--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think that humor has become a principle…" description: "\"I think that humor has become a principle means of communication among Americans about politics.\" — P. J. O'Rourke" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/892/p-j-o-rourke-184_about_i-think-that-humor-has-become-a-principl_479234.png" --- # I think that humor has become a principle means of… ![“I think that humor has become a principle means of communication among Americans about politics.” quote by P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/892/p-j-o-rourke-184_about_i-think-that-humor-has-become-a-principl_479234.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/892/p-j-o-rourke-184_about_i-think-that-humor-has-become-a-principl_479234.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/892/p-j-o-rourke-184_about_i-think-that-humor-has-become-a-principl_479234.png) > “I think that humor has become a principle means of communication among Americans about politics.” [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. Humor has become a primary way Americans discuss politics, serving as a coping mechanism and a tool for critique. **In simple terms:** People use jokes to talk about politics. Key Takeaway Recognize humor’s role in political discourse. Themes politics humor communication media Mood witty analytical Type political satirical When to use this quote - campaigns - social media - debates - news commentary Key Concepts satire public opinion civic engagement Questions to Reflect On - How does satire shape political views? - When does humor become counterproductive? A Different Perspective Humor can oversimplify complex issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Principle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principle/) ## Related quotes > [Am I a liberal or conservative? I'm neither. Like most Americans, I find politics very frustrating. Like most Americans, I'd like to hear from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soledad-o-brien/am-i-a-liberal-or-conservative-i-m-neither-like-most-americans-i-find/) [Soledad O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soledad-o-brien/) > [We've heard so much about the American dream: well, Trump is the American nightmare made flesh. 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O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [The Tea Party has definitely increased political involvement, not only among Tea Party members but among people who oppose the Tea Party members. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/the-tea-party-has-definitely-increased-political-involvement-not-only/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [I think humor is actually a very serious thing. I think the people who shaped culture, for the better, in the last 50 years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lurie/i-think-humor-is-actually-a-very-serious-thing-i-think-the-people-who/) [John Lurie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lurie/) > [I think humor is a very serious thing. I use it as a way of weakening the reader's defenses so that I can more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-collins/i-think-humor-is-a-very-serious-thing-i-use-it-as-a-way-of-weakening/) [William Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-collins/) > [I think that humor is part of what saves us from despair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/i-think-that-humor-is-part-of-what-saves-us-from-despair/) [John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/) > [I think the humor, when applied in the right amount, only serves to intensify the other emotions in a given song; it highlights them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-grant/i-think-the-humor-when-applied-in-the-right-amount-only-serves-to/) [John Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-grant/) > [I think humor is the social use. You can put anything in it. 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I think humor in general appeals to all people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/you-don-t-have-to-think-really-hard-to-get-the-joke-i-think-humor-in/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [I sometimes think humor and satire are more effective techniques for expressing social statements than direct comment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-hunter/i-sometimes-think-humor-and-satire-are-more-effective-techniques-for/) [Kristin Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-hunter/) > [I don't think that in humor and jokes, in whatever way they are done, there is any kind of disrespect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajpal-yadav/i-don-t-think-that-in-humor-and-jokes-in-whatever-way-they-are-done/) [Rajpal Yadav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajpal-yadav/) > [I think humor is warmer, and wit is colder. Wit is judgment, whereas humor invites some sort of response.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/i-think-humor-is-warmer-and-wit-is-colder-wit-is-judgment-whereas/) [Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/) ## 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." 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That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [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 learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/) [Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/) [Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' 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