--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Humor of all types is notoriously…" description: "\"Humor of all types is notoriously subjective. That's true not only between different people but even within an individual at different times. This subj..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec6/robert-mankoff-12259_comedy_humor-of-all-types-is-notoriously-subjec_90751.png" --- # Humor of all types is notoriously subjective. That's true… ![“Humor of all types is notoriously subjective. That's true not only between different people but even within an individual at different times. This subjectivity is often masked when your in a group because laughter is contagious.” quote by Robert Mankoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec6/robert-mankoff-12259_comedy_humor-of-all-types-is-notoriously-subjec_90751.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec6/robert-mankoff-12259_comedy_humor-of-all-types-is-notoriously-subjec_90751.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec6/robert-mankoff-12259_comedy_humor-of-all-types-is-notoriously-subjec_90751.png) > “Humor of all types is notoriously subjective. That's true not only between different people but even within an individual at different times. This subjectivity is often masked when your in a group because laughter is contagious.” [Robert Mankoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mankoff/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Explains that humor varies by individual and context, and that group settings can amplify laughter through contagion. **In simple terms:** Humor is subjective and contagious Key Takeaway Laughter spreads in groups Themes humor subjectivity social dynamics psychology culture Mood insightful lighthearted Type observational analytical When to use this quote - stand‑up comedy - team meetings - online memes Key Concepts perception emotions Practical Applications - content creation - team building Questions to Reflect On - Why does a joke land differently for the same person at different times? - How does group laughter shape collective mood? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual/) [Laughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laughter/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Subjective](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subjective/) [Subjectivity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subjectivity/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“Laughter is contagious and I'm trying to start an epidemic.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-p-clutton/laughter-is-contagious-and-i-m-trying-to-start-an-epidemic/) Michael P. Clutton > [“Smiles and laughter are contagious; feel free to spread these viruses.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tapan-ghosh/smiles-and-laughter-are-contagious-feel-free-to-spread-these-viruses/) [Tapan Ghosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tapan-ghosh/) > [I have been confronted with many difficulties throughout the course of my life, and my country is going through a critical period. But I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/i-have-been-confronted-with-many-difficulties-throughout-the-course/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [Happiness requires changing yourself and changing your world. It requires pursuing your own goals and fitting in with others. Different people at different times…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-haidt/happiness-requires-changing-yourself-and-changing-your-world-it/) [Jonathan Haidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-haidt/) > [Scientific truth is not what any one scientist puts forth. It can be that, but it is generally not. It is the sum of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/scientific-truth-is-not-what-any-one-scientist-puts-forth-it-can-be/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [With film, you have very limited tools to convey subjectivity - voiceover, the camera's point of view, good acting - but even the very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-boyd/with-film-you-have-very-limited-tools-to-convey-subjectivity/) [William Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-boyd/) > [Modernism had two great wishes. It wanted its audience to be led toward a recognition of the social reality of the sign (away from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/modernism-had-two-great-wishes-it-wanted-its-audience-to-be-led/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [As with sound, images are subjective. You and I may not see the same color red as red, but we will probably agree that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dykstra/as-with-sound-images-are-subjective-you-and-i-may-not-see-the-same/) [John Dykstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dykstra/) > [I think subjectivity plays into everything. It's unavoidable; you couldn't avoid it if you tried. I think, potentially, a lot more commercial movies, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-cole/i-think-subjectivity-plays-into-everything-it-s-unavoidable-you/) [Lily Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-cole/) > [“Films and music videos, like other media works, are machines for generating affect, and for capitalizing upon, or extracting value from, this affect. As…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-shaviro/films-and-music-videos-like-other-media-works-are-machines-for/) Steven Shaviro > [Changes is the mother of time. Absence of changes makes no time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/changes-is-the-mother-of-time-absence-of-changes-makes-no-time/) [Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/) > [“Daisuke was of course equipped with conversation that, even if they went further, would allow him to retreat as if nothing had happened. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natsume-s-seki/daisuke-was-of-course-equipped-with-conversation-that-even-if-they/) [Natsume Sōseki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natsume-s-seki/) > [To give subjectivity to the Dozier School boys is fundamentally mind-blowing. In literature, you're allowed to write from the inside, but at least most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramell-ross/to-give-subjectivity-to-the-dozier-school-boys-is-fundamentally-mind/) [RaMell Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramell-ross/) > [every subjective phenomenon is essentially connected with a single point of view, and it seems inevitable that an objective, physical theory will abandon that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-nagel/every-subjective-phenomenon-is-essentially-connected-with-a-single/) [Thomas Nagel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-nagel/) > [“Arguments led by subjectivity are a waste of time. And, if they take place online, add to that, a waste of one’s keyboard.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/arguments-led-by-subjectivity-are-a-waste-of-time-and-if-they-take/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) ## More by Robert Mankoff > [I will pick a raft of cartoons. And then later, it'll come time to run this cartoon. And I'll look at it, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mankoff/i-will-pick-a-raft-of-cartoons-and-then-later-it-ll-come-time-to-run/) [Robert Mankoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mankoff/) > ['The New Yorker' didn't invent the magazine cartoon, but it did really establish it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mankoff/the-new-yorker-didn-t-invent-the-magazine-cartoon-but-it-did-really/) [Robert Mankoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mankoff/) > [I have been married three times and it just keeps better and better, but I'm going to stop here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mankoff/i-have-been-married-three-times-and-it-just-keeps-better-and-better/) [Robert Mankoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mankoff/) > [The line between humor and bad taste is your audience, in which some people will find everything offensive, and some people will find nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mankoff/the-line-between-humor-and-bad-taste-is-your-audience-in-which-some/) [Robert Mankoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mankoff/) > [The generations that were exposed to sitcom have the people actually saying the line, saying the joke, whereas sort of before that you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mankoff/the-generations-that-were-exposed-to-sitcom-have-the-people-actually/) [Robert Mankoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mankoff/) > [When you look back at the older cartoons, they're very much more observational cartoons. And the cartoon, the people in the cartoons are not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mankoff/when-you-look-back-at-the-older-cartoons-they-re-very-much-more/) [Robert Mankoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mankoff/) > [There's usually nothing in a guy's joke in which we have to understand what's going on in someone else's mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mankoff/there-s-usually-nothing-in-a-guy-s-joke-in-which-we-have-to/) [Robert Mankoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mankoff/) > [I'm pretty adept with computers and Photoshop for my blog, and I found my style with a conversational voice and an image-ready column.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mankoff/i-m-pretty-adept-with-computers-and-photoshop-for-my-blog-and-i-found/) [Robert Mankoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mankoff/) > [Cartoons are like fruit flies. Biologists use fruit flies because their large chromosomes and short life cycle make them ideal for studying hereditary changes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mankoff/cartoons-are-like-fruit-flies-biologists-use-fruit-flies-because/) [Robert Mankoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mankoff/) > [I know everybody wants humor to be subversive and speak truth to power. I don't think power's been listening, incidentally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mankoff/i-know-everybody-wants-humor-to-be-subversive-and-speak-truth-to/) [Robert Mankoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mankoff/) > [I think what Jewish culture taught me and what the - and Jewish culture now is everyone's culture - is all these embarrassing things,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mankoff/i-think-what-jewish-culture-taught-me-and-what-the-and-jewish-culture/) [Robert Mankoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mankoff/) > [People think you get one idea for a cartoon every week, and that's not the way it works. You usually get 10 or 15,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mankoff/people-think-you-get-one-idea-for-a-cartoon-every-week-and-that-s-not/) [Robert Mankoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mankoff/) > [I'm making fun of myself and I think I'm making fun of all men in our desperate, desperate attempt to understand the people we're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mankoff/i-m-making-fun-of-myself-and-i-think-i-m-making-fun-of-all-men-in-our/) [Robert Mankoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mankoff/) > [The most popular cartoon of mine is a guy on the phone looking at his appointment book and saying "No, Thursday's out. How about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mankoff/the-most-popular-cartoon-of-mine-is-a-guy-on-the-phone-looking-at-his/) [Robert Mankoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mankoff/) > [There's public humor, and there's private humor, and they're all appropriate in their own way, and you shouldn't - just as you wouldn't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mankoff/there-s-public-humor-and-there-s-private-humor-and-they-re-all/) [Robert Mankoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mankoff/) [Explore all 55 Robert Mankoff quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mankoff/) ## 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. 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