--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Humor is a great defense, and an offense…" description: "\"Humor is a great defense, and an offense too. Usually the recipient isn't too happy about it, but the people around are laughing.\" — Robin Williams" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/132/robin-williams-682_comedy_humor-is-a-great-defense-and-an-offense_17397.jpg" --- # Humor is a great defense, and an offense too. Usually the… ![“Humor is a great defense, and an offense too. Usually the recipient isn't too happy about it, but the people around are laughing.” quote by Robin Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/132/robin-williams-682_comedy_humor-is-a-great-defense-and-an-offense_17397.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/132/robin-williams-682_comedy_humor-is-a-great-defense-and-an-offense_17397.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/132/robin-williams-682_comedy_humor-is-a-great-defense-and-an-offense_17397.jpg) > “Humor is a great defense, and an offense too. Usually the recipient isn't too happy about it, but the people around are laughing.” [Robin Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-williams/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Humor can protect us and also serve as a strategic tool, even if the target feels discomfort, while observers find it amusing. **In simple terms:** Humor as both shield and weapon. Key Takeaway Comedy can defuse or provoke. Themes communication social dynamics psychology conflict empathy Mood wry playful Type observation advice When to use this quote - debates - office meetings - stand‑up comedy - political rallies - family gatherings Key Concepts defense mechanism offensive strategy group cohesion Practical Applications - diffusing tension - shifting power balance Questions to Reflect On - When does humor cross the line from playful to harmful? - How can we gauge the audience's tolerance before using humor as a tactic? A Different Perspective Humor may alienate the subject, eroding trust and causing resentment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Defense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defense/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Humor Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor-great-386309/) [Laughing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laughing/) [Offense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/offense/) [Offense Usually](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/offense-usually-386310/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Laughing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-laughing-330657/) ## Related quotes > [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/) > [What's important is passion, investment, and people laughing out loud as they work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-harmon/what-s-important-is-passion-investment-and-people-laughing-out-loud/) [Dan Harmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-harmon/) > [In an odd way, my parents were proud of me. When they saw me do stand-up, I'd see them looking around the room and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lizz-winstead/in-an-odd-way-my-parents-were-proud-of-me-when-they-saw-me-do-stand/) [Lizz Winstead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lizz-winstead/) > [“One's theories, after all, matter little, it is one's humor that is the great thing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-james/one-s-theories-after-all-matter-little-it-is-one-s-humor-that-is-the/) [Henry James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-james/) > [Humor is the great thing, the saving thing after all. The minute it crops up, all our hardnesses yield, all our irritations, and resentments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/humor-is-the-great-thing-the-saving-thing-after-all-the-minute-it/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [“Humor is the great thing, the saving thing. The minute it crops up, all our irritations and resentments slip away and a sunny spirit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/humor-is-the-great-thing-the-saving-thing-the-minute-it-crops-up-all/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [I defuse everything I can with it. Humor is such a great shield.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-paisley/i-defuse-everything-i-can-with-it-humor-is-such-a-great-shield/) [Brad Paisley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-paisley/) > [Humor is this great equalizer. It gets people's defenses down, and once they're down, you can discuss some really difficult topics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luvvie-ajayi/humor-is-this-great-equalizer-it-gets-people-s-defenses-down-and-once/) [Luvvie Ajayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luvvie-ajayi/) > [Sites like Funny or Die and College Humor are great, but I'd say it's appealing to 80% men and 20% women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zooey-deschanel/sites-like-funny-or-die-and-college-humor-are-great-but-i-d-say-it-s/) [Zooey Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zooey-deschanel/) > [Humor is the great thing, the saving thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/humor-is-the-great-thing-the-saving-thing/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Humor is such a great gift - why leave it to chance?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-goodman/humor-is-such-a-great-gift-why-leave-it-to-chance/) [Joel Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-goodman/) > [Humor is a great way to relieve stress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-maslach/humor-is-a-great-way-to-relieve-stress/) [Christina Maslach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-maslach/) > [How come there's no terrorism with humor, which is a great way to humiliate your enemy? It's a great time for that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/how-come-there-s-no-terrorism-with-humor-which-is-a-great-way-to/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [President Ford used humor a great deal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-orben/president-ford-used-humor-a-great-deal/) [Robert Orben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-orben/) > [Humor itself is a great disinfectant. It enables people to listen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/humor-itself-is-a-great-disinfectant-it-enables-people-to-listen/) [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) ## More by Robin Williams > [On stage you're free. You can say and do things that if you said and did any place else, you'd be arrested.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-williams/on-stage-you-re-free-you-can-say-and-do-things-that-if-you-said-and/) [Robin Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-williams/) > [What's wrong with death sir? What are we so mortally afraid of? Why can't we treat death with a certain amount of humanity and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-williams/what-s-wrong-with-death-sir-what-are-we-so-mortally-afraid-of-why-can/) [Robin Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-williams/) > [Spring is nature's way of saying, 'Let's party!'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-williams/spring-is-nature-s-way-of-saying-let-s-party/) [Robin Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-williams/) > [I had sex with a prostitute when I was 21, I was so bad, she gave me a refund.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-williams/i-had-sex-with-a-prostitute-when-i-was-21-i-was-so-bad-she-gave-me-a/) [Robin Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-williams/) > [We were talking briefly about cocaine... yeah. Anything that makes you paranoid and impotent, give me more of that!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-williams/we-were-talking-briefly-about-cocaine-yeah-anything-that-makes-you/) [Robin Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-williams/) > [In America they really do mythologise people when they die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-williams/in-america-they-really-do-mythologise-people-when-they-die/) [Robin Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-williams/) > [I always thought the idea of education was to learn to think for yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-williams/i-always-thought-the-idea-of-education-was-to-learn-to-think-for/) [Robin Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-williams/) > [I was a serious method actor until I visited this site.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-williams/i-was-a-serious-method-actor-until-i-visited-this-site/) [Robin Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-williams/) > [I'm history! No, I'm mythology! Nah, I don't care what I am, I'm free!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-williams/i-m-history-no-i-m-mythology-nah-i-don-t-care-what-i-am-i-m-free/) [Robin Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-williams/) > [But only in their dreams can men be truly free. It was always thus and always thus will be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-williams/but-only-in-their-dreams-can-men-be-truly-free-it-was-always-thus-and/) [Robin Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-williams/) > [People say satire is dead. It's not dead; it's alive and living in the White House.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-williams/people-say-satire-is-dead-it-s-not-dead-it-s-alive-and-living-in-the/) [Robin Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-williams/) > [For me, comedy starts as a spew, a kind of explosion, and then you sculpt it from there, if at all. It comes out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-williams/for-me-comedy-starts-as-a-spew-a-kind-of-explosion-and-then-you/) [Robin Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-williams/) > [Carpe per diem - seize the check.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-williams/carpe-per-diem-seize-the-check/) [Robin Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-williams/) > [Cable is not bound because people pay for it. It's literally a choice, that's the operative word. If you don't like the language, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-williams/cable-is-not-bound-because-people-pay-for-it-it-s-literally-a-choice/) [Robin Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-williams/) > [I was once walking in an airport and a woman came up to me and said, 'Be zany!'. That'd be like walking up to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-williams/i-was-once-walking-in-an-airport-and-a-woman-came-up-to-me-and-said/) [Robin Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-williams/) [Explore all 413 Robin Williams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-williams/) ## 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": "Humor is a great defense, and an offense too. 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