--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm nuts and I know it. But so long as I…" description: "\"I'm nuts and I know it. But so long as I make 'em laugh, they ain't going to lock me up.\" — Red Skelton" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/178/red-skelton-12704_laughter_i-m-nuts-and-i-know-it-but-so-long-as-i_889968.jpg" --- # I'm nuts and I know it. But so long as I make 'em laugh… ![“I'm nuts and I know it. But so long as I make 'em laugh, they ain't going to lock me up.” quote by Red Skelton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/178/red-skelton-12704_laughter_i-m-nuts-and-i-know-it-but-so-long-as-i_889968.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/178/red-skelton-12704_laughter_i-m-nuts-and-i-know-it-but-so-long-as-i_889968.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/178/red-skelton-12704_laughter_i-m-nuts-and-i-know-it-but-so-long-as-i_889968.jpg) > “I'm nuts and I know it. But so long as I make 'em laugh, they ain't going to lock me up.” [Red Skelton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-skelton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Using humor as a coping mechanism to avoid confinement and maintain personal freedom. **In simple terms:** Comedy can protect you from being locked up. Key Takeaway Use humor wisely, but seek deeper help. Themes humor self‑preservation freedom mental health society Mood lighthearted defensive thoughtful Type counseling inspirational When to use this quote - stand‑up performances - daily stress relief - therapy sessions Key Concepts defense mechanisms social control comedy therapy Questions to Reflect On - What are the limits of humor in coping? - When should you seek professional help? A Different Perspective Humor may mask underlying issues needing treatment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Laugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laugh/) [Laughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laughter/) ## Related quotes > [I'm used to people thinking I'm nuts. And you know what? I kind of love it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-spacey/i-m-used-to-people-thinking-i-m-nuts-and-you-know-what-i-kind-of-love/) [Kevin Spacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-spacey/) > [My way of making people like me was to make 'em laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrot-top/my-way-of-making-people-like-me-was-to-make-em-laugh/) [Carrot Top](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrot-top/) > [“You are really nuts, you know it? One a these days they're gonna come over and just lock you up! You aren't playing with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicki-lawrence/you-are-really-nuts-you-know-it-one-a-these-days-they-re-gonna-come/) [Vicki Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicki-lawrence/) > [Sometimes the best way to make 'em laugh is to show 'em how you honestly feel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-lovitz/sometimes-the-best-way-to-make-em-laugh-is-to-show-em-how-you/) [Jon Lovitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-lovitz/) > [When I play a song for someone the first time, if I make 'em laugh, I think, 'Yes, I've succeeded.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tove-lo/when-i-play-a-song-for-someone-the-first-time-if-i-make-em-laugh-i/) [Tove Lo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tove-lo/) > [The song 'Make 'Em Laugh' is genius.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-cribbins/the-song-make-em-laugh-is-genius/) [Bernard Cribbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-cribbins/) > [“When in doubt - make'em laugh.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-jones/when-in-doubt-make-em-laugh/) Raymond Jones > [Make 'em laugh; make 'em cry; make 'em wait.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-reade/make-em-laugh-make-em-cry-make-em-wait/) [Charles Reade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-reade/) > [You didn't want to laugh, did you? It wasn't very funny, was it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-kennedy/you-didn-t-want-to-laugh-did-you-it-wasn-t-very-funny-was-it/) [Graham Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-kennedy/) > [There isn't a sound better than your own child's laugh...There isn't a sight better than your own child's smile...and Nothing is better than being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/there-isn-t-a-sound-better-than-your-own-child-s-laugh-there-isn-t-a/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [Edgy is fine - I'm not a prude by any stretch of the imagination - but what's wrong with a good ol' belly laugh?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-burnett/edgy-is-fine-i-m-not-a-prude-by-any-stretch-of-the-imagination-but/) [Carol Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-burnett/) > [Laughter is one of the great beacons in life because we don't refract it by gunning it through our intellectual prism. What makes us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-miller/laughter-is-one-of-the-great-beacons-in-life-because-we-don-t-refract/) [Dennis Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-miller/) > [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/) > [“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/) > [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/) ## More by Red Skelton > [I married Miss Right. I just didn't know her first name was Always](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-skelton/i-married-miss-right-i-just-didn-t-know-her-first-name-was-always/) [Red Skelton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-skelton/) > [I've put on a lot of weight... I only weighed six and a half pounds when I was born.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-skelton/i-ve-put-on-a-lot-of-weight-i-only-weighed-six-and-a-half-pounds-when/) [Red Skelton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-skelton/) > [I left home because I was hungry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-skelton/i-left-home-because-i-was-hungry/) [Red Skelton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-skelton/) > [When anyone hurts us, my wife and I sit in our Japanese sand garden and drink iced tea. There are five stone in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-skelton/when-anyone-hurts-us-my-wife-and-i-sit-in-our-japanese-sand-garden/) [Red Skelton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-skelton/) > [God's children and their happiness are my reasons for being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-skelton/god-s-children-and-their-happiness-are-my-reasons-for-being/) [Red Skelton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-skelton/) > [Recipe for a happy marriage: My wife and I always hold hands. If I let go, she shops.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-skelton/recipe-for-a-happy-marriage-my-wife-and-i-always-hold-hands-if-i-let/) [Red Skelton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-skelton/) > [I only come to life when there are people watching.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-skelton/i-only-come-to-life-when-there-are-people-watching/) [Red Skelton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-skelton/) > [Today's comics use four-letter words as a shortcut to thinking. They're shooting for that big laugh and it becomes a panic thing, using four-letter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-skelton/today-s-comics-use-four-letter-words-as-a-shortcut-to-thinking-they/) [Red Skelton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-skelton/) > [I was a sober as the next guy. The only problem is the next guy was Dean Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-skelton/i-was-a-sober-as-the-next-guy-the-only-problem-is-the-next-guy-was/) [Red Skelton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-skelton/) > [If I can make people smile, then I have served my purpose for God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-skelton/if-i-can-make-people-smile-then-i-have-served-my-purpose-for-god/) [Red Skelton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-skelton/) > [If by chance some day you're not feeling well and you should remember some silly thing I've said or done and it brings back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-skelton/if-by-chance-some-day-you-re-not-feeling-well-and-you-should-remember/) [Red Skelton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-skelton/) > [I consider the television set as the American fireplace, around which the whole family will gather.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-skelton/i-consider-the-television-set-as-the-american-fireplace-around-which/) [Red Skelton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-skelton/) > [Old age is when broadness of the mind and narrowness of the waist change places.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-skelton/old-age-is-when-broadness-of-the-mind-and-narrowness-of-the-waist/) [Red Skelton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-skelton/) > [I asked my wife where she wanted to go for our anniversary. 'Somewhere I haven't been in a long time!' she said. So I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-skelton/i-asked-my-wife-where-she-wanted-to-go-for-our-anniversary-somewhere/) [Red Skelton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-skelton/) > [I just want to be known as a clown, because to me that's the height of my profession. It means you can do everything—sing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-skelton/i-just-want-to-be-known-as-a-clown-because-to-me-that-s-the-height-of/) [Red Skelton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-skelton/) [Explore all 53 Red Skelton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-skelton/) ## 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": "I'm nuts and I know it. 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