--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It was almost funny. Life seemed…" description: "\"It was almost funny. Life seemed downright accidental in its brevity, and death a punch line to a lousy joke.\" — Maureen Johnson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ccc/maureen-johnson-1282_brevity_it-was-almost-funny-life-seemed-downrigh_2733566.png" --- # It was almost funny. Life seemed downright accidental in… ![“It was almost funny. Life seemed downright accidental in its brevity, and death a punch line to a lousy joke.” quote by Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ccc/maureen-johnson-1282_brevity_it-was-almost-funny-life-seemed-downrigh_2733566.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ccc/maureen-johnson-1282_brevity_it-was-almost-funny-life-seemed-downrigh_2733566.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ccc/maureen-johnson-1282_brevity_it-was-almost-funny-life-seemed-downrigh_2733566.png) > “It was almost funny. Life seemed downright accidental in its brevity, and death a punch line to a lousy joke.” [Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/) ## 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 finds life absurdly brief and death a punchline, highlighting the dark humor in life's fleeting nature. **In simple terms:** Life is brief; death is a dark joke. Key Takeaway Find humor in life's absurdity. Themes philosophy humor existence mortality absurdity Mood wry thoughtful Type philosophical humorous When to use this quote - writing - stand‑up comedy - therapy - philosophical counseling Key Concepts existential reflection dark comedy life appreciation Questions to Reflect On - How does humor help cope with mortality? - What makes life feel absurd? A Different Perspective Humor may not suit all audiences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accidental Brevity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accidental-brevity-2972841/) [Brevity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brevity/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Downright Accidental](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/downright-accidental-2972840/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Funny life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny-life/) [Joke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joke/) [Jokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jokes/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Lines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lines/) [Lousy Joke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lousy-joke-2972839/) [Punch line](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/punch-line/) ## Related quotes > [I've been funny my whole life. This is a gift God gave me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-morgan/i-ve-been-funny-my-whole-life-this-is-a-gift-god-gave-me/) [Tracy Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-morgan/) > [We are all here on earth to help others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/we-are-all-here-on-earth-to-help-others/) [W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) > [My routine isn't so much dreaming up the comedy as just seeing what happens to me. I seem to be leading a very funny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pinette/my-routine-isn-t-so-much-dreaming-up-the-comedy-as-just-seeing-what/) [John Pinette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pinette/) > [There are no guaranties in life except for death and this: When you leave the house looking like total crap, you're going to run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-s/there-are-no-guaranties-in-life-except-for-death-and-this-when-you/) [Laura S](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-s/) > [Two wrongs don't make a right…but it does make it even.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/two-wrongs-don-t-make-a-right-but-it-does-make-it-even/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life isn't a cabaret. It's a dive bar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-paige/life-isn-t-a-cabaret-it-s-a-dive-bar/) [Woody Paige](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-paige/) > [Life is a crowded superhighway with bewildering cloverleaf exits on which a man is liable to find himself speeding back in the direction he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-de-vries/life-is-a-crowded-superhighway-with-bewildering-cloverleaf-exits-on/) [Peter De Vries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-de-vries/) > [There is nothing more miserable in the world than to arrive in paradise and look like your passport photo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erma-bombeck/there-is-nothing-more-miserable-in-the-world-than-to-arrive-in/) [Erma Bombeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erma-bombeck/) > [What fills us is real, sweet, dopey, funny life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/what-fills-us-is-real-sweet-dopey-funny-life/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [I think all good drama is funny. All the best drama is ultimately very funny. Life is funny. You can't have any honest treatise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jane/i-think-all-good-drama-is-funny-all-the-best-drama-is-ultimately-very/) [Thomas Jane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jane/) > [An autobiography is the story of how a man thinks he lived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/an-autobiography-is-the-story-of-how-a-man-thinks-he-lived/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you are courting a nice girl an hour seems like a second.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/when-you-are-courting-a-nice-girl-an-hour-seems-like-a-second/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Life is a bitch, but mine is a diva.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-a-bitch-but-mine-is-a-diva/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Don't take life too seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupaul/don-t-take-life-too-seriously/) [RuPaul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupaul/) > [Life is a nacho. It can be yummy-crunchy or squishy-yucky. It just depends on how long it takes for you to start eating it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-updike/life-is-a-nacho-it-can-be-yummy-crunchy-or-squishy-yucky-it-just/) [John Updike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-updike/) ## More by Maureen Johnson > [“Knowledge is the heaviest weight of all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/knowledge-is-the-heaviest-weight-of-all/) [Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/) > [There is no normal. I've never met a normal person. The concept is flawed. It implies that there is only one way people are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/there-is-no-normal-i-ve-never-met-a-normal-person-the-concept-is/) [Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/) > [I may have been a complete lunatic, but I was a complete lunatic with manners.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/i-may-have-been-a-complete-lunatic-but-i-was-a-complete-lunatic-with/) [Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/) > [This kind of thing always amazed Ginny--people who just walked away from institutions. People who left school when they didn't see the point. Aunt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/this-kind-of-thing-always-amazed-ginny-people-who-just-walked-away/) [Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/) > [Did you hear?" he asked. "They found another body around nine this morning. It's the Ripper, definitely." "Good morning," I replied. "Morning. Listen to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/did-you-hear-he-asked-they-found-another-body-around-nine-this/) [Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/) > [She was standing in the airport of Copenhagen, staring at a doorway, trying to figure out if it was (a) a bathroom and (b)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/she-was-standing-in-the-airport-of-copenhagen-staring-at-a-doorway/) [Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/) > [When I worked in theater, I was always writing things on Post-it Notes and sticking them on screens or desks. Twitter has given me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/when-i-worked-in-theater-i-was-always-writing-things-on-post-it-notes/) [Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/) > [She had always thought applying to college would be exciting. Living away from home, meeting so many new people, Learning new things, making a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/she-had-always-thought-applying-to-college-would-be-exciting-living/) [Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/) > [“Vitamin D,” Stevie said. “You need it.” “You don’t know that,” he said. “I want to eat my meat in my room with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/vitamin-d-stevie-said-you-need-it-you-don-t-know-that-he-said-i-want/) [Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/) > [No one hid their interest when I walked into the room. I'm not sure if it was the news about Boo or my general…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/no-one-hid-their-interest-when-i-walked-into-the-room-i-m-not-sure-if/) [Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/) > [You'd been petting a stuffed dog?' she said 'A dead one?' 'It was a really well stuffed dog' I clarified. 'I have seen some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/you-d-been-petting-a-stuffed-dog-she-said-a-dead-one-it-was-a-really/) [Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/) > [“When she emerged, Keith was watching the tiny round window of the under-the-counter washing machine. "Put your clothes in for a wash," he said.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/when-she-emerged-keith-was-watching-the-tiny-round-window-of-the/) [Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/) > [“For you, there is underage, and then, there is underage. I believe a taste of wine is perfectly acceptable, but please stick to one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/for-you-there-is-underage-and-then-there-is-underage-i-believe-a/) [Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/) > [Rory: "People are being serious." Jazza: "There's a serial killer out there. Of course people are being serious." Rory: "Yeah, but what are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/rory-people-are-being-serious-jazza-there-s-a-serial-killer-out-there/) [Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/) > [Boo: "Go talk to her." Callum: "About what?" Boo: "Anything." Callum: "You want me to walk up to her and say, 'Are you a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/boo-go-talk-to-her-callum-about-what-boo-anything-callum-you-want-me/) [Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/) [Explore all 262 Maureen Johnson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/) ## More Brevity quotes > [it is the brevity of life which makes it tolerable; its experiences have value because they have an end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winifred-holtby/it-is-the-brevity-of-life-which-makes-it-tolerable-its-experiences/) [Winifred Holtby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winifred-holtby/) > [“It's not my accent, but my brevity makes me stylish.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/it-s-not-my-accent-but-my-brevity-makes-me-stylish/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [“Life is too short to waste being a productive member of society.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sol-luckman/life-is-too-short-to-waste-being-a-productive-member-of-society/) [Sol Luckman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sol-luckman/) > [This is going to take a while. I'm a fantasy author. We have trouble with the concept of brevity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/this-is-going-to-take-a-while-i-m-a-fantasy-author-we-have-trouble/) [Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/) > [If I am to speak ten minutes, I need a week for preparation; if an hour, I am ready now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/if-i-am-to-speak-ten-minutes-i-need-a-week-for-preparation-if-an-hour/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [If, in the very intense electric field in the neighbourhood of the cathode, the molecules of the gas are dissociated and are split up,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-john-thomson/if-in-the-very-intense-electric-field-in-the-neighbourhood-of-the/) [Joseph John Thomson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-john-thomson/) > [Our senses will not admit anything extreme. Too much noise confuses us, too much light dazzles us, too great distance or nearness prevents vision,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/our-senses-will-not-admit-anything-extreme-too-much-noise-confuses-us/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [Conversation! Supple sentences, with first and second meanings and overtones beyond, outrageous challenges with cleverly planned slip-points, rebuttals of elegant brevity; deceptions and guiles,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-vance/conversation-supple-sentences-with-first-and-second-meanings-and/) [Jack Vance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-vance/) > [It is excellent discipline for an author to feel that he must say all that he has to say in the fewest possible words,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/it-is-excellent-discipline-for-an-author-to-feel-that-he-must-say-all/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [A drawing should have no unnecessary lines and a machine no unnecessary parts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-strunk-jr/a-drawing-should-have-no-unnecessary-lines-and-a-machine-no/) [William Strunk, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-strunk-jr/) > [Not to discriminate every moment some passionate attitude in those about us, and in the very brilliancy of their gifts some tragic dividing of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-pater/not-to-discriminate-every-moment-some-passionate-attitude-in-those/) [Walter Pater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-pater/) > [He will see himself and life and the world as truly as our human limitations will permit; realizing the brevity and minuteness of human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/he-will-see-himself-and-life-and-the-world-as-truly-as-our-human/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [There came to him an image of man’s whole life upon the earth. It seemed to him that all man’s life was like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-wolfe/there-came-to-him-an-image-of-man-s-whole-life-upon-the-earth-it/) [Thomas Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-wolfe/) > [As a writer, I'm too busy and worried to experience the delight while composing my own work, although, of course, I hope a reader…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-mcdermott/as-a-writer-i-m-too-busy-and-worried-to-experience-the-delight-while/) [Alice McDermott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-mcdermott/) > [Aiming at brevity, I become obscure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/aiming-at-brevity-i-become-obscure/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) [Browse all 192 Brevity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brevity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It was almost funny. 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