--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I figured if I could put together being…" description: "\"I figured if I could put together being funny about stuff and actual events, maybe I could do something that wasn't being done much. Because the report..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a1/p-j-o-rourke-184_being-done_i-figured-if-i-could-put-together-being_679857.png" --- # I figured if I could put together being funny about stuff… ![“I figured if I could put together being funny about stuff and actual events, maybe I could do something that wasn't being done much. Because the reporters that I met out there were funny, and they had hilarious stories that just didn't fit in the AP/UPI/New York Times foreign-correspondent style…” quote by P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a1/p-j-o-rourke-184_being-done_i-figured-if-i-could-put-together-being_679857.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a1/p-j-o-rourke-184_being-done_i-figured-if-i-could-put-together-being_679857.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a1/p-j-o-rourke-184_being-done_i-figured-if-i-could-put-together-being_679857.png) > “I figured if I could put together being funny about stuff and actual events, maybe I could do something that wasn't being done much. Because the reporters that I met out there were funny, and they had hilarious stories that just didn't fit in the AP/UPI/New York Times foreign-correspondent style. They couldn't use the things they had. But I could.” [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He wanted to blend humor with real events, filling a gap left by conventional news reporting. **In simple terms:** Mix humor with facts to create fresh storytelling. Key Takeaway Use comedy to highlight truth. Themes humor media innovation storytelling Mood playful critical Type observational satirical When to use this quote - news commentary - stand‑up comedy - blogging - podcasting Key Concepts satire journalism creativity Questions to Reflect On - How can comedy respect factual integrity? - Where does satire become disrespectful? A Different Perspective Humor may dilute seriousness of some topics. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-done/) [Being funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-funny/) [Correspondent Style](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/correspondent-style-5380932/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Events](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/events/) [Fit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fit/) [Foreign Correspondent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foreign-correspondent-623849/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Funny stuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny-stuff/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [If i could](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/if-i-could/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Journalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journalism/) [Mets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mets/) [New york](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-york/) [New york times](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-york-times/) [Reporters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reporters/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Stuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stuff/) [Style](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/style/) [Together](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/together/) [Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use/) [Wasn Reporters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wasn-reporters-5380931/) [York Times](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/york-times/) ## Related quotes > [I spent almost 25 years as a foreign correspondent, and the world's primary problem is poverty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/i-spent-almost-25-years-as-a-foreign-correspondent-and-the-world-s/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [You can learn all about the human condition from covering the crime beat in a big city - you don't need to go to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/you-can-learn-all-about-the-human-condition-from-covering-the-crime/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Conflict is part of being a foreign correspondent; spending long hours talking to politicians in capitals is another part of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-farrell/conflict-is-part-of-being-a-foreign-correspondent-spending-long-hours/) [Stephen Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-farrell/) > [Like all young reporters - brilliant or hopelessly incompetent - I dreamed of the glamorous life of the foreign correspondent: prowling Vienna in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-baker/like-all-young-reporters-brilliant-or-hopelessly-incompetent-i/) [Russell Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-baker/) > [It was Queen Elizabeth who made me a foreign correspondent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-baker/it-was-queen-elizabeth-who-made-me-a-foreign-correspondent/) [Russell Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-baker/) > [It wasn't something I started off in my teens or early twenties thinking I want to be a war correspondent. I still don't think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-farrell/it-wasn-t-something-i-started-off-in-my-teens-or-early-twenties/) [Stephen Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-farrell/) > [“an old Underwood office machine so big and black and ancient it looked as though it should come with a foreign correspondent attached.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-e-westlake/an-old-underwood-office-machine-so-big-and-black-and-ancient-it/) [Donald E. Westlake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-e-westlake/) > [A foreign correspondent is someone who lives in foreign parts and corresponds, usually in the form of essays containing no new facts. Otherwise he's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/a-foreign-correspondent-is-someone-who-lives-in-foreign-parts-and/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [I work for a big newspaper, and I guess I'm an insider. I don't have the luxury of calling myself a foreign correspondent and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/i-work-for-a-big-newspaper-and-i-guess-i-m-an-insider-i-don-t-have/) [Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/) > [I had been a foreign correspondent in Japan for the 'Wall Street Journal' when my editor there became Washington bureau chief - this was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-chozick/i-had-been-a-foreign-correspondent-in-japan-for-the-wall-street/) [Amy Chozick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-chozick/) > [I was a foreign correspondent in Berlin in the mid-'90s.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-atkinson/i-was-a-foreign-correspondent-in-berlin-in-the-mid-90s/) [Rick Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-atkinson/) > [A foreign correspondent, after talking to me for a while, once said: "You don't seem smart enough to be so good at what you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/a-foreign-correspondent-after-talking-to-me-for-a-while-once-said-you/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) > [I think I'm still chewing on my years as a foreign correspondent. I found myself covering catastrophes - war, uprising, famine, refugee crises -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-brooks/i-think-i-m-still-chewing-on-my-years-as-a-foreign-correspondent-i/) [Geraldine Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-brooks/) > [“The foreign correspondent is frequently the only means of getting an important story told, or of drawing the world's attention to disasters in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/the-foreign-correspondent-is-frequently-the-only-means-of-getting-an/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [The endeavor of being a foreign correspondent means that you will never be their equal. And that has its pros and cons. Were you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anjan-sundaram/the-endeavor-of-being-a-foreign-correspondent-means-that-you-will/) [Anjan Sundaram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anjan-sundaram/) ## More by P. J. O'Rourke > [I'm fascinated by political enthusiasm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/i-m-fascinated-by-political-enthusiasm/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [In comparative terms, there's no poverty in America by a long shot. Heritage Foundation political scientist Robert Rector has worked up figures showing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/in-comparative-terms-there-s-no-poverty-in-america-by-a-long-shot/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [The Democrats said, "We don't know what's wrong with America, but we can fix it." The Republicans said, "There's nothing wrong with America, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/the-democrats-said-we-don-t-know-what-s-wrong-with-america-but-we-can/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [At Epcot Center the Disney corporation has focused its attention on two things greatly in need of Disneyfication: the tedious future and the annoying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/at-epcot-center-the-disney-corporation-has-focused-its-attention-on/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [So-called Western Civilization, as practised in half of Europe, some of Asia and a few parts of North America, is better than anything else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/so-called-western-civilization-as-practised-in-half-of-europe-some-of/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [My whole family can talk. They are all car salesmen. They are all funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/my-whole-family-can-talk-they-are-all-car-salesmen-they-are-all-funny/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [It was Ronald Reagan who used to say that the 10 most frightening words in the English language are, "I'm from the federal government,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/it-was-ronald-reagan-who-used-to-say-that-the-10-most-frightening/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Gun violence has cost us too many political leaders, and hardly ever the worst ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/gun-violence-has-cost-us-too-many-political-leaders-and-hardly-ever/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Pete Seeger is a modest, unassuming, cheerful, and kind-natured man. He's a good folk singer, if you can stand folk singing. And he's such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/pete-seeger-is-a-modest-unassuming-cheerful-and-kind-natured-man-he-s/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Journalists are notoriously easy to kid. All you have to do is speak to a journalist in a very serious tone of voice, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/journalists-are-notoriously-easy-to-kid-all-you-have-to-do-is-speak/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [I like to think of my behavior in the sixties as a 'learning experience.' Then again, I like to think of anything stupid I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/i-like-to-think-of-my-behavior-in-the-sixties-as-a-learning/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [I'll be 56 this year, I've got two kids, and I think it's probably time to go back to writing one-glove jokes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/i-ll-be-56-this-year-i-ve-got-two-kids-and-i-think-it-s-probably-time/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Something that comes to us, some gym shoe that comes to us as a result of child labor from a brutal dictatorship, where people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/something-that-comes-to-us-some-gym-shoe-that-comes-to-us-as-a-result/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Russians not only vehemently despise blacks, they believe Africa begins at the Ukraine border.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/russians-not-only-vehemently-despise-blacks-they-believe-africa/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Now, do I think the baby boomers tend to be self-absorbed? I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/now-do-i-think-the-baby-boomers-tend-to-be-self-absorbed-i-do/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) [Explore all 983 P. J. O'Rourke quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) ## More Being done quotes > [Im done being silent, the left cannot win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-done-being-silent-the-left-cannot-win/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Once Im done with somebody thats it, there's no turning back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/once-im-done-with-somebody-thats-it-there-s-no-turning-back/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A good man likes a hard boss. I don't mean a nagging boss or a grouchy boss. I mean a boss who insists on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-feather/a-good-man-likes-a-hard-boss-i-don-t-mean-a-nagging-boss-or-a-grouchy/) [William Feather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-feather/) > [Tonight I'm dying. I'm done with this pain Done with people taking everything. I'm done thinking I'm insane. Do e with getting mad at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/tonight-i-m-dying-i-m-done-with-this-pain-done-with-people-taking/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Im done with tears. I'm wiping my eyes. If he doesnt care then why the hell should I?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-done-with-tears-i-m-wiping-my-eyes-if-he-doesnt-care-then-why-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Don't sweat it nor regret it, just move on and forget it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-sweat-it-nor-regret-it-just-move-on-and-forget-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A lot is being done to bring additional protective measures, particularly the critical infrastructure locations around the United States, ... There is a very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/a-lot-is-being-done-to-bring-additional-protective-measures/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [The difference between a stranger sending you a message that you might be interested in at a very low volume level, no repetition, just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/the-difference-between-a-stranger-sending-you-a-message-that-you/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [When you no longer wish to defend, explain or fight then its time to give up...no matter how much you don't want to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-no-longer-wish-to-defend-explain-or-fight-then-its-time-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm done wit being nice if u don't like my attiude then stay the fuck away from me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-done-wit-being-nice-if-u-don-t-like-my-attiude-then-stay-the-fuck/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I like television. I still believe that television is the most powerful form of communication on Earth - I just hate what is being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alton-brown/i-like-television-i-still-believe-that-television-is-the-most/) [Alton Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alton-brown/) > [To all those I've loved I can't take this any more, By the time you read this, I'll be waiting at Hell's door. I'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-all-those-i-ve-loved-i-can-t-take-this-any-more-by-the-time-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Why not take all of me? Can't you see I'm no good without you? Take my arms I want to lose them Take my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crystal/why-not-take-all-of-me-can-t-you-see-i-m-no-good-without-you-take-my/) [Crystal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crystal/) > [I never really knew what they said when they told me to Forgive and Forget. They tell me it's easy. Maybe for them. Or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brie-cavalinni/i-never-really-knew-what-they-said-when-they-told-me-to-forgive-and/) [Brie Cavalinni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brie-cavalinni/) > [Try to find if something out there is similar. If it's already being done, now you need to find out if you can do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cameron-johnson/try-to-find-if-something-out-there-is-similar-if-it-s-already-being/) [Cameron Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cameron-johnson/) [Browse all 304 Being done quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-done/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I figured if I could put together being funny about stuff and actual events, maybe I could do something that wasn't being done much. Because the reporters that I met out there were funny, and they had hilarious stories that just didn't fit in the AP/UPI/New York Times foreign-correspondent style. 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