--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A lot of what I think is funny is usually…" description: "\"A lot of what I think is funny is usually through some sort of character, or speaking earnestly one second and then saying something obviously joking.\"..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/593/patti-harrison-6137_character_a-lot-of-what-i-think-is-funny-is-usuall_3224320.jpg" --- # A lot of what I think is funny is usually through some… ![“A lot of what I think is funny is usually through some sort of character, or speaking earnestly one second and then saying something obviously joking.” quote by Patti Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/593/patti-harrison-6137_character_a-lot-of-what-i-think-is-funny-is-usuall_3224320.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/593/patti-harrison-6137_character_a-lot-of-what-i-think-is-funny-is-usuall_3224320.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/593/patti-harrison-6137_character_a-lot-of-what-i-think-is-funny-is-usuall_3224320.jpg) > “A lot of what I think is funny is usually through some sort of character, or speaking earnestly one second and then saying something obviously joking.” [Patti Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-harrison/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Humor often stems from a serious tone that flips into absurdity, creating surprise. **In simple terms:** Serious then funny creates humor. Key Takeaway Use contrast for laughs. Themes humor performance communication Mood playful reflective Type comedic instructional When to use this quote - stand‑up - writing - teaching - public speaking Key Concepts timing character contrast Questions to Reflect On - When does contrast enhance comedy? - How to gauge audience reaction? A Different Perspective Relying on contrast may alienate audiences expecting consistency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Funny Usually](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny-usually-2200955/) [I think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-think/) [Joking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joking/) [Obviously Joking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obviously-joking-6073562/) [Something](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/something/) [Speaking Earnestly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speaking-earnestly-6073563/) [Think Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-funny/) ## Related quotes > [You don't see a wonderful shot in a comedy. Why? Because they don't want to distract you from what matters, which is the joke.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fede-alvarez/you-don-t-see-a-wonderful-shot-in-a-comedy-why-because-they-don-t/) [Fede Alvarez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fede-alvarez/) > [That's my main flaw: I always think authority figures or my boss is going to think something I do is funny. And usually they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-kimmel/that-s-my-main-flaw-i-always-think-authority-figures-or-my-boss-is/) [Jimmy Kimmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-kimmel/) > [It's not common for a woman on television, especially if she's the mom of the family, to be funny. She's usually a straight man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-plimpton/it-s-not-common-for-a-woman-on-television-especially-if-she-s-the-mom/) [Martha Plimpton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-plimpton/) > [People are always surprised that I have a funny side because I'm usually so intense, strong and dramatic. But, I'd love to do something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-bell/people-are-always-surprised-that-i-have-a-funny-side-because-i-m/) [Catherine Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-bell/) > [Today, let us be mindful of what we say to other. Sometimes while we joking with them we say things that we think are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/innah-delos-angeles/today-let-us-be-mindful-of-what-we-say-to-other-sometimes-while-we/) [Innah Delos Angeles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/innah-delos-angeles/) > [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/) > [If I'm honest, I think everything is funny. You've just got to find the right way in. When I'm at my happiest and when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mcintyre/if-i-m-honest-i-think-everything-is-funny-you-ve-just-got-to-find-the/) [Michael McIntyre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mcintyre/) > [I'm joking, I'm joking. Best decision I ever made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/i-m-joking-i-m-joking-best-decision-i-ever-made/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [When you see people say crazy things on our show, they mean this stuff,and that's easy to forget: They're not joking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-oliver/when-you-see-people-say-crazy-things-on-our-show-they-mean-this-stuff/) [John Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-oliver/) > [A lot of players are straight-faced and serious; some are the opposite. It's like that until about 10 minutes before kick-off and I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-sturridge/a-lot-of-players-are-straight-faced-and-serious-some-are-the-opposite/) [Daniel Sturridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-sturridge/) > [“We've got your back, Ying. So don't go-- losing your head. Just joking!" "I though it was funny. Come here.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-whitley/we-ve-got-your-back-ying-so-don-t-go-losing-your-head-just-joking-i/) [Jeremy Whitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-whitley/) > [Well, in some ways I had sort of the opposite experience of other people that are sort of dreaming of being in a rock…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-brownstein/well-in-some-ways-i-had-sort-of-the-opposite-experience-of-other/) [Carrie Brownstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-brownstein/) > [“I was joking about my clones to my family when my uncle Herman said, “Don’t do that. Don’t make fun of yourself and others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-was-joking-about-my-clones-to-my-family-when-my-uncle-herman-said/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [“The things about which we most often jest are generally, on the contrary, the things that worry us but that we do not wish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-proust/the-things-about-which-we-most-often-jest-are-generally-on-the/) [Marcel Proust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-proust/) > [ I could be joking and smiling \[with infidels\] and then cutting their throats in the next second. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tarik-shah/i-could-be-joking-and-smiling-with-infidels-and-then-cutting-their/) [Tarik Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tarik-shah/) ## More by Patti Harrison > [I don't think my relationship with the idea of womanhood is that attached to giving birth... like, I'm fully aware that I'll never give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-harrison/i-don-t-think-my-relationship-with-the-idea-of-womanhood-is-that/) [Patti Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-harrison/) > [I just want people to know that. I'm not trying to make space for other trans women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-harrison/i-just-want-people-to-know-that-i-m-not-trying-to-make-space-for/) [Patti Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-harrison/) > [There's like a little bit of a narcissism - I think there's more than a little bit of narcissism about it, but it's just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-harrison/there-s-like-a-little-bit-of-a-narcissism-i-think-there-s-more-than-a/) [Patti Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-harrison/) > [I'm always afraid to talk about stuff because I'm afraid to get ahead of myself or jinx something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-harrison/i-m-always-afraid-to-talk-about-stuff-because-i-m-afraid-to-get-ahead/) [Patti Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-harrison/) > [I shouldn't tell anyone that I can't drive or cook.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-harrison/i-shouldn-t-tell-anyone-that-i-can-t-drive-or-cook/) [Patti Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-harrison/) > [My mom is pretty unimpressed by everything. She loves black-and-white movies, and the only things she watches in color on T.V. are Judge Judy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-harrison/my-mom-is-pretty-unimpressed-by-everything-she-loves-black-and-white/) [Patti Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-harrison/) > [It's fun to gossip and stuff. But once it's millions of people - the scale of that, I think, is more damaging to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-harrison/it-s-fun-to-gossip-and-stuff-but-once-it-s-millions-of-people-the/) [Patti Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-harrison/) > [If Ohio was a food, it would be Benadryl. If Chicago was pizza, Ohio is Benadryl, or some sort of generic over-the-counter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-harrison/if-ohio-was-a-food-it-would-be-benadryl-if-chicago-was-pizza-ohio-is/) [Patti Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-harrison/) > [People assume because you're a comedian that you want to be an actor or that you want to be a writer too. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-harrison/people-assume-because-you-re-a-comedian-that-you-want-to-be-an-actor/) [Patti Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-harrison/) > [A lot of people tweet me things like, 'My 3-year-old son is trans and you inspire us.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-harrison/a-lot-of-people-tweet-me-things-like-my-3-year-old-son-is-trans-and/) [Patti Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-harrison/) > [Cisgender people tend to want trans stories of triumph that are easy to metabolize. I want to make things that are subversive and not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-harrison/cisgender-people-tend-to-want-trans-stories-of-triumph-that-are-easy/) [Patti Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-harrison/) > [I think I have more fun making jokes online and making stupid Instagram videos than I do in my real life, on stage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-harrison/i-think-i-have-more-fun-making-jokes-online-and-making-stupid/) [Patti Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-harrison/) > [I've thought about my relationship to my body, my body dysmorphia, and what that means as someone who's like, 'Oh, I'm going to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-harrison/i-ve-thought-about-my-relationship-to-my-body-my-body-dysmorphia-and/) [Patti Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-harrison/) > [A lot of the stuff that I want to create personally is usually pretty absurd or silly comedy stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-harrison/a-lot-of-the-stuff-that-i-want-to-create-personally-is-usually-pretty/) [Patti Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-harrison/) > [I love coverage. My ideal dress would be a turtleneck that goes all the way up to my chin, and then sleeves that go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-harrison/i-love-coverage-my-ideal-dress-would-be-a-turtleneck-that-goes-all/) [Patti Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-harrison/) [Explore all 100 Patti Harrison quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-harrison/) ## More Character quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [When you're on a daytime drama you get one page, you better damn well know your character. You better know what she would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hudgins/when-you-re-on-a-daytime-drama-you-get-one-page-you-better-damn-well/) [David Hudgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hudgins/) > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [In the fight between biology and morality, biology has commonly won in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/in-the-fight-between-biology-and-morality-biology-has-commonly-won-in/) [Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/) > [Your looks don't make you pretty, it's the person inside who makes you pretty!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-chan/your-looks-don-t-make-you-pretty-it-s-the-person-inside-who-makes-you/) [Aaron Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-chan/) > [I'm not a huge social media kind of guy, so I don't really know, I don't really ever get... at least in real life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-stroma/i-m-not-a-huge-social-media-kind-of-guy-so-i-don-t-really-know-i-don/) [Freddie Stroma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-stroma/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [Courage: the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/courage-the-most-important-of-all-the-virtues-because-without-courage/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) [Browse all 32,707 Character quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A lot of what I think is funny is usually through some sort of character, or speaking earnestly one second and then saying something obviously joking.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Patti Harrison" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-harrison/a-lot-of-what-i-think-is-funny-is-usually-through-some-sort-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Character" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-harrison/a-lot-of-what-i-think-is-funny-is-usually-through-some-sort-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/593/patti-harrison-6137_character_a-lot-of-what-i-think-is-funny-is-usuall_3224320.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/593/patti-harrison-6137_character_a-lot-of-what-i-think-is-funny-is-usuall_3224320.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/593/patti-harrison-6137_character_a-lot-of-what-i-think-is-funny-is-usuall_3224320.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A lot of what I think is funny is usually through some sort of character, or speaking earnestly one second…” — Patti Harrison", "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": "Patti Harrison", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-harrison/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A lot of what I think...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-harrison/a-lot-of-what-i-think-is-funny-is-usually-through-some-sort-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-harrison/a-lot-of-what-i-think-is-funny-is-usually-through-some-sort-of/#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 } } ] } ```