--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I can't write a joke. I could never…" description: "\"I can't write a joke. I could never write. I do a lot of stories and I call them stories, but they're just comedy recitals on a given subject.\" — Ron S..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d34/ron-shock-31757_call_i-can-t-write-a-joke-i-could-never-write_237656.jpg" --- # I can't write a joke. I could never write. I do a lot of… ![“I can't write a joke. I could never write. I do a lot of stories and I call them stories, but they're just comedy recitals on a given subject.” quote by Ron Shock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d34/ron-shock-31757_call_i-can-t-write-a-joke-i-could-never-write_237656.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d34/ron-shock-31757_call_i-can-t-write-a-joke-i-could-never-write_237656.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d34/ron-shock-31757_call_i-can-t-write-a-joke-i-could-never-write_237656.jpg) > “I can't write a joke. I could never write. I do a lot of stories and I call them stories, but they're just comedy recitals on a given subject.” [Ron Shock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-shock/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self‑doubt about humor can block creative output; humor requires practice and risk‑taking. **In simple terms:** I doubt my comedic ability. Key Takeaway Practice jokes regularly, accept imperfect attempts. Themes self‑doubt comedy creativity Mood playful encouraging Type personal creative When to use this quote - open‑mic nights - writing prompts - improv classes - online sketches Key Concepts performance storytelling Questions to Reflect On - What topics make you laugh? - How can you test jokes safely? A Different Perspective Comedy success often needs audience feedback. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Joke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joke/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [Writing comedy is an exposing thing because you're putting yourself on the line with every joke you write, and although you can't second-guess an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-tate/writing-comedy-is-an-exposing-thing-because-you-re-putting-yourself/) [Catherine Tate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-tate/) > [A professional writer is a joke. You write because you can't do anything else, and then you have another job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamaica-kincaid/a-professional-writer-is-a-joke-you-write-because-you-can-t-do/) [Jamaica Kincaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamaica-kincaid/) > [I never really feel like just standing there and telling jokes. I want to move around. In fact, it's hard for me to write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-d-elia/i-never-really-feel-like-just-standing-there-and-telling-jokes-i-want/) [Chris D'Elia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-d-elia/) > [I'll think of the idea and then I'll write something down, then within that there will be a joke or two which is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cross/i-ll-think-of-the-idea-and-then-i-ll-write-something-down-then-within/) [David Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cross/) > [I get so happy when I write a joke. It's a very satisfying, liberating feeling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-rudner/i-get-so-happy-when-i-write-a-joke-it-s-a-very-satisfying-liberating/) [Rita Rudner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-rudner/) > [I was desperate for new material, so anything I can write a joke about that works is in the act. No matter who it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-white/i-was-desperate-for-new-material-so-anything-i-can-write-a-joke-about/) [Ron White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-white/) > [You know, I liken it to - when you write a joke for somebody else, it's like you - you know, like the Wile…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-brennan/you-know-i-liken-it-to-when-you-write-a-joke-for-somebody-else-it-s/) [Neal Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-brennan/) > [If I write a joke and it works, and it works consistently, that is gold to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-millican/if-i-write-a-joke-and-it-works-and-it-works-consistently-that-is-gold/) [Sarah Millican](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-millican/) > [Anytime I can get either of them really laughing, I immediately pull out a pad of paper write the joke down, regardless of where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-marra/anytime-i-can-get-either-of-them-really-laughing-i-immediately-pull/) [Anthony Marra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-marra/) > [You could write a joke in the pub at lunchtime and watch it performed on television that evening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-idle/you-could-write-a-joke-in-the-pub-at-lunchtime-and-watch-it-performed/) [Eric Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-idle/) > [If I sit down to write a joke about, whatever, the polluted Gulf of Mexico, it comes out mundane to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-white/if-i-sit-down-to-write-a-joke-about-whatever-the-polluted-gulf-of/) [Ron White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-white/) > [Stand-up comedy is what I do, and it's so rewarding. If you write a joke and tell it to an audience of 15,000 people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mcintyre/stand-up-comedy-is-what-i-do-and-it-s-so-rewarding-if-you-write-a/) [Michael McIntyre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mcintyre/) > [I loved the idea that I could write a joke and someone else would have to take the risk of performing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judd-apatow/i-loved-the-idea-that-i-could-write-a-joke-and-someone-else-would/) [Judd Apatow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judd-apatow/) > [I could write a joke song really easily, but I think something that might be true for my generation is that there's a certain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-furman/i-could-write-a-joke-song-really-easily-but-i-think-something-that/) [Ezra Furman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-furman/) > [If I can write a joke about something that happened that was awful, it's like OK that happened and I have this money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-tomlinson/if-i-can-write-a-joke-about-something-that-happened-that-was-awful-it/) [Taylor Tomlinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-tomlinson/) ## More by Ron Shock > [If the Bible is correct, and the Earth is only 6,000 years old, that means there were no dinosaurs, and museum curators have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-shock/if-the-bible-is-correct-and-the-earth-is-only-6-000-years-old-that/) [Ron Shock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-shock/) > [I prefer to have one gigantic laugh preceded by several smaller laughs rather than a bunch of medium laughs all along.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-shock/i-prefer-to-have-one-gigantic-laugh-preceded-by-several-smaller/) [Ron Shock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-shock/) > [There's probably been very few people in comedy that have a diversified background as I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-shock/there-s-probably-been-very-few-people-in-comedy-that-have-a/) [Ron Shock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-shock/) > [I'm an orator, a raconteur.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-shock/i-m-an-orator-a-raconteur/) [Ron Shock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-shock/) > [I'm a storyteller. I'm not like any other comic. I tell detailed stories - not made-up stuff, but true stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-shock/i-m-a-storyteller-i-m-not-like-any-other-comic-i-tell-detailed/) [Ron Shock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-shock/) > [I always wanted to be a comedian, but I wasn't sure how you do that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-shock/i-always-wanted-to-be-a-comedian-but-i-wasn-t-sure-how-you-do-that/) [Ron Shock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-shock/) > [It has been a wonderful life for me. It's just been a blessing. I can't say I would have done it any other way.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-shock/it-has-been-a-wonderful-life-for-me-it-s-just-been-a-blessing-i-can-t/) [Ron Shock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-shock/) > [Most people are used to the T.V. comedy method of one joke every 18 seconds. And that's why it's not funny... There's no time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-shock/most-people-are-used-to-the-t-v-comedy-method-of-one-joke-every-18/) [Ron Shock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-shock/) > [Fortunately for me, or unfortunately, they made me an editor of the Parish Prison Pelican. I could read and write, and I had a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-shock/fortunately-for-me-or-unfortunately-they-made-me-an-editor-of-the/) [Ron Shock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-shock/) > [I came to Vegas because I wanted to, not because I thought it could help my career. I didn't even know they had comedy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-shock/i-came-to-vegas-because-i-wanted-to-not-because-i-thought-it-could/) [Ron Shock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-shock/) > [I didn't get rich and famous, but I do what I love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-shock/i-didn-t-get-rich-and-famous-but-i-do-what-i-love/) [Ron Shock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-shock/) > [Each piece I tell stands on its own, and then it all ties together. It segues from story to story, and then I wrap…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-shock/each-piece-i-tell-stands-on-its-own-and-then-it-all-ties-together-it/) [Ron Shock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-shock/) > [I look at things logically. The humor I do is to go from A to B to C to D, and F is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-shock/i-look-at-things-logically-the-humor-i-do-is-to-go-from-a-to-b-to-c/) [Ron Shock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-shock/) > [I only have eight jokes, but I can do 'em over a two-hour period of time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-shock/i-only-have-eight-jokes-but-i-can-do-em-over-a-two-hour-period-of-time/) [Ron Shock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-shock/) > [I have a routine I go through on the days that I work, and I don't want to divert from that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-shock/i-have-a-routine-i-go-through-on-the-days-that-i-work-and-i-don-t/) [Ron Shock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-shock/) [Explore all 16 Ron Shock quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-shock/) ## More Call quotes > [Some would call me an environmentalist. I don't know why. I reuse the water that falls in my backyard in the winter. I reuse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-begley-jr/some-would-call-me-an-environmentalist-i-don-t-know-why-i-reuse-the/) [Ed Begley, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-begley-jr/) > [I call myself an educator.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliyahu-goldratt/i-call-myself-an-educator/) [Eliyahu Goldratt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliyahu-goldratt/) > [I would call myself a Gnostic. Which means, I'm interested in pursuing and understanding the spiritual nature of things. A Gnostic is somebody seeking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crumb/i-would-call-myself-a-gnostic-which-means-i-m-interested-in-pursuing/) [Robert Crumb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crumb/) > [Most of black America is in housing projects, without jobs, living on welfare. And this is not the case in 'The Cosby Show,' because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-wilson/most-of-black-america-is-in-housing-projects-without-jobs-living-on/) [August Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-wilson/) > [We only call at ducks when their rear ends are towards us. If I'm looking at you and you call my name, then I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jase-robertson/we-only-call-at-ducks-when-their-rear-ends-are-towards-us-if-i-m/) [Jase Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jase-robertson/) > [As someone who came to New York in the 1970s, I was, like so many of my friends, a certified member of what we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graydon-carter/as-someone-who-came-to-new-york-in-the-1970s-i-was-like-so-many-of-my/) [Graydon Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graydon-carter/) > [Most people I know are not hard-core religious people. They are what I would call 'lightly religious.' So I don't buy the notion that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trey-parker/most-people-i-know-are-not-hard-core-religious-people-they-are-what-i/) [Trey Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trey-parker/) > [Obama did organize a great large number of people and many enthusiastic people, what's called in the press 'Obama's Army.' But the army is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/obama-did-organize-a-great-large-number-of-people-and-many/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [It's always a wake-up call to get beaten.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/usain-bolt/it-s-always-a-wake-up-call-to-get-beaten/) [Usain Bolt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/usain-bolt/) > [You've got Washington picking winners and losers. And so, all of a sudden, decisions are being made on what helps politicians, not what helps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeb-hensarling/you-ve-got-washington-picking-winners-and-losers-and-so-all-of-a/) [Jeb Hensarling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeb-hensarling/) > [If LFC call, you have to listen and think about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timo-werner/if-lfc-call-you-have-to-listen-and-think-about-it/) [Timo Werner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timo-werner/) > [It's silly to call me the new Ed Sheeran. He can fill stadiums as a solo artist, but I'm not like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bay/it-s-silly-to-call-me-the-new-ed-sheeran-he-can-fill-stadiums-as-a/) [James Bay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bay/) > [I'm doing what all modern artists do now, which is nothing - just sit around and dream about things. I'll do what they call…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-al-bengston/i-m-doing-what-all-modern-artists-do-now-which-is-nothing-just-sit/) [Billy Al Bengston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-al-bengston/) > [It's funny how you call me a celebrity. Oh man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-hill/it-s-funny-how-you-call-me-a-celebrity-oh-man/) [Steven Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-hill/) > [There is no secret to success except hard work and getting something indefinable which we call 'the breaks.' In order for a writer to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/countee-cullen/there-is-no-secret-to-success-except-hard-work-and-getting-something/) [Countee Cullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/countee-cullen/) Browse all 1,525 Call quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I can't write a joke. I could never write. 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