--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Many comedians and comedy writers have…" description: "\"Many comedians and comedy writers have shared the childhood experience of learning to joke to protect themselves from neighborhood bullies when challen..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/412/steve-allen-10768_childhood_many-comedians-and-comedy-writers-have-s_1284988.jpg" --- # Many comedians and comedy writers have shared the… ![“Many comedians and comedy writers have shared the childhood experience of learning to joke to protect themselves from neighborhood bullies when challenge or physical defense were not among the sensible options.” quote by Steve Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/412/steve-allen-10768_childhood_many-comedians-and-comedy-writers-have-s_1284988.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/412/steve-allen-10768_childhood_many-comedians-and-comedy-writers-have-s_1284988.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/412/steve-allen-10768_childhood_many-comedians-and-comedy-writers-have-s_1284988.jpg) > “Many comedians and comedy writers have shared the childhood experience of learning to joke to protect themselves from neighborhood bullies when challenge or physical defense were not among the sensible options.” [Steve Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-allen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Comedians often learned to joke as a defense mechanism against bullying when other defenses were unavailable. **In simple terms:** Jokes were a shield against bullies. Key Takeaway Use humor to defuse hostile situations. Themes humor defense childhood bullying Mood playful defensive Type observational cultural When to use this quote - schoolyard - online harassment - workplace conflict Key Concepts social coping mechanisms psychology of humor Questions to Reflect On - When have you used humor to protect yourself? - What are the limits of humor as defense? A Different Perspective Humor can sometimes mask deeper issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bullies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bullies/) [Childhood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/childhood/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Comedians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedians/) [Comedians Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedians-comedy-3768099/) [Experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experience/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Joke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joke/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Learning Joke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning-joke-4165653/) [Neighborhood Bullies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neighborhood-bullies-4165652/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [Everybody kind of looks to comedians and comedy for relief and a fresh breath about what is going on in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-hayes/everybody-kind-of-looks-to-comedians-and-comedy-for-relief-and-a/) [Sean Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-hayes/) > [Honestly, it's hard to learn about comedy from comedians. Comedy is not something that you necessarily learn or can imitate. You're funny or you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-levy/honestly-it-s-hard-to-learn-about-comedy-from-comedians-comedy-is-not/) [Jane Levy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-levy/) > [I can wax boringly about the role of comedy in mitigating pain. For so many comedians, comedy comes out of personal despair. I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-minchin/i-can-wax-boringly-about-the-role-of-comedy-in-mitigating-pain-for-so/) [Tim Minchin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-minchin/) > [Comedians should never apologize for a joke.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-hinchcliffe/comedians-should-never-apologize-for-a-joke/) [Tony Hinchcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-hinchcliffe/) > [A lot of the comedians don't even tell the joke. Like only three tell the joke, the rest of them dissect it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-saget/a-lot-of-the-comedians-don-t-even-tell-the-joke-like-only-three-tell/) [Bob Saget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-saget/) > [Ineos is a friendly organisation. Very few people leave. It's collegiate. There's not much politics, and we like decent people. We don't like arrogance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-ratcliffe/ineos-is-a-friendly-organisation-very-few-people-leave-it-s/) [Jim Ratcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-ratcliffe/) > [“The teacher pulled out a pile of papers. They were Bennie’s tests and homework assignments. Mrs. Lewis said, “Ma’am, here is the proof that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-phifer/the-teacher-pulled-out-a-pile-of-papers-they-were-bennie-s-tests-and/) [Harold Phifer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-phifer/) > [Even bullies need love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-walters/even-bullies-need-love/) [Eric Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-walters/) > [No one should ever suffer in silence. Bullies thrive in silence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-whittle/no-one-should-ever-suffer-in-silence-bullies-thrive-in-silence/) [Ricky Whittle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-whittle/) > [“I got tired of constantly watching shrewd little bullies like you walk around like you mean something, like you’re better than the people that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-rankin/i-got-tired-of-constantly-watching-shrewd-little-bullies-like-you/) [Christopher Rankin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-rankin/) > [I daydreamed that when you grow up there are more bullies and how wonderful that would be if it were true, but, it's not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-swift/i-daydreamed-that-when-you-grow-up-there-are-more-bullies-and-how/) [Taylor Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-swift/) > [“Of course they accused Marcão of having done it without provocation—that’s the way of torturers of every age, to put the blame on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/of-course-they-accused-marc-o-of-having-done-it-without-provocation/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [Democracy becomes a government of bullies tempered by editors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/democracy-becomes-a-government-of-bullies-tempered-by-editors/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Bullies enjoy dark happiness; these are the blank parts that eventually fill their minds with nothingness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-shanks/bullies-enjoy-dark-happiness-these-are-the-blank-parts-that/) [Emily Shanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-shanks/) > [Don't judge me because I'm stupid. Don't judge me because I'm, mean. Don't judge me because I'm weird. Don't judge me for mistakes. Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-harden-me/don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-stupid-don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-mean-don/) [Isaiah Harden (Me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaiah-harden-me/) ## More by Steve Allen > [Consider the wave of revulsion that floods the average person when he or she hears of the practice of human sacrifice by the Aztecs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-allen/consider-the-wave-of-revulsion-that-floods-the-average-person-when-he/) [Steve Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-allen/) > [In a rational society we would want our presidents to be teachers. In our actual society we insist they be cheerleaders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-allen/in-a-rational-society-we-would-want-our-presidents-to-be-teachers-in/) [Steve Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-allen/) > [Totalitarianism is patriotism institutionalized.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-allen/totalitarianism-is-patriotism-institutionalized/) [Steve Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-allen/) > [Just as with cars, it's critical to know the fuel efficiency of black holes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-allen/just-as-with-cars-it-s-critical-to-know-the-fuel-efficiency-of-black/) [Steve Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-allen/) > [The fundamentalist believer is mostly a weird intellectual who often lacks real faith altogether. As a self-appointed attorney for God, who is in no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-allen/the-fundamentalist-believer-is-mostly-a-weird-intellectual-who-often/) [Steve Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-allen/) > [There is not the slightest question but that the God of the Old Testament is a jealous, vengeful God, inflicting not only on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-allen/there-is-not-the-slightest-question-but-that-the-god-of-the-old/) [Steve Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-allen/) > [I personally find it difficult to accept that there could be anyone on earth insensitive to the comic abilities of Laurel and Hardy, Sid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-allen/i-personally-find-it-difficult-to-accept-that-there-could-be-anyone/) [Steve Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-allen/) > [Everybody is somewhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-allen/everybody-is-somewhere/) [Steve Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-allen/) > [The Bible is unfortunately unclear on a long list of moral and social questions and sex is one of them. On the one hand,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-allen/the-bible-is-unfortunately-unclear-on-a-long-list-of-moral-and-social/) [Steve Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-allen/) > [Pretend you're a southern sheriff. Or Mae West. Or Donald Duck. Buy a western hat and walk around the house like a cowboy. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-allen/pretend-you-re-a-southern-sheriff-or-mae-west-or-donald-duck-buy-a/) [Steve Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-allen/) > [In those of us who have the mysterious ability to amuse others, it is usually the case that even before we were aware of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-allen/in-those-of-us-who-have-the-mysterious-ability-to-amuse-others-it-is/) [Steve Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-allen/) > [We must never forget that both good and evil flow from the Bible. It is therefore not above criticism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-allen/we-must-never-forget-that-both-good-and-evil-flow-from-the-bible-it/) [Steve Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-allen/) > [Impartial observers from other planets would consider ours an utterly bizarre enclave if it were populated by birds, defined as flying animals, that nevertheless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-allen/impartial-observers-from-other-planets-would-consider-ours-an-utterly/) [Steve Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-allen/) > [I was in sixth grade the first time I was required to speak in front of an audience. I had terrible stage fright and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-allen/i-was-in-sixth-grade-the-first-time-i-was-required-to-speak-in-front/) [Steve Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-allen/) > [I do not understand those who take little or no interest in the subject of religion. If religion embodies a truth, it is certainly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-allen/i-do-not-understand-those-who-take-little-or-no-interest-in-the/) [Steve Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-allen/) [Explore all 62 Steve Allen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-allen/) ## More Bullies quotes > [Don't judge me because I'm stupid. Don't judge me because I'm, mean. Don't judge me because I'm weird. Don't judge me for mistakes. Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-harden-me/don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-stupid-don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-mean-don/) [Isaiah Harden (Me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaiah-harden-me/) > [Bullies enjoy dark happiness; these are the blank parts that eventually fill their minds with nothingness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-shanks/bullies-enjoy-dark-happiness-these-are-the-blank-parts-that/) [Emily Shanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-shanks/) > [Democracy becomes a government of bullies tempered by editors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/democracy-becomes-a-government-of-bullies-tempered-by-editors/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“Of course they accused Marcão of having done it without provocation—that’s the way of torturers of every age, to put the blame on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/of-course-they-accused-marc-o-of-having-done-it-without-provocation/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [I daydreamed that when you grow up there are more bullies and how wonderful that would be if it were true, but, it's not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-swift/i-daydreamed-that-when-you-grow-up-there-are-more-bullies-and-how/) [Taylor Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-swift/) > [“I got tired of constantly watching shrewd little bullies like you walk around like you mean something, like you’re better than the people that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-rankin/i-got-tired-of-constantly-watching-shrewd-little-bullies-like-you/) [Christopher Rankin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-rankin/) > [No one should ever suffer in silence. Bullies thrive in silence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-whittle/no-one-should-ever-suffer-in-silence-bullies-thrive-in-silence/) [Ricky Whittle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-whittle/) > [Even bullies need love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-walters/even-bullies-need-love/) [Eric Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-walters/) > [“The teacher pulled out a pile of papers. They were Bennie’s tests and homework assignments. Mrs. Lewis said, “Ma’am, here is the proof that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-phifer/the-teacher-pulled-out-a-pile-of-papers-they-were-bennie-s-tests-and/) [Harold Phifer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-phifer/) > [Ineos is a friendly organisation. Very few people leave. It's collegiate. There's not much politics, and we like decent people. We don't like arrogance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-ratcliffe/ineos-is-a-friendly-organisation-very-few-people-leave-it-s/) [Jim Ratcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-ratcliffe/) > [“There are times when your body takes control. Times when the gazelle says, ‘Fuck you, lioness,’ and delivers the biggest kick of its whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-bingham/there-are-times-when-your-body-takes-control-times-when-the-gazelle/) [Harry Bingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-bingham/) > [Our Animal Sanctuary initiative has many layers. We are aiming to create a place where abandoned and bullied creatures come together with bullied youth.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-somerhalder/our-animal-sanctuary-initiative-has-many-layers-we-are-aiming-to/) [Ian Somerhalder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-somerhalder/) > [Some bullies just do what they want and know what they do, but they don't know is some of their victims have sad stories…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick/some-bullies-just-do-what-they-want-and-know-what-they-do-but-they/) [Nick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick/) > [The fool thinks he has won a battle when he bullies with harsh speech, but knowing how to be forbearing alone makes one victorious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/the-fool-thinks-he-has-won-a-battle-when-he-bullies-with-harsh-speech/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Trolls and cyber bullies have been feeling too safe in the cyber world for too long.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-fatehi/trolls-and-cyber-bullies-have-been-feeling-too-safe-in-the-cyber/) [Nora Fatehi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-fatehi/) [Browse all 387 Bullies quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bullies/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Many comedians and comedy writers have shared the childhood experience of learning to joke to protect themselves from neighborhood bullies when challenge or physical defense were not among the sensible options.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Steve Allen" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-allen/many-comedians-and-comedy-writers-have-shared-the-childhood/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bullies" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-allen/many-comedians-and-comedy-writers-have-shared-the-childhood/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/412/steve-allen-10768_childhood_many-comedians-and-comedy-writers-have-s_1284988.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/412/steve-allen-10768_childhood_many-comedians-and-comedy-writers-have-s_1284988.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/412/steve-allen-10768_childhood_many-comedians-and-comedy-writers-have-s_1284988.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Many comedians and comedy writers have shared the childhood experience of learning to joke to protect…” — Steve Allen", "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": "Steve Allen", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-allen/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Many comedians and comedy writers have...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-allen/many-comedians-and-comedy-writers-have-shared-the-childhood/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-allen/many-comedians-and-comedy-writers-have-shared-the-childhood/#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 } } ] } ```