---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The first condition for comedy is that if…"
description: "\"The first condition for comedy is that if you laugh at your own jokes, others won't laugh. You have to say something funny very seriously.\" — Saswata C..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e3/saswata-chatterjee-6133_comedy_the-first-condition-for-comedy-is-that-i_2010519.jpg"
---

#  The first condition for comedy is that if you laugh at…

![“The first condition for comedy is that if you laugh at your own jokes, others won't laugh. You have to say something funny very seriously.” quote by Saswata Chatterjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e3/saswata-chatterjee-6133_comedy_the-first-condition-for-comedy-is-that-i_2010519.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e3/saswata-chatterjee-6133_comedy_the-first-condition-for-comedy-is-that-i_2010519.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e3/saswata-chatterjee-6133_comedy_the-first-condition-for-comedy-is-that-i_2010519.jpg)

> “The first condition for comedy is that if you laugh at your own jokes, others won't laugh. You have to say something funny very seriously.”

[Saswata Chatterjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saswata-chatterjee/)

## About This Quote

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

Comedy requires genuine seriousness; if you mock yourself, the humor loses impact.

**In simple terms:** Serious delivery makes jokes land.

Key Takeaway

Deliver jokes with conviction.

Themes

comedy self‑deprecation authenticity

Mood

playful analytical

Type

instructional entertaining

When to use this quote

- stand‑up
- public speaking
- teaching
- social gatherings

Key Concepts

performance theory psychology

Questions to Reflect On

- Why do we laugh harder at sincere humor?
- Can self‑mockery ever be effective?

A Different Perspective

Over‑seriousness can stifle spontaneity.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Laugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laugh/)

## Related quotes

> [I love comedy because I can laugh at myself. I dont take myself too seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-alan-basche/i-love-comedy-because-i-can-laugh-at-myself-i-dont-take-myself-too/)

[David Alan Basche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-alan-basche/)

> [In fact, I get angry when people laugh at me. I go to the airport and the ground hostess starts laughing at me when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-lever/in-fact-i-get-angry-when-people-laugh-at-me-i-go-to-the-airport-and/)

[Johnny Lever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-lever/)

> [It wouldn't matters If people will laugh at me and say the words I never want to hear Beside it will not going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louaiq8/it-wouldn-t-matters-if-people-will-laugh-at-me-and-say-the-words-i/)

Louaiq8

> [I often laugh and say I should go down to the Department of the Interior and register as an endangered species. I'm a gay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mixner/i-often-laugh-and-say-i-should-go-down-to-the-department-of-the/)

[David Mixner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mixner/)

> [I can find the worst thing in the world funny. My humour is dark. If I'm talking about the worst situations in my life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/slowthai/i-can-find-the-worst-thing-in-the-world-funny-my-humour-is-dark-if-i/)

[Slowthai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/slowthai/)

> [ The ultimate objective \[of comedy\] is to get a laugh, so if you can get a laugh off the fact that you did not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-regan/the-ultimate-objective-of-comedy-is-to-get-a-laugh-so-if-you-can-get/)

[Brian Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-regan/)

> [We are a nation that has always gone in for the loud laugh, the wow, the yak, the belly laugh, and the dozen other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/we-are-a-nation-that-has-always-gone-in-for-the-loud-laugh-the-wow/)

[James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/)

> [I love comedy because I can laugh at myself. I don't take myself too seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-alan-basche/i-love-comedy-because-i-can-laugh-at-myself-i-don-t-take-myself-too/)

[David Alan Basche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-alan-basche/)

> [“Do you know what I like about comedy? You can’t laugh and be afraid at the same time—of anything. If you're laughing, I defy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/do-you-know-what-i-like-about-comedy-you-can-t-laugh-and-be-afraid-at/)

[Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/)

> [I love doing comedy - I get a laugh out of it, it's not so serious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carmen-electra/i-love-doing-comedy-i-get-a-laugh-out-of-it-it-s-not-so-serious/)

[Carmen Electra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carmen-electra/)

> [Not living in fear is a great gift, because certainly these days we do it so much. And do you know what I like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/not-living-in-fear-is-a-great-gift-because-certainly-these-days-we-do/)

[Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/)

> [Yeah, you may talk to me, make me laugh, and say the sweetest things.. but how many other girls are you doing that too?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/delaney-ridnour/yeah-you-may-talk-to-me-make-me-laugh-and-say-the-sweetest-things-but/)

[Delaney Ridnour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/delaney-ridnour/)

> [I never talk about me mates behind their backs, you know. I might have a laugh, but whatever I say about them I'll certainly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-ryder/i-never-talk-about-me-mates-behind-their-backs-you-know-i-might-have/)

[Shaun Ryder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-ryder/)

> [I try to be fair, and I try not to be cruel or mean when I'm interviewing someone. But you have to push a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-critch/i-try-to-be-fair-and-i-try-not-to-be-cruel-or-mean-when-i-m/)

[Mark Critch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-critch/)

> [How on earth could that be done? If you try to laugh and say 'No' at the same time, it sounds like neighing -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilaire-belloc/how-on-earth-could-that-be-done-if-you-try-to-laugh-and-say-no-at-the/)

[Hilaire Belloc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilaire-belloc/)

## More by Saswata Chatterjee

> [If I worried about things I have missed, it would lead to depression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saswata-chatterjee/if-i-worried-about-things-i-have-missed-it-would-lead-to-depression/)

[Saswata Chatterjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saswata-chatterjee/)

> [The phone will always ring. If I leave it even for a moment and go some where, by the time I come back there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saswata-chatterjee/the-phone-will-always-ring-if-i-leave-it-even-for-a-moment-and-go/)

[Saswata Chatterjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saswata-chatterjee/)

> [I can't run away from my prior commitments in Tollywood just because I have an offer from Bollywood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saswata-chatterjee/i-can-t-run-away-from-my-prior-commitments-in-tollywood-just-because/)

[Saswata Chatterjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saswata-chatterjee/)

> [Directors didn't flood me with offers because I was Subhendu's son. I had to slog to find my foothold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saswata-chatterjee/directors-didn-t-flood-me-with-offers-because-i-was-subhendu-s-son-i/)

[Saswata Chatterjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saswata-chatterjee/)

> [In 'Black Coffee' I am not the celluloid avatar of 'Meghe Dhaka Tara' director any more. How can you portray similar characters in two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saswata-chatterjee/in-black-coffee-i-am-not-the-celluloid-avatar-of-meghe-dhaka-tara/)

[Saswata Chatterjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saswata-chatterjee/)

> [If I'm out for a shoot, I provide someone else's number to my family for any emergency. Otherwise, I have a landline at home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saswata-chatterjee/if-i-m-out-for-a-shoot-i-provide-someone-else-s-number-to-my-family/)

[Saswata Chatterjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saswata-chatterjee/)

> [I am looking forward to doing roles in Hindi films but have to watch my step.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saswata-chatterjee/i-am-looking-forward-to-doing-roles-in-hindi-films-but-have-to-watch/)

[Saswata Chatterjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saswata-chatterjee/)

> [I am surprised that everyone loves a criminal. It amazes me and I really don't know how to react to it. Bob Biswas has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saswata-chatterjee/i-am-surprised-that-everyone-loves-a-criminal-it-amazes-me-and-i/)

[Saswata Chatterjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saswata-chatterjee/)

> [How long will we show birds and bees in love scenes? The world has moved on and we should portray intimate scenes realistically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saswata-chatterjee/how-long-will-we-show-birds-and-bees-in-love-scenes-the-world-has/)

[Saswata Chatterjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saswata-chatterjee/)

> [And with Sushant Singh Rajput, I never felt like he was the star of the film because of his humble nature. We used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saswata-chatterjee/and-with-sushant-singh-rajput-i-never-felt-like-he-was-the-star-of/)

[Saswata Chatterjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saswata-chatterjee/)

> [I did not have to think much doing Bob Biswas in 'Kahaani.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saswata-chatterjee/i-did-not-have-to-think-much-doing-bob-biswas-in-kahaani/)

[Saswata Chatterjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saswata-chatterjee/)

> [Speaking freely can give you the basic rights of expressing your views and what you want to say without the fear of any inhibition.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saswata-chatterjee/speaking-freely-can-give-you-the-basic-rights-of-expressing-your/)

[Saswata Chatterjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saswata-chatterjee/)

> [Any good script makes the job of an actor easier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saswata-chatterjee/any-good-script-makes-the-job-of-an-actor-easier/)

[Saswata Chatterjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saswata-chatterjee/)

> [I didn't have the privilege to enter the industry just because my father is Subhendu Chatterjee. I am nowhere near my father's charismatic look.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saswata-chatterjee/i-didn-t-have-the-privilege-to-enter-the-industry-just-because-my/)

[Saswata Chatterjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saswata-chatterjee/)

> [It's true I was approached for 'Heroine' but I couldn't do the film as the dates were clashing with Kamaleswar Mukherjee's film 'Meghe Dhaka…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saswata-chatterjee/it-s-true-i-was-approached-for-heroine-but-i-couldn-t-do-the-film-as/)

[Saswata Chatterjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saswata-chatterjee/)

[Explore all 100 Saswata Chatterjee quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saswata-chatterjee/)

## 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": "The first condition for comedy is that if you laugh at your own jokes, others won't laugh. You have to say something funny very seriously.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Saswata Chatterjee"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saswata-chatterjee/the-first-condition-for-comedy-is-that-if-you-laugh-at-your-own-jokes/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Comedy"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saswata-chatterjee/the-first-condition-for-comedy-is-that-if-you-laugh-at-your-own-jokes/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e3/saswata-chatterjee-6133_comedy_the-first-condition-for-comedy-is-that-i_2010519.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e3/saswata-chatterjee-6133_comedy_the-first-condition-for-comedy-is-that-i_2010519.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e3/saswata-chatterjee-6133_comedy_the-first-condition-for-comedy-is-that-i_2010519.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The first condition for comedy is that if you laugh at your own jokes, others won't laugh. You have to say…” — Saswata Chatterjee",
                "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": "Saswata Chatterjee",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saswata-chatterjee/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The first condition for comedy is...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saswata-chatterjee/the-first-condition-for-comedy-is-that-if-you-laugh-at-your-own-jokes/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saswata-chatterjee/the-first-condition-for-comedy-is-that-if-you-laugh-at-your-own-jokes/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
