--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When people write comedy from neutrality…" description: "\"When people write comedy from neutrality, it just gets kind of silly.\" — Mort Sahl" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc0/mort-sahl-7819_comedy_when-people-write-comedy-from-neutrality_2107274.jpg" --- # When people write comedy from neutrality, it just gets… ![“When people write comedy from neutrality, it just gets kind of silly.” quote by Mort Sahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc0/mort-sahl-7819_comedy_when-people-write-comedy-from-neutrality_2107274.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc0/mort-sahl-7819_comedy_when-people-write-comedy-from-neutrality_2107274.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc0/mort-sahl-7819_comedy_when-people-write-comedy-from-neutrality_2107274.jpg) > “When people write comedy from neutrality, it just gets kind of silly.” [Mort Sahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mort-sahl/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Comedy that tries to be neutral often ends up feeling silly and ineffective. **In simple terms:** Neutral comedy can seem foolish. Key Takeaway Embrace a clear perspective in humor. Themes humor authenticity voice Mood analytical critical Type comedic observational When to use this quote - stand‑up - writing - media production Key Concepts satire social commentary personal style Questions to Reflect On - Why does neutrality weaken comedic impact? - How can a comedian find a strong voice? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Comedy Neutrality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy-neutrality-4238288/) [Gets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gets/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Kind Silly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind-silly-433830/) [Neutrality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neutrality/) [Neutrality Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neutrality-just-4238289/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Silly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silly/) [Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write/) [Write Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write-comedy-350652/) ## Related quotes > [I feel like we're stuck in the former mode of reacting because that's what gains traction in Washington. But I really believe we need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/astra-taylor/i-feel-like-we-re-stuck-in-the-former-mode-of-reacting-because-that-s/) [Astra Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/astra-taylor/) > [I don't pick my roles by genre; that's kind of silly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shannon/i-don-t-pick-my-roles-by-genre-that-s-kind-of-silly/) [Michael Shannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shannon/) > [I like to make people laugh. I like that kind of silly stuff. For me, it's a natural thing to want to do something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carmen-electra/i-like-to-make-people-laugh-i-like-that-kind-of-silly-stuff-for-me-it/) [Carmen Electra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carmen-electra/) > [My original perception of wrestling was not a very positive one. I didn't understand it at all, and I thought it was kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-gilpin/my-original-perception-of-wrestling-was-not-a-very-positive-one-i/) [Betty Gilpin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-gilpin/) > [Sometimes, if you don't have kids yourself, it's assumed you won't understand or know how to play a mom, which is kind of silly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tricia-helfer/sometimes-if-you-don-t-have-kids-yourself-it-s-assumed-you-won-t/) [Tricia Helfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tricia-helfer/) > [I haven't read the comic book. I didn't even know there was one until about halfway though. Helen Mirren and I were talking about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-louise-parker/i-haven-t-read-the-comic-book-i-didn-t-even-know-there-was-one-until/) [Mary-Louise Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-louise-parker/) > [Isn't it kind of silly to think that tearing someone else down builds you up?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-covey/isn-t-it-kind-of-silly-to-think-that-tearing-someone-else-down-builds/) [Sean Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-covey/) > [“It's kind of silly to feel so disappointed about something you only just realized you wanted, isn't it?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-han/it-s-kind-of-silly-to-feel-so-disappointed-about-something-you-only/) [Jenny Han](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-han/) > [I ain't got no magical powers and mystical trips and all that kind of crap. It's kind of silly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-manson/i-ain-t-got-no-magical-powers-and-mystical-trips-and-all-that-kind-of/) [Charles Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-manson/) > [To imagine being in Germany having a home crowd is kind of silly, but we'll take it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/landon-donovan/to-imagine-being-in-germany-having-a-home-crowd-is-kind-of-silly-but/) [Landon Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/landon-donovan/) > [There's moments when I think it's kind of silly and I wish I would've just stayed natural](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carmen-electra/there-s-moments-when-i-think-it-s-kind-of-silly-and-i-wish-i-would-ve/) [Carmen Electra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carmen-electra/) > [You know how when you're alone with your cat, your cat is kind of silly and goofy and kind of crazy? And as soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michaela-watkins/you-know-how-when-you-re-alone-with-your-cat-your-cat-is-kind-of/) [Michaela Watkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michaela-watkins/) > [A lot of people heard 'Murda Business' and thought it was about killing people, trying to be tough and hardcore. If you actually listen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iggy-azalea/a-lot-of-people-heard-murda-business-and-thought-it-was-about-killing/) [Iggy Azalea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iggy-azalea/) > [I think I write my comedy to - a lot of it is to make my parents laugh. I want them to be proud…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-bargatze/i-think-i-write-my-comedy-to-a-lot-of-it-is-to-make-my-parents-laugh/) [Nate Bargatze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-bargatze/) > [It's hard to write a comedy sketch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-mckinnon/it-s-hard-to-write-a-comedy-sketch/) [Kate McKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-mckinnon/) ## More by Mort Sahl > [Remember that no matter how selfish, how cruel, how unfeeling you have been today, every time you take a breath, you make a flower…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mort-sahl/remember-that-no-matter-how-selfish-how-cruel-how-unfeeling-you-have/) [Mort Sahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mort-sahl/) > [Comedians have to challenge the power. Comedians should be dangerous and devastating - and funny. That's the hardest part.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mort-sahl/comedians-have-to-challenge-the-power-comedians-should-be-dangerous/) [Mort Sahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mort-sahl/) > [Too much comedy today is vulgar, not clever. I say that as a comedian and as a consumer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mort-sahl/too-much-comedy-today-is-vulgar-not-clever-i-say-that-as-a-comedian/) [Mort Sahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mort-sahl/) > [“The beat generation is a coffeehouse full of people expectantly looking at their watches waiting for the beat generation to come on. \*1958”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mort-sahl/the-beat-generation-is-a-coffeehouse-full-of-people-expectantly/) [Mort Sahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mort-sahl/) > [“I don't think crucifixion is the answer. I believe in the resurrection. I like that part of the story.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mort-sahl/i-don-t-think-crucifixion-is-the-answer-i-believe-in-the-resurrection/) [Mort Sahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mort-sahl/) > [My life needs editing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mort-sahl/my-life-needs-editing/) [Mort Sahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mort-sahl/) > [Every time the Russians throw an American in jail, the Committee throws an American in jail to get even.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mort-sahl/every-time-the-russians-throw-an-american-in-jail-the-committee/) [Mort Sahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mort-sahl/) > [you don't know what you think unless you say it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mort-sahl/you-don-t-know-what-you-think-unless-you-say-it/) [Mort Sahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mort-sahl/) > [I'm a radical, and I always have been.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mort-sahl/i-m-a-radical-and-i-always-have-been/) [Mort Sahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mort-sahl/) > [Those who the gods would make rich and famous on TV, they first drive mad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mort-sahl/those-who-the-gods-would-make-rich-and-famous-on-tv-they-first-drive/) [Mort Sahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mort-sahl/) > [Obama says his recreation consists of reading the Constitution... looking for a loophole.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mort-sahl/obama-says-his-recreation-consists-of-reading-the-constitution/) [Mort Sahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mort-sahl/) > [There's a great feeling of powerlessness in America. When I express ideas to people, they say, 'That's terrific, but do you think it really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mort-sahl/there-s-a-great-feeling-of-powerlessness-in-america-when-i-express/) [Mort Sahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mort-sahl/) > [If you can't join them, beat them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mort-sahl/if-you-can-t-join-them-beat-them/) [Mort Sahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mort-sahl/) > [One thing about being narrow-minded: you'll never be lonely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mort-sahl/one-thing-about-being-narrow-minded-you-ll-never-be-lonely/) [Mort Sahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mort-sahl/) > [Nixon's the kind of guy that if you were drowning fifty feet off shore, he'd throw you a thirty foot rope. Then Kissinger would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mort-sahl/nixon-s-the-kind-of-guy-that-if-you-were-drowning-fifty-feet-off/) [Mort Sahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mort-sahl/) [Explore all 87 Mort Sahl quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mort-sahl/) ## More Comedy quotes > ['Mad TV' is one of my most favorite shows of all time and is a huge part of my obsession with sketch comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-dawson/mad-tv-is-one-of-my-most-favorite-shows-of-all-time-and-is-a-huge/) [Shane Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-dawson/) > [You can laugh at me, but I understand show business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ksenia-sobchak/you-can-laugh-at-me-but-i-understand-show-business/) [Ksenia Sobchak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ksenia-sobchak/) > [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/) [Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/) > [I wouldn't want people to laugh at me. 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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/) > [“Laugh and grow strong”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ignatius-of-loyola/laugh-and-grow-strong/) [Ignatius of Loyola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ignatius-of-loyola/) > [In the future, I would like to do more films with contemporary themes. Perhaps comedy, which is something I have done in theater but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/in-the-future-i-would-like-to-do-more-films-with-contemporary-themes/) [Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/) > [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/) [Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [There's a difference between delivering real funny and just silly funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-rel-howery/there-s-a-difference-between-delivering-real-funny-and-just-silly/) [Lil Rel Howery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-rel-howery/) > [Oh to that corkscrew, the useful tool to unlock the treasure of wit, the treasury of laughter, the front door of fellowship, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-guzaldo/oh-to-that-corkscrew-the-useful-tool-to-unlock-the-treasure-of-wit/) [Andrew Guzaldo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-guzaldo/) > [“Men circle like bees around honey, buzzing to communicate their sexual despair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carla-h-krueger/men-circle-like-bees-around-honey-buzzing-to-communicate-their-sexual/) [Carla H Krueger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carla-h-krueger/) > [I do love to laugh!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-giudice/i-do-love-to-laugh/) [Teresa Giudice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-giudice/) > [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/) [Browse all 19,795 Comedy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When people write comedy from neutrality, it just gets kind of silly.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mort Sahl" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mort-sahl/when-people-write-comedy-from-neutrality-it-just-gets-kind-of-silly/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Comedy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mort-sahl/when-people-write-comedy-from-neutrality-it-just-gets-kind-of-silly/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc0/mort-sahl-7819_comedy_when-people-write-comedy-from-neutrality_2107274.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc0/mort-sahl-7819_comedy_when-people-write-comedy-from-neutrality_2107274.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc0/mort-sahl-7819_comedy_when-people-write-comedy-from-neutrality_2107274.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When people write comedy from neutrality, it just gets kind of silly.” — Mort Sahl", "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": "Mort Sahl", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mort-sahl/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When people write comedy from neutrality,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mort-sahl/when-people-write-comedy-from-neutrality-it-just-gets-kind-of-silly/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mort-sahl/when-people-write-comedy-from-neutrality-it-just-gets-kind-of-silly/#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 } } ] } ```