--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Style tells you a lot more about the…" description: "\"Style tells you a lot more about the truth than substance, because it comes at the truth in an oblique way, it comes in on a slant, it doesn't tell you..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/190/robert-benton-21053_laughing_style-tells-you-a-lot-more-about-the-tru_83767.png" --- # Style tells you a lot more about the truth than substance… ![“Style tells you a lot more about the truth than substance, because it comes at the truth in an oblique way, it comes in on a slant, it doesn't tell you what it is. It's unexpected and it makes you laugh and think.” quote by Robert Benton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/190/robert-benton-21053_laughing_style-tells-you-a-lot-more-about-the-tru_83767.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/190/robert-benton-21053_laughing_style-tells-you-a-lot-more-about-the-tru_83767.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/190/robert-benton-21053_laughing_style-tells-you-a-lot-more-about-the-tru_83767.png) > “Style tells you a lot more about the truth than substance, because it comes at the truth in an oblique way, it comes in on a slant, it doesn't tell you what it is. It's unexpected and it makes you laugh and think.” [Robert Benton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Style reveals hidden truths indirectly, using indirect presentation to provoke surprise, humor, and reflection. **In simple terms:** Style exposes truth obliquely. Key Takeaway Style can convey deeper meaning than content. Themes perception communication humor critical thinking subtlety Mood playful thoughtful ironic Type observation philosophical humorous When to use this quote - reading literature - analyzing speeches - design critique - marketing messaging - film direction Key Concepts style truth obliqueness surprise Practical Applications - creative writing - branding strategy Questions to Reflect On - How does style shape our understanding of a message? - When does style outweigh substance? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Style](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/style/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [What is truth?" said jesting Pilate, and would not stay for an answer. Pilate was in advance of his time. For "truth" itself is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-l-austin/what-is-truth-said-jesting-pilate-and-would-not-stay-for-an-answer/) [J. L. Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-l-austin/) > [Morality is the basis of things and truth is the substance of all morality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/morality-is-the-basis-of-things-and-truth-is-the-substance-of-all/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“The best lies are always flavoured with the truth but if the substance is rotten, it will stink no matter how much you try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-r-c-kasasian/the-best-lies-are-always-flavoured-with-the-truth-but-if-the/) [M.R.C. Kasasian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-r-c-kasasian/) > [That's actually a rare thing to be on a set full of people that you admire and make you laugh all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-helms/that-s-actually-a-rare-thing-to-be-on-a-set-full-of-people-that-you/) [Ed Helms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-helms/) > [I think that when you’re doing a comedy and it makes you laugh, there’s a certain… like you can reject it, and it’s okay.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pena/i-think-that-when-you-re-doing-a-comedy-and-it-makes-you-laugh-there/) [Michael Pena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pena/) > [A poet or a comedian can say what's on the mind of people. They should be funny. They should make you laugh. It may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-simmons/a-poet-or-a-comedian-can-say-what-s-on-the-mind-of-people-they-should/) [Russell Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-simmons/) > [In a library, you can find small miracles and truth, and you might find something that will make you laugh so hard that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/in-a-library-you-can-find-small-miracles-and-truth-and-you-might-find/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [ I think \[director\] Malcolm Lee is a real master at being able to make you laugh while bringing serious subject-matter, so the movie doesn't… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ice-cube/i-think-director-malcolm-lee-is-a-real-master-at-being-able-to-make/) [Ice Cube](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-cube/) > [I think that's part of being a comedy writer. You have to be confident. If you're sitting around worrying about, like, oh my God,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mandel/i-think-that-s-part-of-being-a-comedy-writer-you-have-to-be-confident/) [David Mandel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mandel/) > [A grave aspect to a grave character is of much more consequence than the world is generally aware of; a barber may make you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/a-grave-aspect-to-a-grave-character-is-of-much-more-consequence-than/) [Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/) > [If you date someone who isn't very good-looking but makes you laugh, you will never forget it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolina-herrera/if-you-date-someone-who-isn-t-very-good-looking-but-makes-you-laugh/) [Carolina Herrera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolina-herrera/) > [As comedians, we have the opportunity to convey a message that will have an effect. The best can make you laugh and cry, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-pharoah/as-comedians-we-have-the-opportunity-to-convey-a-message-that-will/) [Jay Pharoah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-pharoah/) > [Anything with the power to make you laugh over thirty years later isn’t a waste of time. I think something like that is very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/anything-with-the-power-to-make-you-laugh-over-thirty-years-later-isn/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [Yeah, this is what I think was a quality of movies, is you're in a group of people. You're sharing something with people. Whether…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-reubens/yeah-this-is-what-i-think-was-a-quality-of-movies-is-you-re-in-a/) [Paul Reubens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-reubens/) > [Real life is a story, too, only much more complicated. It’s still got a beginning, a middle, and an end. Everyone follows the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-wooding/real-life-is-a-story-too-only-much-more-complicated-it-s-still-got-a/) [Chris Wooding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-wooding/) ## More by Robert Benton > [I couldn't sit down and write a novel or a short story - even now - because of my dyslexia. But I learned narration…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benton/i-couldn-t-sit-down-and-write-a-novel-or-a-short-story-even-now/) [Robert Benton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benton/) > [I was dyslexic as a child and it took me years to get passed that. I read a lot but it was hard and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benton/i-was-dyslexic-as-a-child-and-it-took-me-years-to-get-passed-that-i/) [Robert Benton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benton/) > [Style lasts forever and taste doesn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benton/style-lasts-forever-and-taste-doesn-t/) [Robert Benton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benton/) > [My education was an education by movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benton/my-education-was-an-education-by-movies/) [Robert Benton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benton/) > [All my life I've felt like somebody's wife, or somebody's mother or somebody's daughter. Even all the time we were together, I never knew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benton/all-my-life-i-ve-felt-like-somebody-s-wife-or-somebody-s-mother-or/) [Robert Benton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benton/) > [The thing I loved the most about being art director was picking the photographers and working with them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benton/the-thing-i-loved-the-most-about-being-art-director-was-picking-the/) [Robert Benton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benton/) > [Twilight is about getting older and relationships - not about a murder mystery. It's about love when you reach a certain age; nothing is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benton/twilight-is-about-getting-older-and-relationships-not-about-a-murder/) [Robert Benton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benton/) > [Movie narration in the forties was radically different than the narrative involved in books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benton/movie-narration-in-the-forties-was-radically-different-than-the/) [Robert Benton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benton/) > [New York was big enough and wide enough that it allowed for reasonably eccentric people like me to thrive. It was a perfect place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benton/new-york-was-big-enough-and-wide-enough-that-it-allowed-for/) [Robert Benton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benton/) > [There was a kind of cultural life in New York that wasn't as solidified as it is now, it wasn't as money-driven. If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benton/there-was-a-kind-of-cultural-life-in-new-york-that-wasn-t-as/) [Robert Benton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benton/) > [Sometimes other people have better ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benton/sometimes-other-people-have-better-ideas/) [Robert Benton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benton/) > [I'd like to know what law is it that says that a woman is a better parent, simply by virtue of her sex.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benton/i-d-like-to-know-what-law-is-it-that-says-that-a-woman-is-a-better/) [Robert Benton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benton/) > [Although I had a few jobs that I didn't like, or quit, or got fired from, I really loved New York from the moment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benton/although-i-had-a-few-jobs-that-i-didn-t-like-or-quit-or-got-fired/) [Robert Benton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benton/) > [In America, people rarely stay in the town where they grew up, rarely stay in close proximity to their parents throughout their lives. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benton/in-america-people-rarely-stay-in-the-town-where-they-grew-up-rarely/) [Robert Benton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benton/) > [Everybody thought New York was this hard, cruel place, and I found it to be an extraordinarily wonderful place filled with the most interesting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benton/everybody-thought-new-york-was-this-hard-cruel-place-and-i-found-it/) [Robert Benton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benton/) [Explore all 30 Robert Benton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benton/) ## More Laughing quotes > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [(knitting while on a motorcycle) "For several years she knitted in secret (my father would not approve; she was to concentrate on motorcycling and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-zimmermann/knitting-while-on-a-motorcycle-for-several-years-she-knitted-in/) [Elizabeth Zimmermann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-zimmermann/) > [“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 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/) > [We do not claim that punning is legitimate wit. Wit consists in combination of ideas, punning in combination of words only. We wonder at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-hosmer/we-do-not-claim-that-punning-is-legitimate-wit-wit-consists-in/) [Harriet Hosmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-hosmer/) > [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/) > [Nothing's funnier to me than laughing at myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-mcgraw/nothing-s-funnier-to-me-than-laughing-at-myself/) [Phil McGraw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-mcgraw/) > [“I hate the way you talk to me And the way you cut your hair I hate the way you drive my car I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/i-hate-the-way-you-talk-to-me-and-the-way-you-cut-your-hair-i-hate/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [The spring came suddenly, bursting upon the world as a child bursts into a room, with a laugh and a shout and hands full…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/the-spring-came-suddenly-bursting-upon-the-world-as-a-child-bursts/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) > [For war to man, like childbirth to women, is simplifying in its emotions and activities. All the real problems of life can be put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-s-buck/for-war-to-man-like-childbirth-to-women-is-simplifying-in-its/) [Pearl S. Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-s-buck/) > [The major caveat in all of comedy is that it's all instinctive. There's no true criteria. There is no right or wrong. Ultimately, often…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-charles/the-major-caveat-in-all-of-comedy-is-that-it-s-all-instinctive-there/) [Larry Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-charles/) > [In theater, one of the biggest problems when you're rehearsing comedy over and over again is that you stop laughing at each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-ashley-carter/in-theater-one-of-the-biggest-problems-when-you-re-rehearsing-comedy/) [Lauren Ashley Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-ashley-carter/) > [If somebody tells you 'History will never forgive you,' just laugh at him! Because when the history comes, you won't be here! The threat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/if-somebody-tells-you-history-will-never-forgive-you-just-laugh-at/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [We're all basically decent human beings so if 3,000 people are laughing at a joke then it's worth telling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-mack/we-re-all-basically-decent-human-beings-so-if-3-000-people-are/) [Lee Mack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-mack/) > [I've been a poser for f--ing years. I say, pose your arse off. You know, have a laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-connolly/i-ve-been-a-poser-for-f-ing-years-i-say-pose-your-arse-off-you-know/) [Billy Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-connolly/) Browse all 6,780 Laughing quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Style tells you a lot more about the truth than substance, because it comes at the truth in an oblique way, it comes in on a slant, it doesn't tell you what it is. 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