--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sayings designed to raise a laugh are…" description: "\"Sayings designed to raise a laugh are generally untrue and never complimentary. Laughter is never far removed from derision.\" — Quintilian" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/331/quintilian-7306_comedy_sayings-designed-to-raise-a-laugh-are-ge_2263967.jpg" --- # Sayings designed to raise a laugh are generally untrue and… ![“Sayings designed to raise a laugh are generally untrue and never complimentary. Laughter is never far removed from derision.” quote by Quintilian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/331/quintilian-7306_comedy_sayings-designed-to-raise-a-laugh-are-ge_2263967.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/331/quintilian-7306_comedy_sayings-designed-to-raise-a-laugh-are-ge_2263967.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/331/quintilian-7306_comedy_sayings-designed-to-raise-a-laugh-are-ge_2263967.jpg) > “Sayings designed to raise a laugh are generally untrue and never complimentary. Laughter is never far removed from derision.” [Quintilian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quintilian/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. States that jokes intended to amuse are often false and can be derisive. **In simple terms:** Humor can hide truth and mock others. Key Takeaway Use humor responsibly, avoid cruelty. Themes humor truth derision Mood critical analytical Type ethical literary When to use this quote - social gatherings - public speaking - media commentary - online discourse Key Concepts Rhetoric ethics communication Questions to Reflect On - When does humor cross the line? - How can jokes be both funny and kind? A Different Perspective Humor can be misinterpreted or harmful. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Complimentary Laughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/complimentary-laughter-5220291/) [Derision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/derision/) [Laugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laugh/) [Laugh Generally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laugh-generally-780709/) [Laughing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laughing/) [Laughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laughter/) [Raise Laugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/raise-laugh-3615025/) [Raises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/raises/) [Untrue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/untrue/) ## Related quotes > [“It is easy to raise a laugh, but dangerous, for it is the greatest test of an orator's control of his audience to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-h-conwell/it-is-easy-to-raise-a-laugh-but-dangerous-for-it-is-the-greatest-test/) [Russell H. Conwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-h-conwell/) > [People who laugh together generally don't kill each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-alda/people-who-laugh-together-generally-don-t-kill-each-other/) [Alan Alda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-alda/) > [When you really boil it down, what comedy does is you expect one thing, and you get a totally different thing that's humorous, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-quinn/when-you-really-boil-it-down-what-comedy-does-is-you-expect-one-thing/) [Zoe Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-quinn/) > [Criticizing people, winding them up, making idiots of them or fooling them doesn't make people with autism laugh. What makes us smile from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naoki-higashida/criticizing-people-winding-them-up-making-idiots-of-them-or-fooling/) [Naoki Higashida](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naoki-higashida/) > [You can laugh at somebody because they are innocent, and because they are naive or they are about to walk into a wall, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-moran/you-can-laugh-at-somebody-because-they-are-innocent-and-because-they/) [Dylan Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-moran/) > [Promising to bring home a feed of fish is the absolute kiss of death to any chances of catching anything but a large heap…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-bishop/promising-to-bring-home-a-feed-of-fish-is-the-absolute-kiss-of-death/) [Tony Bishop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-bishop/) > [But if we laugh with derision, we will never understand. Human intellectual capacity has not altered for thousands of years so far as we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jay-gould/but-if-we-laugh-with-derision-we-will-never-understand-human/) [Stephen Jay Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jay-gould/) > [I resisted the temptation to turn around and stick out my tongue in derision at Beliquose. After all, there was no telling when or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-david/i-resisted-the-temptation-to-turn-around-and-stick-out-my-tongue-in/) [Peter David](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-david/) > [“Taylor didn’t know how the woman stood being the center of so much derision.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-t-ellison/taylor-didn-t-know-how-the-woman-stood-being-the-center-of-so-much/) [J.T. Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-t-ellison/) > [I do not know much about Mohammed or Mohammedanism. I do not take the Koran to bed with me every night. But, if I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/i-do-not-know-much-about-mohammed-or-mohammedanism-i-do-not-take-the/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [“therefore the idea of the service of humanity, of brotherly love and the solidarity of mankind, is more and more dying out in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/therefore-the-idea-of-the-service-of-humanity-of-brotherly-love-and/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) > [Shame can kill the imagination. It's hard to keep writing in the face of cultural derision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eloisa-james/shame-can-kill-the-imagination-it-s-hard-to-keep-writing-in-the-face/) [Eloisa James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eloisa-james/) > [Vanity is the natural weakness of an ambitious man, which exposes him to the secret scorn and derision of those he converses with, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/vanity-is-the-natural-weakness-of-an-ambitious-man-which-exposes-him/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [To make sure that my blasphemy is thoroughly expressed, I hereby state my opinion that the notion of a god is a basic superstition,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-randi/to-make-sure-that-my-blasphemy-is-thoroughly-expressed-i-hereby-state/) [James Randi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-randi/) > [Can a controlled experiment explain why people like Kewpie dolls in one year, Beanie Babies in another, and American Girl dolls this year? Yet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-j-shiller/can-a-controlled-experiment-explain-why-people-like-kewpie-dolls-in/) [Robert J. Shiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-j-shiller/) ## More by Quintilian > [“In writing are the roots, in writing are the foundations of eloquence; by writing resources are stored up, as it were, in a sacred…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quintilian/in-writing-are-the-roots-in-writing-are-the-foundations-of-eloquence/) [Quintilian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quintilian/) > [Virtue, though she gets her beginning from nature, yet receives her finishing touches from learning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quintilian/virtue-though-she-gets-her-beginning-from-nature-yet-receives-her/) [Quintilian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quintilian/) > [Vain hopes are like certain dreams of those who wake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quintilian/vain-hopes-are-like-certain-dreams-of-those-who-wake/) [Quintilian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quintilian/) > [Though ambition may be a fault in itself, it is often the mother of virtues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quintilian/though-ambition-may-be-a-fault-in-itself-it-is-often-the-mother-of/) [Quintilian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quintilian/) > [It is easier to do many things than to do one thing continuously for a long time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quintilian/it-is-easier-to-do-many-things-than-to-do-one-thing-continuously-for/) [Quintilian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quintilian/) > [We excuse our sloth under the pretext of difficulty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quintilian/we-excuse-our-sloth-under-the-pretext-of-difficulty/) [Quintilian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quintilian/) > [One thing, however, I must premise, that without the assistance of natural capacity, rules and precepts are of no efficacy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quintilian/one-thing-however-i-must-premise-that-without-the-assistance-of/) [Quintilian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quintilian/) > [Medicine for the dead is too late](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quintilian/medicine-for-the-dead-is-too-late/) [Quintilian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quintilian/) > [Our minds are like our stomaches; they are whetted by the change of their food, and variety supplies both with fresh appetite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quintilian/our-minds-are-like-our-stomaches-they-are-whetted-by-the-change-of/) [Quintilian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quintilian/) > [A laugh costs too much when bought at the expense of virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quintilian/a-laugh-costs-too-much-when-bought-at-the-expense-of-virtue/) [Quintilian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quintilian/) > [The soul languishing in obscurity contracts a kind of rust, or abandons itself to the chimera of presumption; for it is natural for it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quintilian/the-soul-languishing-in-obscurity-contracts-a-kind-of-rust-or/) [Quintilian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quintilian/) > [He who speaks evil only differs from his who does evil in that he lacks opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quintilian/he-who-speaks-evil-only-differs-from-his-who-does-evil-in-that-he/) [Quintilian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quintilian/) > [That which offends the ear will not easily gain admission to the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quintilian/that-which-offends-the-ear-will-not-easily-gain-admission-to-the-mind/) [Quintilian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quintilian/) > [In almost everything, experience is more valuable than precept.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quintilian/in-almost-everything-experience-is-more-valuable-than-precept/) [Quintilian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quintilian/) > [Though ambition itself be a vice, yet it is often times the cause of virtues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quintilian/though-ambition-itself-be-a-vice-yet-it-is-often-times-the-cause-of/) [Quintilian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quintilian/) [Explore all 92 Quintilian quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quintilian/) ## 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. That's why I have to give all that I can, and at least produce something that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhao-wei/i-wouldn-t-want-people-to-laugh-at-me-that-s-why-i-have-to-give-all/) [Zhao Wei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhao-wei/) > [“Our world will not die as a result of the bomb, as the papers say, it will die of laughter, of banality, of making a joke…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/our-world-will-not-die-as-a-result-of-the-bomb-as-the-papers-say-it/) [Carlos Ruiz Zafon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/) > [I've been funny my whole life. 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": "Sayings designed to raise a laugh are generally untrue and never complimentary. 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