---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What had been so funny? But you can never…"
description: "\"“What had been so funny? But you can never remember what you were laughing about, and even if you could, it seems doubtful that it would still be funny..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95d/rufi-thorpe-47765_comedy_what-had-been-so-funny-but-you-can-never_2536846.jpg"
---

#  What had been so funny? But you can never remember what…

![“What had been so funny? But you can never remember what you were laughing about, and even if you could, it seems doubtful that it would still be funny.” quote by Rufi Thorpe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95d/rufi-thorpe-47765_comedy_what-had-been-so-funny-but-you-can-never_2536846.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95d/rufi-thorpe-47765_comedy_what-had-been-so-funny-but-you-can-never_2536846.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95d/rufi-thorpe-47765_comedy_what-had-been-so-funny-but-you-can-never_2536846.jpg)

> ““What had been so funny? But you can never remember what you were laughing about, and even if you could, it seems doubtful that it would still be funny.””

[Rufi Thorpe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufi-thorpe/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Humor fades quickly; even recalling it may not revive its humor, highlighting memory’s limits.

**In simple terms:** Laughter is fleeting and hard to recall.

Key Takeaway

Accept that some moments are unrepeatable.

Themes

humor memory ephemerality

Mood

reflective lighthearted

Type

philosophical psychological

When to use this quote

- stand‑up comedy
- writing jokes
- memory training
- mindfulness

Key Concepts

cognitive psychology subjectivity

Questions to Reflect On

- Why do we forget why we laughed?
- Can we recreate humor intentionally?

A Different Perspective

May underestimate the value of humor in coping.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Doubtful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubtful/) [Doubtful Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubtful-funny-1396534/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Funny Remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny-remember-1396535/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Laughing Doubtful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laughing-doubtful-1396533/) [Laughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laughter/) [Remember Laughing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remember-laughing-368266/)

## Related quotes

> [“Most of all, I remember her laughing. It filled my ears. Her smile, her sparkling eyes, and her infectious laughter, along with the vistas,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-e-rainey/most-of-all-i-remember-her-laughing-it-filled-my-ears-her-smile-her/)

[Sharon E. Rainey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-e-rainey/)

> [Whatever it is probably won't go away, so we might as well live and laugh through it. When we double over laughing, we're bending…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-johnson/whatever-it-is-probably-won-t-go-away-so-we-might-as-well-live-and/)

[Barbara Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-johnson/)

> [Its funny how I remember all the lyrics to every song from the 90²s, but forget why I walked into the next room.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/punkinhead-abhishek/its-funny-how-i-remember-all-the-lyrics-to-every-song-from-the-90-s/)

[Punkinhead Abhishek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/punkinhead-abhishek/)

> [There comes a time when suddenly you realize that laughter is something you remember and that you were the one laughing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlene-dietrich/there-comes-a-time-when-suddenly-you-realize-that-laughter-is/)

[Marlene Dietrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlene-dietrich/)

> [I remember how we were back then. The laughing ans smiling. But what happened ? Did I do something wrong, or was it you..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-remember-how-we-were-back-then-the-laughing-ans-smiling-but-what/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I grew up on Laurel and Hardy. I'm aware from my own experience that comedy has got quite a fierce sell-by date, but that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-skinner/i-grew-up-on-laurel-and-hardy-i-m-aware-from-my-own-experience-that/)

[Frank Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-skinner/)

> [I remember laughing an inordinate amount of time. Setting up scenes that involve ooze coming out basements, or pigs' heads flying through windows is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margot-kidder/i-remember-laughing-an-inordinate-amount-of-time-setting-up-scenes/)

[Margot Kidder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margot-kidder/)

> [I remember laughing so hard as a kid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud/i-remember-laughing-so-hard-as-a-kid/)

[Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/)

> [I remember laughing with relief that the same old adolescent boredom goes on from generation to generation. ...the words took me back to my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-barnes/i-remember-laughing-with-relief-that-the-same-old-adolescent-boredom/)

[Julian Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-barnes/)

> [I'll never forget when me and Jason Matthews wrote the line, 'Don't be a tape player hater,' in 'Country Man,' I don't think I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-bryan/i-ll-never-forget-when-me-and-jason-matthews-wrote-the-line-don-t-be/)

[Luke Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-bryan/)

> [It's funny how I can't remember what I had for dinner last night, but I always remember every last detail of what happens when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-funny-how-i-can-t-remember-what-i-had-for-dinner-last-night-but/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Its funny how we remember lyrics to like so many songs, but can't remember to study for a test. that's me!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/its-funny-how-we-remember-lyrics-to-like-so-many-songs-but-can-t/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [You do remember things that people say in movies. You remember particular lines and things that are funny. But, you also remember really strong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-otto/you-do-remember-things-that-people-say-in-movies-you-remember/)

[Miranda Otto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-otto/)

> [And identity is funny being yourself is funny as you are never yourself to yourself except as you remember yourself and then of course…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/and-identity-is-funny-being-yourself-is-funny-as-you-are-never/)

[Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/)

> [Laugh more, smile, and remember that laughing is essential in being able to overcome many trying situations in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/laugh-more-smile-and-remember-that-laughing-is-essential-in-being/)

[Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/)

## More by Rufi Thorpe

> [“Sure, and fatherhood is super important too. I'm not trying to make this a women-only club by any means. Just that even men rarely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufi-thorpe/sure-and-fatherhood-is-super-important-too-i-m-not-trying-to-make/)

[Rufi Thorpe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufi-thorpe/)

> [“I'm just saying, when a woman in a maiden, she's in the spotlight. Everybody cares what a pretty, young girl does and says. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufi-thorpe/i-m-just-saying-when-a-woman-in-a-maiden-she-s-in-the-spotlight/)

[Rufi Thorpe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufi-thorpe/)

> [“It will be okay," Franklin said. And even though I felt he was far too optimistic, I also suspected that there was wisdom in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufi-thorpe/it-will-be-okay-franklin-said-and-even-though-i-felt-he-was-far-too/)

[Rufi Thorpe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufi-thorpe/)

> [“It wasn't that Lorrie Ann was becoming a Goody Two-shoes. It wasn't that she wanted to be perfect or loved or approved of. No.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufi-thorpe/it-wasn-t-that-lorrie-ann-was-becoming-a-goody-two-shoes-it-wasn-t/)

[Rufi Thorpe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufi-thorpe/)

> [“Whatever it is that hurts you, don't talk to anyone about it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufi-thorpe/whatever-it-is-that-hurts-you-don-t-talk-to-anyone-about-it/)

[Rufi Thorpe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufi-thorpe/)

> [“Some have characterized the boomers as optimistic, but to my view they were simply soft and rather unprepared. They didn’t know how to cook…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufi-thorpe/some-have-characterized-the-boomers-as-optimistic-but-to-my-view-they/)

[Rufi Thorpe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufi-thorpe/)

> [“How could it be that I wanted those scary narrow streets and books and coffee shops for her so much more than she wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufi-thorpe/how-could-it-be-that-i-wanted-those-scary-narrow-streets-and-books/)

[Rufi Thorpe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufi-thorpe/)

[Explore all 8 Rufi Thorpe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufi-thorpe/)

## 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": "“What had been so funny? But you can never remember what you were laughing about, and even if you could, it seems doubtful that it would still be funny.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Rufi Thorpe"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufi-thorpe/what-had-been-so-funny-but-you-can-never-remember-what-you-were/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Comedy"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufi-thorpe/what-had-been-so-funny-but-you-can-never-remember-what-you-were/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95d/rufi-thorpe-47765_comedy_what-had-been-so-funny-but-you-can-never_2536846.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95d/rufi-thorpe-47765_comedy_what-had-been-so-funny-but-you-can-never_2536846.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95d/rufi-thorpe-47765_comedy_what-had-been-so-funny-but-you-can-never_2536846.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“What had been so funny? But you can never remember what you were laughing about, and even if you could, it…” — Rufi Thorpe",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Rufi Thorpe",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufi-thorpe/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“What had been so funny? But...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufi-thorpe/what-had-been-so-funny-but-you-can-never-remember-what-you-were/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufi-thorpe/what-had-been-so-funny-but-you-can-never-remember-what-you-were/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
