--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've found great virtue in two-thirds of…" description: "\"I've found great virtue in two-thirds of the way into the message; right before I'm really want to nail home a point, pausing to tell a joke or to tell..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ba/max-lucado-190_audience_i-ve-found-great-virtue-in-two-thirds-of_2740867.jpg" --- # I've found great virtue in two-thirds of the way into the… ![“I've found great virtue in two-thirds of the way into the message; right before I'm really want to nail home a point, pausing to tell a joke or to tell a light-hearted story, because I know my audience has been working with me now for 20 or 25 minutes. And if I can get them to laugh, get oxygen…” quote by Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ba/max-lucado-190_audience_i-ve-found-great-virtue-in-two-thirds-of_2740867.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ba/max-lucado-190_audience_i-ve-found-great-virtue-in-two-thirds-of_2740867.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ba/max-lucado-190_audience_i-ve-found-great-virtue-in-two-thirds-of_2740867.jpg) > “I've found great virtue in two-thirds of the way into the message; right before I'm really want to nail home a point, pausing to tell a joke or to tell a light-hearted story, because I know my audience has been working with me now for 20 or 25 minutes. And if I can get them to laugh, get oxygen into their system, it wakes up those who might be sleeping, so there's something about using a story to draw people back in right before you drive home your final point. In that case I think it's real legitimate just to use a story for story's sake.” [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Using humor and stories re‑engages audiences before concluding points, making messages memorable. **In simple terms:** Stories and jokes refresh listeners. Key Takeaway Pause for a story before ending. Themes communication public speaking engagement humor storytelling Mood energetic inspirational Type educational motivational When to use this quote - presentations - workshops - teaching - leadership training Key Concepts attention span cognitive reset emotional connection Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance humor and substance? - When is a story most effective? A Different Perspective Overuse of jokes can dilute the core message. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) [Audience Working](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience-working-910199/) [Cases](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cases/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Draws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/draws/) [Finals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/finals/) [Found](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/found/) [Has beens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/has-beens/) [Hearted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hearted/) [Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home/) [I can](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-can/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Jokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jokes/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Laughing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laughing/) [Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light/) [Light hearted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light-hearted/) [Messages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/messages/) [Might](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/might/) [Minutes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/minutes/) [Nails](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nails/) [Oxygen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oxygen/) [Pausing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pausing/) [Pausing Tell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pausing-tell-3026982/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Sake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sake/) [Sleep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sleep/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Tell Joke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tell-joke-307790/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Thirds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thirds/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) [Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use/) [Use Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use-story-1705760/) [Using Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/using-story-3026981/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) [Wake up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wake-up/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [I am not working to please an audience. I am working to please myself. If there is an audience which ends up connecting with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arjun-mathur/i-am-not-working-to-please-an-audience-i-am-working-to-please-myself/) [Arjun Mathur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arjun-mathur/) > [One thing changes every evening: It's the audience, and I'm working my magic. I'm always learning from it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-wallach/one-thing-changes-every-evening-it-s-the-audience-and-i-m-working-my/) [Eli Wallach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-wallach/) > [When you sit and watch the film with an audience, the focus groups and the cards and all of that is the less what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-mcquarrie/when-you-sit-and-watch-the-film-with-an-audience-the-focus-groups-and/) [Christopher McQuarrie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-mcquarrie/) > [Everything that doesn't kill you, makes you stronger. And later on you can use it in some story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tapani-bagge/everything-that-doesn-t-kill-you-makes-you-stronger-and-later-on-you/) [Tapani Bagge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tapani-bagge/) > [There is an appropriate way to use your story, not as an excuse but as a testimony to God's ability to free you from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-stanley/there-is-an-appropriate-way-to-use-your-story-not-as-an-excuse-but-as/) [Andy Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-stanley/) > [Leaders use story to author the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mckee/leaders-use-story-to-author-the-future/) [Robert McKee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mckee/) > [There's just so much I want to do in life. Part of that is to use my story and use my experiences to give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-banks/there-s-just-so-much-i-want-to-do-in-life-part-of-that-is-to-use-my/) [Brian Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-banks/) > [I want people to use my story to stand up, be strong-willed and persevere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-livingston/i-want-people-to-use-my-story-to-stand-up-be-strong-willed-and/) [Shaun Livingston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-livingston/) > [So I'll write it, and then I'll find out that I actually wrote something that is utterly useless. You can't use it in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-vance/so-i-ll-write-it-and-then-i-ll-find-out-that-i-actually-wrote/) [Jack Vance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-vance/) > [I try to use my story to try to inspire people in all walks of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-hamilton/i-try-to-use-my-story-to-try-to-inspire-people-in-all-walks-of-life/) [Nicolas Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-hamilton/) > [You can use your story, or your story can use you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/you-can-use-your-story-or-your-story-can-use-you/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [We all have a life story and a message that can inspire others to live a better life or run a better business. Why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendon-burchard/we-all-have-a-life-story-and-a-message-that-can-inspire-others-to/) [Brendon Burchard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendon-burchard/) > [“But for the rest of us, we all have stories, we all have a past, and the difference between people who are effective and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-lentz/but-for-the-rest-of-us-we-all-have-stories-we-all-have-a-past-and-the/) [Carl Lentz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-lentz/) > [You need to decide that you're going to use a story to enlighten and inspire people in the modern day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margot-lee-shetterly/you-need-to-decide-that-you-re-going-to-use-a-story-to-enlighten-and/) [Margot Lee Shetterly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margot-lee-shetterly/) > [Because we humans find stories such fascinating things, it’s all too easy to get interested in the story for its own sake, and lose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-denning/because-we-humans-find-stories-such-fascinating-things-it-s-all-too/) [Steve Denning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-denning/) ## More by Max Lucado > [I really enjoy making people laugh; I've discovered that's a great technique. That's as powerful as stirring their sorrow, stirring their compassion, because that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/i-really-enjoy-making-people-laugh-i-ve-discovered-that-s-a-great/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [When we look at the love of Christ, we make a wonderful discovery. Love is more a decision than an emotion! Christ-like love applauds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/when-we-look-at-the-love-of-christ-we-make-a-wonderful-discovery-love/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [You will be at your best forever, Even now you have good moments. Occasional glimpses of your heavenly self. When you change your baby's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/you-will-be-at-your-best-forever-even-now-you-have-good-moments/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [“Ageing. We laugh about it, and we groan about it. We resist it, but we cant't stop it. And with the chuckles and wrinkles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/ageing-we-laugh-about-it-and-we-groan-about-it-we-resist-it-but-we/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [“You’ve already learned, haven’t you, that a promise made is not always a promise kept? Just because someone is called your dad, that doesn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/you-ve-already-learned-haven-t-you-that-a-promise-made-is-not-always/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [God is near whether you sense His presence or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/god-is-near-whether-you-sense-his-presence-or-not/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [If you're feeling pain, express that to the Lord. If you're feeling worried, express those worries. One passage that gives me comfort is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/if-you-re-feeling-pain-express-that-to-the-lord-if-you-re-feeling/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [The church is never a place to show off. Do your good deeds quietly. Serve; don't seek to be seen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/the-church-is-never-a-place-to-show-off-do-your-good-deeds-quietly/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [If there are a thousand steps between us and God, He will take all but one. He will leave the final one for us.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/if-there-are-a-thousand-steps-between-us-and-god-he-will-take-all-but/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [God's love never ceases. Never... God doesn't love us less if we fail or more if we succeed. God's love never ceases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/god-s-love-never-ceases-never-god-doesn-t-love-us-less-if-we-fail-or/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [Are you on the eve of change? Embrace it. Accept it. Don't resist it. Change is not only a part of life, change is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/are-you-on-the-eve-of-change-embrace-it-accept-it-don-t-resist-it/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [There's no limit to God's love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/there-s-no-limit-to-god-s-love/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [God will use whatever he wants to display his glory. Heavens and stars. History and nations. People and problems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/god-will-use-whatever-he-wants-to-display-his-glory-heavens-and-stars/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [Whether or not storms come, we can not choose. But where we stare during a storm, that we can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/whether-or-not-storms-come-we-can-not-choose-but-where-we-stare/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [Write today's worries in sand. Chisel yesterday's victories in stone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/write-today-s-worries-in-sand-chisel-yesterday-s-victories-in-stone/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) [Explore all 968 Max Lucado quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) ## 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've found great virtue in two-thirds of the way into the message; right before I'm really want to nail home a point, pausing to tell a joke or to tell a light-hearted story, because I know my audience has been working with me now for 20 or 25 minutes. And if I can get them to laugh, get oxygen into their system, it wakes up those who might be sleeping, so there's something about using a story to draw people back in right before you drive home your final point. 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