---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For starters, let's dispense with the…"
description: "\"For starters, let's dispense with the cheap jokes about cannibalism. That means cracks about giving an arm and a leg - sorry - for a good book on the s..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d22/mitchell-zuckoff-16677_arms_for-starters-let-s-dispense-with-the-che_2840597.jpg"
---

#  For starters, let's dispense with the cheap jokes about…

![“For starters, let's dispense with the cheap jokes about cannibalism. That means cracks about giving an arm and a leg - sorry - for a good book on the subject, or similar tasteless - sorry, again - attempts to make the subject more palatable - last one.” quote by Mitchell Zuckoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d22/mitchell-zuckoff-16677_arms_for-starters-let-s-dispense-with-the-che_2840597.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d22/mitchell-zuckoff-16677_arms_for-starters-let-s-dispense-with-the-che_2840597.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d22/mitchell-zuckoff-16677_arms_for-starters-let-s-dispense-with-the-che_2840597.jpg)

> “For starters, let's dispense with the cheap jokes about cannibalism. That means cracks about giving an arm and a leg - sorry - for a good book on the subject, or similar tasteless - sorry, again - attempts to make the subject more palatable - last one.”

[Mitchell Zuckoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitchell-zuckoff/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Avoiding cheap humor about cannibalism requires respectful, thoughtful discussion rather than tasteless jokes.

**In simple terms:** Discuss cannibalism seriously, not with cheap jokes.

Key Takeaway

Choose respectful, nuanced discourse.

Themes

ethics humor taboo topics

Mood

cautious reflective serious

Type

analytical thought‑provoking

When to use this quote

- academic panels
- public talks
- media reviews
- creative writing
- editorial policy

Key Concepts

cannibalism media criticism social sensitivity

Questions to Reflect On

- When is humor appropriate for taboo subjects?
- How can seriousness be engaging without being offensive?

A Different Perspective

Humor can sometimes highlight issues, but may also alienate audiences.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Arms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arms/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Cannibalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cannibalism/) [Cannibalism Means](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cannibalism-means-3721894/) [Cheap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cheap/) [Cheap Jokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cheap-jokes-2985530/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Cracks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cracks/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [Good book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-book/) [Jokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jokes/) [Jokes Cannibalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jokes-cannibalism-3721893/) [Lasts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lasts/) [Legs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legs/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/more/) [Sorry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sorry/) [Subject](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subject/) [Subjects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subjects/) [Tasteless Sorry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tasteless-sorry-3721895/)

## Related quotes

> [One day it's going to dawn on the human race that war is as barbaric a means of resolving conflict as cannibalism is as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-kent/one-day-it-s-going-to-dawn-on-the-human-race-that-war-is-as-barbaric/)

[Bruce Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-kent/)

> [“Have you ever wondered how to commit human sacrifice and destroy all the evidence while having a delicious meal all at the same time?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-heidecker/have-you-ever-wondered-how-to-commit-human-sacrifice-and-destroy-all/)

[Tim Heidecker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-heidecker/)

> [“Cheap jokes and dirty minds.” Patrick”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leta-blake/cheap-jokes-and-dirty-minds-patrick/)

[Leta Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leta-blake/)

> [There are passages of the Bible that are soiled forever by the touches of the hands of ministers who delight in the cheap jokes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillips-brooks/there-are-passages-of-the-bible-that-are-soiled-forever-by-the/)

[Phillips Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillips-brooks/)

> [Nathaniel Philbrick's 'In the Heart of the Sea' has rightfully taken its place as a classic for its literary merits. It has a special…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitchell-zuckoff/nathaniel-philbrick-s-in-the-heart-of-the-sea-has-rightfully-taken/)

[Mitchell Zuckoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitchell-zuckoff/)

> [I'm against eating a human being alive - I don't do it. Somebody might make cannibalism jokes and laugh it off like it's nothing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-maus/i-m-against-eating-a-human-being-alive-i-don-t-do-it-somebody-might/)

[John Maus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-maus/)

> [“The most holy cannibalism you can perform is to eat the flesh and blood of sagacity, and by sharing it with other wisdom thirsty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/the-most-holy-cannibalism-you-can-perform-is-to-eat-the-flesh-and/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [“The future promises us all our very own Truman Shows and when every man and woman is a star the spectacle becomes auto- cannibalizing;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-cavanagh/the-future-promises-us-all-our-very-own-truman-shows-and-when-every/)

[Dean Cavanagh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-cavanagh/)

> [You have to take the long view. First, when Moses came down from Mt. Sinai, man has already progressed to the point where a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i-f-stone/you-have-to-take-the-long-view-first-when-moses-came-down-from-mt/)

[I. F. Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/i-f-stone/)

> [“Imagine fifty thousand men trapped on a desert island, deprived of food and water and sex but somehow kept alive for fifty thousand years.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wong/imagine-fifty-thousand-men-trapped-on-a-desert-island-deprived-of/)

[David Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wong/)

> [“Uncorked materialism is new cannibalism.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/uncorked-materialism-is-new-cannibalism/)

[Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/)

> [“This is said to civilized men who are to venture into countries where sacred cows are fed, while children are left to starve -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/this-is-said-to-civilized-men-who-are-to-venture-into-countries-where/)

[Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/)

> [The most important truths always appear first as blasphemies or obscenities. That's why every great innovator is persecuted. And the sacraments look obscene, too,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-anton-wilson/the-most-important-truths-always-appear-first-as-blasphemies-or/)

[Robert Anton Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-anton-wilson/)

> [“Normally I would have been the first to go in search of cannibal monks, particularly as I had heard of a similar tradition at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahir-shah/normally-i-would-have-been-the-first-to-go-in-search-of-cannibal/)

[Tahir Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahir-shah/)

> [It was given out that the animals there practised cannibalism, tortured one another with red-hot horseshoes, and had their females in common. This was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/it-was-given-out-that-the-animals-there-practised-cannibalism/)

[George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/)

## More by Mitchell Zuckoff

> [New Guinea was sort of a graveyard for planes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitchell-zuckoff/new-guinea-was-sort-of-a-graveyard-for-planes/)

[Mitchell Zuckoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitchell-zuckoff/)

> [“When Norway fell to the Germans the following year, he established the Norwegian Air Force training base known as Little Norway in Canada, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitchell-zuckoff/when-norway-fell-to-the-germans-the-following-year-he-established-the/)

[Mitchell Zuckoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitchell-zuckoff/)

> [Bob Altman got nothing from the TV series 'M\*A\*S\*H,' and the royalties for the theme song went to his oldest son, Michael, who wrote…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitchell-zuckoff/bob-altman-got-nothing-from-the-tv-series-m-a-s-h-and-the-royalties/)

[Mitchell Zuckoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitchell-zuckoff/)

> [I know that plenty of folks have issues with Social Security, but I'd urge them to confront it on its own terms. Calling it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitchell-zuckoff/i-know-that-plenty-of-folks-have-issues-with-social-security-but-i-d/)

[Mitchell Zuckoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitchell-zuckoff/)

> [Nathaniel Philbrick's 'In the Heart of the Sea' has rightfully taken its place as a classic for its literary merits. It has a special…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitchell-zuckoff/nathaniel-philbrick-s-in-the-heart-of-the-sea-has-rightfully-taken/)

[Mitchell Zuckoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitchell-zuckoff/)

> [It's not that you make a psychopath. They are - more likely, they come out that way, and they show their stripes over time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitchell-zuckoff/it-s-not-that-you-make-a-psychopath-they-are-more-likely-they-come/)

[Mitchell Zuckoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitchell-zuckoff/)

> [“THE SLED DOG TEAM PASSES THE PBY DUMBO”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitchell-zuckoff/the-sled-dog-team-passes-the-pby-dumbo/)

[Mitchell Zuckoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitchell-zuckoff/)

> [There is an interesting parallel between the 'Argo' story and '13 Hours' in that, around the world, we have 285 or so diplomatic outposts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitchell-zuckoff/there-is-an-interesting-parallel-between-the-argo-story-and-13-hours/)

[Mitchell Zuckoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitchell-zuckoff/)

> [I think more and more, in places like Benghazi, in places like Iran, we have to be asking the question, can we trust the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitchell-zuckoff/i-think-more-and-more-in-places-like-benghazi-in-places-like-iran-we/)

[Mitchell Zuckoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitchell-zuckoff/)

> [My favorite pre-Ponzi schemer was known as '520 Percent Miller' because he promised 10 percent returns a week, or 520 percent a year. Of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitchell-zuckoff/my-favorite-pre-ponzi-schemer-was-known-as-520-percent-miller-because/)

[Mitchell Zuckoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitchell-zuckoff/)

> [I'm a huge Michael Lewis fan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitchell-zuckoff/i-m-a-huge-michael-lewis-fan/)

[Mitchell Zuckoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitchell-zuckoff/)

> [I wanted to talk face-to-face with as many people as would see me. Some actors were so busy they could only give me an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitchell-zuckoff/i-wanted-to-talk-face-to-face-with-as-many-people-as-would-see-me/)

[Mitchell Zuckoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitchell-zuckoff/)

> [I was researching a different World War II story when I came across an article in the 'Chicago Tribune' from June 1945 that knocked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitchell-zuckoff/i-was-researching-a-different-world-war-ii-story-when-i-came-across/)

[Mitchell Zuckoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitchell-zuckoff/)

> [There's a certain type of sociopathy to many schemers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitchell-zuckoff/there-s-a-certain-type-of-sociopathy-to-many-schemers/)

[Mitchell Zuckoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitchell-zuckoff/)

> [Every swindle is driven by a desire for easy money; it's the one thing the swindler and the swindled have in common.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitchell-zuckoff/every-swindle-is-driven-by-a-desire-for-easy-money-it-s-the-one-thing/)

[Mitchell Zuckoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitchell-zuckoff/)

[Explore all 39 Mitchell Zuckoff quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitchell-zuckoff/)

## More Arms quotes

> [I genuinely did not expect more than half our nation to choose to walk away from our long-term allies into the arms of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-reade/i-genuinely-did-not-expect-more-than-half-our-nation-to-choose-to/)

[Brian Reade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-reade/)

> [I don't wear a watch because I want my arms to weigh the same. So if somebody asks me what time it is, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-don-t-wear-a-watch-because-i-want-my-arms-to-weigh-the-same-so-if/)

[Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/)

> [Preaching to the choir actually arms the choir with arguments and elevates the choir's discourse. There's a reason the right does it and does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-savage/preaching-to-the-choir-actually-arms-the-choir-with-arguments-and/)

[Dan Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-savage/)

> [He caught her, she fell, he caught her in his arms, he held her tightly unconscious of what he was doing. He held her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/he-caught-her-she-fell-he-caught-her-in-his-arms-he-held-her-tightly/)

[Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/)

> [Are we fighting?" I asked Morelli. "No. Were discussing." "Are you sure?" "Am I yelling?" Morelli asked. "Is my face purple? Are the cords…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/are-we-fighting-i-asked-morelli-no-were-discussing-are-you-sure-am-i/)

[Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/)

> [A home isn't just a roof over our heads. A home is a place where we feel loved and where we love others. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/a-home-isn-t-just-a-roof-over-our-heads-a-home-is-a-place-where-we/)

[Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/)

> [Comerado, this is no book,Who touches this, touches a man,(Is it night? Are we here alone?)It is I you hold, and who holds you,I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/comerado-this-is-no-book-who-touches-this-touches-a-man-is-it-night/)

[Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/)

> [Even the stove and the refrigerator looked human, I mean good human - they seemed to have arms and voices and they said, hang…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/even-the-stove-and-the-refrigerator-looked-human-i-mean-good-human/)

[Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/)

> [I separated the joints, the arm joints, the leg joints, and had to do two boilings. I think I used four boxes of Soilex…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-dahmer/i-separated-the-joints-the-arm-joints-the-leg-joints-and-had-to-do/)

[Jeffrey Dahmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-dahmer/)

> [More courage is required to forgive than is required to take up arms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-ramos-horta/more-courage-is-required-to-forgive-than-is-required-to-take-up-arms/)

[Jose Ramos-Horta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-ramos-horta/)

> [It's been a long time since I asked anything of heaven, and my arms still haven't come down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-porchia/it-s-been-a-long-time-since-i-asked-anything-of-heaven-and-my-arms/)

[Antonio Porchia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-porchia/)

> [With those who are willing to join, let us cooperate to reduce the burden of arms, to strengthen the structure of peace, to lift…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/with-those-who-are-willing-to-join-let-us-cooperate-to-reduce-the/)

[Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/)

> [How shall freedom be defended? By arms when it is attacked by arms, by truth when it is attacked by lies, by faith when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archibald-macleish/how-shall-freedom-be-defended-by-arms-when-it-is-attacked-by-arms-by/)

[Archibald MacLeish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archibald-macleish/)

> [You don't have to say it out loud. I already know why you like me.' 'You do, huh?' 'Yep.' He wrapped his arms around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/you-don-t-have-to-say-it-out-loud-i-already-know-why-you-like-me-you/)

[Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/)

> [Another step had her backed up against the wall, and he braced his arms on both sides of her. "I'm beginning to look forward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-lindsey/another-step-had-her-backed-up-against-the-wall-and-he-braced-his/)

[Johanna Lindsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-lindsey/)

[Browse all 4,470 Arms quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arms/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "For starters, let's dispense with the cheap jokes about cannibalism. That means cracks about giving an arm and a leg - sorry - for a good book on the subject, or similar tasteless - sorry, again - attempts to make the subject more palatable - last one.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Mitchell Zuckoff"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitchell-zuckoff/for-starters-let-s-dispense-with-the-cheap-jokes-about-cannibalism/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Arms"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitchell-zuckoff/for-starters-let-s-dispense-with-the-cheap-jokes-about-cannibalism/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d22/mitchell-zuckoff-16677_arms_for-starters-let-s-dispense-with-the-che_2840597.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d22/mitchell-zuckoff-16677_arms_for-starters-let-s-dispense-with-the-che_2840597.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d22/mitchell-zuckoff-16677_arms_for-starters-let-s-dispense-with-the-che_2840597.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“For starters, let's dispense with the cheap jokes about cannibalism. That means cracks about giving an arm…” — Mitchell Zuckoff",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Mitchell Zuckoff",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitchell-zuckoff/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "For starters, let's dispense with the...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitchell-zuckoff/for-starters-let-s-dispense-with-the-cheap-jokes-about-cannibalism/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitchell-zuckoff/for-starters-let-s-dispense-with-the-cheap-jokes-about-cannibalism/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
