--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Mary was a famous fairground attraction…" description: "\"“Mary was a famous fairground attraction but she doesn't really count as she rather famously turned out to be a monkey.”\" — Sandi Toksvig" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86a/sandi-toksvig-4540_humour_mary-was-a-famous-fairground-attraction_2479413.jpg" --- # Mary was a famous fairground attraction but she doesn't… ![“Mary was a famous fairground attraction but she doesn't really count as she rather famously turned out to be a monkey.” quote by Sandi Toksvig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86a/sandi-toksvig-4540_humour_mary-was-a-famous-fairground-attraction_2479413.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86a/sandi-toksvig-4540_humour_mary-was-a-famous-fairground-attraction_2479413.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86a/sandi-toksvig-4540_humour_mary-was-a-famous-fairground-attraction_2479413.jpg) > ““Mary was a famous fairground attraction but she doesn't really count as she rather famously turned out to be a monkey.”” [Sandi Toksvig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandi-toksvig/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A humorous anecdote about a fairground attraction that turned out to be a monkey, highlighting absurdity. **In simple terms:** A funny story about a surprising twist. Key Takeaway Enjoy the absurdity in life. Themes humor absurdity surprise Mood lighthearted playful Type comedic entertaining When to use this quote - party icebreaker - stand‑up routine - social media post - team building Key Concepts comedy storytelling Questions to Reflect On - What unexpected twists have you witnessed? - How does humor change perception? A Different Perspective Humor may not translate across cultures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Humour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humour/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Monkey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/monkey/) [Women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/women/) ## Related quotes > [“Before asking yourself why the law of attraction doesn't work, ask yourself if you're an arrogant and selfish human being. God does not like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sacredfire/before-asking-yourself-why-the-law-of-attraction-doesn-t-work-ask/) [Robin Sacredfire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sacredfire/) > [“Attraction doesn’t follow a set of rules, you know. 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Being a mum and dad makes you even sexier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orlando-bloom/attraction-doesn-t-stop-when-a-child-is-born-it-s-the-opposite-being/) [Orlando Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orlando-bloom/) > [The character of the monkey just grew from something out of his face and my granddad's personality. They fused, and that's what I ended…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-conti/the-character-of-the-monkey-just-grew-from-something-out-of-his-face/) [Nina Conti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-conti/) > [Well, there's no monkey on my back,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-clijsters/well-there-s-no-monkey-on-my-back/) [Kim Clijsters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-clijsters/) > [A monkey was the President, though maybe not the first. And there was peace and harmony throughout the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-t-hall/a-monkey-was-the-president-though-maybe-not-the-first-and-there-was/) [Tom T. Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-t-hall/) > [It wasn't until a few years ago, when I was going through old Facebook pictures with a friend, and happened upon a photo of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lolly-adefope/it-wasn-t-until-a-few-years-ago-when-i-was-going-through-old-facebook/) [Lolly Adefope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lolly-adefope/) > [My dream pet? I like a couple of them, man: monkey, I love dogs. See, tigers, I don't know - I can't be playing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/french-montana/my-dream-pet-i-like-a-couple-of-them-man-monkey-i-love-dogs-see/) [French Montana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/french-montana/) > [The higher a monkey climbs, the more you see of its behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stilwell/the-higher-a-monkey-climbs-the-more-you-see-of-its-behind/) [Joseph Stilwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stilwell/) > [But then, after all, we are all alike, for we are all derived from the monkey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/but-then-after-all-we-are-all-alike-for-we-are-all-derived-from-the/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [The fountain of youth is like the monkey's paw in the W. W. Jacobs story. It never ends well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-monette/the-fountain-of-youth-is-like-the-monkey-s-paw-in-the-w-w-jacobs/) [Sarah Monette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-monette/) > [Monkeys who very sensibly refrain from speech, lest they should be set to earn their livings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-grahame/monkeys-who-very-sensibly-refrain-from-speech-lest-they-should-be-set/) [Kenneth Grahame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-grahame/) > [A monkey is unaware that atoms exist. Likewise, our brainpower may not stretch to the deepest aspects of reality. The bedrock nature of space…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-rees/a-monkey-is-unaware-that-atoms-exist-likewise-our-brainpower-may-not/) [Martin Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-rees/) ## More by Sandi Toksvig > [For three months, when I was 23 years old, I worked as a clerk at Wandsworth Sewer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandi-toksvig/for-three-months-when-i-was-23-years-old-i-worked-as-a-clerk-at/) [Sandi Toksvig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandi-toksvig/) > [The number one thing in my whole life is my children, and I want to be there for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandi-toksvig/the-number-one-thing-in-my-whole-life-is-my-children-and-i-want-to-be/) [Sandi Toksvig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandi-toksvig/) > [When people say, 'There aren't enough women on panel shows,' the answer is to make the host a woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandi-toksvig/when-people-say-there-aren-t-enough-women-on-panel-shows-the-answer/) [Sandi Toksvig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandi-toksvig/) > [I always wanted to open a delicatessen in Jerusalem and call it 'Cheeses of Nazareth'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandi-toksvig/i-always-wanted-to-open-a-delicatessen-in-jerusalem-and-call-it/) [Sandi Toksvig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandi-toksvig/) > [I'm trying to get my kids - in particular, my step-daughter Mary, who's 12 - to recommend music to me. You reach a certain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandi-toksvig/i-m-trying-to-get-my-kids-in-particular-my-step-daughter-mary-who-s/) [Sandi Toksvig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandi-toksvig/) > [I can't live without Radio 4. It's worth the entire licence fee. I'm an obsessive listener; I get up, and Radio 4 goes on,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandi-toksvig/i-can-t-live-without-radio-4-it-s-worth-the-entire-licence-fee-i-m-an/) [Sandi Toksvig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandi-toksvig/) > [I decided that instead of making jokes about politics, I need to take part in it, and therefore, I can't make jokes and participate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandi-toksvig/i-decided-that-instead-of-making-jokes-about-politics-i-need-to-take/) [Sandi Toksvig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandi-toksvig/) > [I cannot lie on the beach or by a swimming pool. I think I'm too Nordic to like a lot of relentless sun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandi-toksvig/i-cannot-lie-on-the-beach-or-by-a-swimming-pool-i-think-i-m-too/) [Sandi Toksvig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandi-toksvig/) > [I will try anything that doesn't involve a leotard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandi-toksvig/i-will-try-anything-that-doesn-t-involve-a-leotard/) [Sandi Toksvig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandi-toksvig/) > [At my worst, I was a size 22, and at that size, you can't go down the high street and buy yourself things that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandi-toksvig/at-my-worst-i-was-a-size-22-and-at-that-size-you-can-t-go-down-the/) [Sandi Toksvig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandi-toksvig/) > [People say, 'When did you decide you were gay?' and you think, 'When did you decide you were heterosexual?' It's not a decision: it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandi-toksvig/people-say-when-did-you-decide-you-were-gay-and-you-think-when-did/) [Sandi Toksvig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandi-toksvig/) > [I was born gay, OK? I've always known. I don't think my family were the least bit surprised.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandi-toksvig/i-was-born-gay-ok-i-ve-always-known-i-don-t-think-my-family-were-the/) [Sandi Toksvig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandi-toksvig/) > [I have a son and two daughters, and I care equally about all three of them, and I want the world to be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandi-toksvig/i-have-a-son-and-two-daughters-and-i-care-equally-about-all-three-of/) [Sandi Toksvig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandi-toksvig/) > [I'd love to be a joiner or a wood turner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandi-toksvig/i-d-love-to-be-a-joiner-or-a-wood-turner/) [Sandi Toksvig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandi-toksvig/) > [Us Danes have amazing pastries, but we're not a fat nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandi-toksvig/us-danes-have-amazing-pastries-but-we-re-not-a-fat-nation/) [Sandi Toksvig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandi-toksvig/) [Explore all 109 Sandi Toksvig quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandi-toksvig/) ## More Humour quotes > [“law that stated you didn't advertise any event you hadn't attended, any place you'd never been, or any band you didn't really listen to.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mhairi-mcfarlane/law-that-stated-you-didn-t-advertise-any-event-you-hadn-t-attended/) [Mhairi McFarlane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mhairi-mcfarlane/) > [To refer even in passing to unpublished or struggling authors and their problems is to put oneself at some risk, so I will say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kingsley-amis/to-refer-even-in-passing-to-unpublished-or-struggling-authors-and/) [Kingsley Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kingsley-amis/) > [“Wish in one hand, shit in the other, see which one fills up faster.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noelle-oxenhandler/wish-in-one-hand-shit-in-the-other-see-which-one-fills-up-faster/) Noelle Oxenhandler > [“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/) > [It goes to show you how we in the press so often miss the big stories that are right under our noses. There is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/it-goes-to-show-you-how-we-in-the-press-so-often-miss-the-big-stories/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [“What if," replied Inspector Fry in the same maddeningly curteous tone, "we were all to construct daisy chains and drape them so as to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndsay-faye/what-if-replied-inspector-fry-in-the-same-maddeningly-curteous-tone/) [Lyndsay Faye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndsay-faye/) > [You owe me a drink, you're so ugly I dropped mine when I saw you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-owe-me-a-drink-you-re-so-ugly-i-dropped-mine-when-i-saw-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No woman ever yet either reasoned or acted long together consequentially; but some little thing, some love, some resentment, somepresent momentary interest, some supposed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/no-woman-ever-yet-either-reasoned-or-acted-long-together/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [“Holy shit," somebody muttered in the dark. 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