--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People are funny, and in the most tragic…" description: "\"People are funny, and in the most tragic situations, when comedy erupts from nowhere, it can turn on its head within the space of a second or a minute...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c4/sally-hawkins-17281_comedy_people-are-funny-and-in-the-most-tragic_1150063.jpg" --- # People are funny, and in the most tragic situations, when… ![“People are funny, and in the most tragic situations, when comedy erupts from nowhere, it can turn on its head within the space of a second or a minute. You're laughing one minute and you're crying the next and that's just life for me, and that is what people are like.” quote by Sally Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c4/sally-hawkins-17281_comedy_people-are-funny-and-in-the-most-tragic_1150063.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c4/sally-hawkins-17281_comedy_people-are-funny-and-in-the-most-tragic_1150063.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c4/sally-hawkins-17281_comedy_people-are-funny-and-in-the-most-tragic_1150063.jpg) > “People are funny, and in the most tragic situations, when comedy erupts from nowhere, it can turn on its head within the space of a second or a minute. You're laughing one minute and you're crying the next and that's just life for me, and that is what people are like.” [Sally Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-hawkins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. In extreme situations, humor and sorrow can switch instantly, showing life's emotional volatility. **In simple terms:** Comedy and tragedy can flip quickly. Key Takeaway Embrace emotional shifts. Themes emotions humor tragedy human nature Mood reflective introspective Type observational philosophical When to use this quote - theatre performance - personal crisis - daily life - stressful events Key Concepts psychology emotional volatility contrast Questions to Reflect On - How do you manage sudden emotional changes? - What role does humor play in coping? A Different Perspective Humor may mask deeper pain, making it hard to address underlying issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [One minute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/one-minute/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Situations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/situations/) [Space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/space/) [Tragic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tragic/) ## Related quotes > [I love that you can be laughing one minute and crying the next, and then be shocked the next. I like things that provoke…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courteney-cox/i-love-that-you-can-be-laughing-one-minute-and-crying-the-next-and/) [Courteney Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courteney-cox/) > [Life is dramatic and comedic at times. Sometimes in the most dramatic situations, there is comedy. And good comedy comes from a sense of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/constance-marie/life-is-dramatic-and-comedic-at-times-sometimes-in-the-most-dramatic/) [Constance Marie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/constance-marie/) > [The minute you're laughing, some people will say you're laughing at people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-baker/the-minute-you-re-laughing-some-people-will-say-you-re-laughing-at/) [Sean Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-baker/) > [If I can bring you to the point where you're almost in tears one minute and laughing so hard the next and you've healed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-breuer/if-i-can-bring-you-to-the-point-where-you-re-almost-in-tears-one/) [Jim Breuer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-breuer/) > [Humor is important. If you're going to tell any sort of realistic story, you're going to have to have humor in it, because people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/humor-is-important-if-you-re-going-to-tell-any-sort-of-realistic/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [People are funny -- they are able to project personality onto anything. I remember as a kid I spent a $ 5 bill once…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-docter/people-are-funny-they-are-able-to-project-personality-onto-anything-i/) [Pete Docter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-docter/) > [ That's what's interesting about people. It can be funny, but when \[John\] Travolta got there and did \[comic moments\] you're like, "Oh! This is… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ti-west/that-s-what-s-interesting-about-people-it-can-be-funny-but-when-john/) [Ti West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ti-west/) > [I don't think you can teach people how to be funny. You can make suggestions about how to speak a line or get a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-cukor/i-don-t-think-you-can-teach-people-how-to-be-funny-you-can-make/) [George Cukor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-cukor/) > [You put funny people in funny costumes and paint them green and we could talk about anything we wanted to, because that was the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/majel-barrett/you-put-funny-people-in-funny-costumes-and-paint-them-green-and-we/) [Majel Barrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/majel-barrett/) > [I don't make fun of my characters. I just like to laugh and I think people are funny and the world is funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/micah-perks/i-don-t-make-fun-of-my-characters-i-just-like-to-laugh-and-i-think/) [Micah Perks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/micah-perks/) > [People are funny in the way that they choose to express themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-vincent/people-are-funny-in-the-way-that-they-choose-to-express-themselves/) [Frank Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-vincent/) > [My sister tells people that we're all funny in our family, but I'm the only one who gets paid for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-millican/my-sister-tells-people-that-we-re-all-funny-in-our-family-but-i-m-the/) [Sarah Millican](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-millican/) > [I could party in a cardboard box with people who are funny and don't care. For me, it's really about who I surround myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kesha/i-could-party-in-a-cardboard-box-with-people-who-are-funny-and-don-t/) [Kesha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kesha/) > [Theres good weird people and bad weird people. Good weird people are funny but the bad weird people are the ones you see wearing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/theres-good-weird-people-and-bad-weird-people-good-weird-people-are/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“There were more old people. The world was full of them,' said the wizard. 'Yes, I know. And now it's full of young people.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/there-were-more-old-people-the-world-was-full-of-them-said-the-wizard/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) ## More by Sally Hawkins > [I'm not very well known. However, the more well known you get, the more people are going to have expectations of you. Although that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-hawkins/i-m-not-very-well-known-however-the-more-well-known-you-get-the-more/) [Sally Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-hawkins/) > [I'm quite an optimist, quite happy in life, quite smiley.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-hawkins/i-m-quite-an-optimist-quite-happy-in-life-quite-smiley/) [Sally Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-hawkins/) > [Different directors have different things, so when I left Mike Leigh, as it were, and I went into other projects after 'All or Nothing,'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-hawkins/different-directors-have-different-things-so-when-i-left-mike-leigh/) [Sally Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-hawkins/) > [You can't be a woman and not be a feminist, I don't think. If you care about the world and the world you exist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-hawkins/you-can-t-be-a-woman-and-not-be-a-feminist-i-don-t-think-if-you-care/) [Sally Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-hawkins/) > [Characters that are not the norm or a bit out of the ordinary are always a challenge as an actress. You learn more by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-hawkins/characters-that-are-not-the-norm-or-a-bit-out-of-the-ordinary-are/) [Sally Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-hawkins/) > [What works for me is knowing the character in an emotional sense. I wish I was more logical but it doesn't work for me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-hawkins/what-works-for-me-is-knowing-the-character-in-an-emotional-sense-i/) [Sally Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-hawkins/) > [I first started acting in primary school, just doing little plays. And from the moment I began, something just went 'click' inside me. Suddenly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-hawkins/i-first-started-acting-in-primary-school-just-doing-little-plays-and/) [Sally Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-hawkins/) > [You only do good work when you're taking risks and pushing yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-hawkins/you-only-do-good-work-when-you-re-taking-risks-and-pushing-yourself/) [Sally Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-hawkins/) > [My feet are like something from another age - prehistoric and troll-like. I keep expecting them to talk, they have that much character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-hawkins/my-feet-are-like-something-from-another-age-prehistoric-and-troll/) [Sally Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-hawkins/) > [I remember once giving my dad some drawings and writings and said, 'If you could just give these to the publisher, that would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-hawkins/i-remember-once-giving-my-dad-some-drawings-and-writings-and-said-if/) [Sally Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-hawkins/) > [I sort of fall in love with every character I do; you have to understand how they became what they've become, whether they're the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-hawkins/i-sort-of-fall-in-love-with-every-character-i-do-you-have-to/) [Sally Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-hawkins/) > [When an audience is affected in a way that I've seen with some people, it's so inspiring to me an actor. You know that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-hawkins/when-an-audience-is-affected-in-a-way-that-i-ve-seen-with-some-people/) [Sally Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-hawkins/) > [It's different for every project. Some parts are quicker than others to get and know; sometimes right up until the last moment you're just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-hawkins/it-s-different-for-every-project-some-parts-are-quicker-than-others/) [Sally Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-hawkins/) > [I loved working with kids, and kids are the most incredibly discerning audience. And if they don't believe you, they will tell you and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-hawkins/i-loved-working-with-kids-and-kids-are-the-most-incredibly-discerning/) [Sally Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-hawkins/) > [Comedy was why I got into acting the first place. Peter Sellers was a huge influence on my wanting to act. I grew up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-hawkins/comedy-was-why-i-got-into-acting-the-first-place-peter-sellers-was-a/) [Sally Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-hawkins/) [Explore all 37 Sally Hawkins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-hawkins/) ## 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": "People are funny, and in the most tragic situations, when comedy erupts from nowhere, it can turn on its head within the space of a second or a minute. 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