectations.” quote by Martin Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0e/martin-short-9945_audience_i-hate-to-lull-the-audience-into-letting_1573649.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0e/martin-short-9945_audience_i-hate-to-lull-the-audience-into-letting_1573649.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0e/martin-short-9945_audience_i-hate-to-lull-the-audience-into-letting_1573649.jpg) > “I hate to lull the audience into letting them think that something is something. It's always fun to defy expectations.” [Martin Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-short/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker enjoys surprising people by challenging their assumptions and subverting expectations. **In simple terms:** He likes to surprise and defy what people expect. Key Takeaway Embrace the unexpected. Themes humor creativity expectation management Mood playful provocative Type humorous inspirational When to use this quote - stand‑up comedy - marketing campaigns - teaching - product launches Key Concepts psychology of surprise performance art Questions to Reflect On - How can you use surprise responsibly? - When does defying expectations backfire? A Different Perspective Risk of alienating audience if surprise feels forced. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) [Expectations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expectations/) [Fun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fun/) [Hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hate/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [We'll do what life always does defy expectations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-charles-wilson/we-ll-do-what-life-always-does-defy-expectations/) [Robert Charles Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-charles-wilson/) > [“It is in all of us to defy expectations, to go into the world and to be brave, and to want, to need, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-chevrette/it-is-in-all-of-us-to-defy-expectations-to-go-into-the-world-and-to/) Mae Chevrette > [I'm an actor. I can do whatever I want. As an actor, not everything has to be the most obvious choice. And sometimes, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vin-diesel/i-m-an-actor-i-can-do-whatever-i-want-as-an-actor-not-everything-has/) [Vin Diesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vin-diesel/) > [I decided that I would defy expectations, be it those put on me by society, race, socioeconomic status, or my father.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-tubbs/i-decided-that-i-would-defy-expectations-be-it-those-put-on-me-by/) [Michael Tubbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-tubbs/) > [I love doing action. Since I'm not 21, there's some, 'Let me get to the gym so I can do it.' But I love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-bassett/i-love-doing-action-since-i-m-not-21-there-s-some-let-me-get-to-the/) [Angela Bassett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-bassett/) > [I think that sometimes when they see me in a movie they expect me to be something nasty. I mean, I play a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-walken/i-think-that-sometimes-when-they-see-me-in-a-movie-they-expect-me-to/) [Christopher Walken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-walken/) > [I like showing people I can do something they wouldn't have pegged me as being able to do. I've always wanted to defy expectations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-leong/i-like-showing-people-i-can-do-something-they-wouldn-t-have-pegged-me/) [Melissa Leong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-leong/) > [I remember watching the Tony Awards as a young girl, thinking I would never get that far but, in my heart, wanting so badly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-louderman/i-remember-watching-the-tony-awards-as-a-young-girl-thinking-i-would/) [Taylor Louderman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-louderman/) > [What I try to do is defy expectations in terms of boundaries, whether it is high or low art, pop culture, or fine-art culture.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kehinde-wiley/what-i-try-to-do-is-defy-expectations-in-terms-of-boundaries-whether/) [Kehinde Wiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kehinde-wiley/) > [“I live to defy y'all's expectations.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-ryan/i-live-to-defy-y-all-s-expectations/) [Sara Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-ryan/) > [I hate acting when I see it. I don't want to feel it, I don't want to see it, I want to be taken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-hauer/i-hate-acting-when-i-see-it-i-don-t-want-to-feel-it-i-don-t-want-to/) [Rutger Hauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-hauer/) > [I hate and I love, and who can tell me why?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catullus/i-hate-and-i-love-and-who-can-tell-me-why/) [Catullus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catullus/) > [I'm a bit of a Luddite and I hate the internet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsty-gallacher/i-m-a-bit-of-a-luddite-and-i-hate-the-internet/) [Kirsty Gallacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsty-gallacher/) > [“I hate the way you talk to me And the way you cut your hair I hate the way you drive my car I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/i-hate-the-way-you-talk-to-me-and-the-way-you-cut-your-hair-i-hate/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [Don't incriminate yourself. You got the Twitter. I hate twitter. It should be some exclusivity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-price/don-t-incriminate-yourself-you-got-the-twitter-i-hate-twitter-it/) [Sean Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-price/) ## More by Martin Short > [I was a huge fan of Steve Martin, as everyone I knew in comedy was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-short/i-was-a-huge-fan-of-steve-martin-as-everyone-i-knew-in-comedy-was/) [Martin Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-short/) > [The mark of the man is how he responds to situations. You're not going to avoid tough times. We're all over the barrel some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-short/the-mark-of-the-man-is-how-he-responds-to-situations-you-re-not-going/) [Martin Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-short/) > [I'm an actor who loves doing comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-short/i-m-an-actor-who-loves-doing-comedy/) [Martin Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-short/) > [If you have wonderful moments, don't second-guess them, just enjoy them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-short/if-you-have-wonderful-moments-don-t-second-guess-them-just-enjoy-them/) [Martin Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-short/) > [Sometimes people get passionate about the obscure jokes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-short/sometimes-people-get-passionate-about-the-obscure-jokes/) [Martin Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-short/) > [Comedy is a weird thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-short/comedy-is-a-weird-thing/) [Martin Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-short/) > [My job is not to analyze my career. But I am proud of the amount of work I've done and the amount of commitment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-short/my-job-is-not-to-analyze-my-career-but-i-am-proud-of-the-amount-of/) [Martin Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-short/) > [Someone once asked me what was the weirdest question I was ever asked. And I was stymied.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-short/someone-once-asked-me-what-was-the-weirdest-question-i-was-ever-asked/) [Martin Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-short/) > [A musical is only as good as its director. The same can also be said for the CIA.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-short/a-musical-is-only-as-good-as-its-director-the-same-can-also-be-said/) [Martin Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-short/) > [Why does 'I Love Lucy' still make people laugh? Because she's a specific character who has real reactions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-short/why-does-i-love-lucy-still-make-people-laugh-because-she-s-a-specific/) [Martin Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-short/) > [I have sometimes imagined my own death and brought myself to tears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-short/i-have-sometimes-imagined-my-own-death-and-brought-myself-to-tears/) [Martin Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-short/) > [There was an era when people would turn on their radio and hear a radio drama. Now, you could be as scared by that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-short/there-was-an-era-when-people-would-turn-on-their-radio-and-hear-a/) [Martin Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-short/) > [Trump is Trump. Some people find him hilarious. I don't find it hilarious, but you can't say it's dull. There's nothing credible about Donald…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-short/trump-is-trump-some-people-find-him-hilarious-i-don-t-find-it/) [Martin Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-short/) > [I'm totally aware of how lucky I am. I have health, family, children. I do work that gives me total joy and allows me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-short/i-m-totally-aware-of-how-lucky-i-am-i-have-health-family-children-i/) [Martin Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-short/) > [One of my great influences was Don Knotts as Barney Fife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-short/one-of-my-great-influences-was-don-knotts-as-barney-fife/) [Martin Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-short/) [Explore all 69 Martin Short quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-short/) ## More Audience quotes > [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/) [Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/) > [It's those moments, those odd moments that you look for and sometimes by creating this kind of loose atmosphere you find those little moments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-levinson/it-s-those-moments-those-odd-moments-that-you-look-for-and-sometimes/) [Barry Levinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-levinson/) > [I can skate beautifully. While performing on ice I always try to please the audience and to win as well. Being artistic is very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evgeni-plushenko/i-can-skate-beautifully-while-performing-on-ice-i-always-try-to/) [Evgeni Plushenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evgeni-plushenko/) > [One of the best moments of any Liars show is hearing the crowd squawk 'We're doomed! We're doomed!' on cue during 'We Fenced Other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-sheffield/one-of-the-best-moments-of-any-liars-show-is-hearing-the-crowd-squawk/) [Rob Sheffield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-sheffield/) > [It's the adrenaline rush you only get from being in front of an audience. It's addictive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raphael-saadiq/it-s-the-adrenaline-rush-you-only-get-from-being-in-front-of-an/) [Raphael Saadiq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raphael-saadiq/) > [If I had to speak in front of a Korean audience, I would be hard pressed to sound other than a little girl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/an-na/if-i-had-to-speak-in-front-of-a-korean-audience-i-would-be-hard/) [An Na](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/an-na/) > [The liveness of theater, and the excitement of experiencing it alongside an audience, is something you can't get at home. That makes the theater…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-blaemire/the-liveness-of-theater-and-the-excitement-of-experiencing-it/) [Nick Blaemire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-blaemire/) > [One of the things that touches me most when I play for an audience is that although we may be unable to communicate in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hough/one-of-the-things-that-touches-me-most-when-i-play-for-an-audience-is/) [Stephen Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hough/) > [I have to feel the audience. I enjoy that feeling of community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-gahan/i-have-to-feel-the-audience-i-enjoy-that-feeling-of-community/) [Dave Gahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-gahan/) > [When you lived it for years and years and years and seen different characters just get pummeled and squashed because 'I said so,' it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arn-anderson/when-you-lived-it-for-years-and-years-and-years-and-seen-different/) [Arn Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arn-anderson/) > [“During the first few minutes of your presentation, your job is to assure the audience members that you are not going to waste their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-ludwig-and-greg-owen-boger/during-the-first-few-minutes-of-your-presentation-your-job-is-to/) [Dale Ludwig and Greg Owen-Boger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-ludwig-and-greg-owen-boger/) > [Donald Trump is a different ball of wax. I've been trying to say for I don't know how many months now that the traditional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/donald-trump-is-a-different-ball-of-wax-i-ve-been-trying-to-say-for-i/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [I don't think about who the audience is for my books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/i-don-t-think-about-who-the-audience-is-for-my-books/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [I feel I have been playing all primary characters. And if your character forms a connect with the audience, it doesn't matter if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angad-bedi/i-feel-i-have-been-playing-all-primary-characters-and-if-your/) [Angad Bedi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angad-bedi/) > [When I was playing piano, it was like, 'I'm going to write a song using all the white keys.' My music director, who knew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tesh/when-i-was-playing-piano-it-was-like-i-m-going-to-write-a-song-using/) [John Tesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tesh/) [Browse all 9,118 Audience quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I hate to lull the audience into letting them think that something is something. 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