---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's very interesting, the joke comes…"
description: "\"It's very interesting, the joke comes first and then the wording comes within five seconds, maybe ten seconds. My thing is to get the joke across in as..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d0/steven-wright-432_comedy_it-s-very-interesting-the-joke-comes-fir_2785194.jpg"
---

#  It's very interesting, the joke comes first and then the…

![“It's very interesting, the joke comes first and then the wording comes within five seconds, maybe ten seconds. My thing is to get the joke across in as few words as possible. However, sometimes a word that's not really needed does help the rhythm of it. It's a gut feeling.” quote by Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d0/steven-wright-432_comedy_it-s-very-interesting-the-joke-comes-fir_2785194.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d0/steven-wright-432_comedy_it-s-very-interesting-the-joke-comes-fir_2785194.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d0/steven-wright-432_comedy_it-s-very-interesting-the-joke-comes-fir_2785194.jpg)

> “It's very interesting, the joke comes first and then the wording comes within five seconds, maybe ten seconds. My thing is to get the joke across in as few words as possible. However, sometimes a word that's not really needed does help the rhythm of it. It's a gut feeling.”

[Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/)

## About This Quote

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

He emphasizes delivering jokes concisely, but sometimes extra words improve rhythm.

**In simple terms:** Keep jokes short, but rhythm matters.

Key Takeaway

Balance brevity with flow.

Themes

comedy communication timing

Mood

humorous analytical

Type

comedic instructional

When to use this quote

- writing jokes
- public speaking
- script editing

Key Concepts

rhythm economy of language

Questions to Reflect On

- When does extra wording help?
- How to gauge audience rhythm?

A Different Perspective

Over‑editing can dilute humor.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Few words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/few-words/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Five](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/five/) [Gut feeling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gut-feeling/) [Gut feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gut-feelings/) [Guts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guts/) [Help](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/help/) [Helping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/helping/) [Interesting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interesting/) [Interesting Joke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interesting-joke-560928/) [Joke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joke/) [Joke Comes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joke-comes-3339362/) [Joke Words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joke-words-3261066/) [Jokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jokes/) [Needed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needed/) [Rhythm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rhythm/) [Seconds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seconds/) [Sometimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sometimes/) [Ten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ten/) [Very interesting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/very-interesting/) [Wording](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wording/) [Wording Comes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wording-comes-3339363/) [Words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/words/)

## Related quotes

> [“Once you even acknowledge that there is a line, that there are things you shouldn’t be allowed to joke about, that there are words…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-franken/once-you-even-acknowledge-that-there-is-a-line-that-there-are-things/)

[Al Franken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-franken/)

> [The nature of comedy is 'just do it.' But I think what's interesting about it is this joke has been around and why. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-saget/the-nature-of-comedy-is-just-do-it-but-i-think-what-s-interesting/)

[Bob Saget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-saget/)

> [Surprise makes a joke funny. I love it when someone tells me something I couldn't possibly have expected; you've been led along one path…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-long/surprise-makes-a-joke-funny-i-love-it-when-someone-tells-me-something/)

[Josie Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-long/)

> [Reframing an extract as a quotation constitutes a kind of coauthorship. With no change in wording, the cited passage becomes different. I imagine that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-saul-morson/reframing-an-extract-as-a-quotation-constitutes-a-kind-of/)

[Gary Saul Morson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-saul-morson/)

> [I have a very hard time with this word 'non-violence,' because I don't believe that I am non-violent. ... Right now, I would love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-williams/i-have-a-very-hard-time-with-this-word-non-violence-because-i-don-t/)

[Betty Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-williams/)

> [Of course, the truth is that the congresspersons are too busy raising campaign money to read the laws they pass. The laws are written…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/of-course-the-truth-is-that-the-congresspersons-are-too-busy-raising/)

[Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/)

> [ All science requires mathematics. \[Editors' summary of Bacon's idea, not Bacon's wording.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-bacon/all-science-requires-mathematics-editors-summary-of-bacon-s-idea-not/)

[Roger Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-bacon/)

> [Avoid using the word 'very' because it's lazy. A man is not very tired, he is exhausted. Don't use very sad, use morose. Language…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-williams/avoid-using-the-word-very-because-it-s-lazy-a-man-is-not-very-tired/)

[Robin Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-williams/)

> [I enjoy wording. Words for me are tangible bodies, visible sirens, incarnate sensualities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-pessoa/i-enjoy-wording-words-for-me-are-tangible-bodies-visible-sirens/)

[Fernando Pessoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-pessoa/)

> [When someone isn’t smart enough to express their frustration, they use dirty words. Those are words that describe a lack of intelligence. Smart people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nouman-ali-khan/when-someone-isn-t-smart-enough-to-express-their-frustration-they-use/)

[Nouman Ali Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nouman-ali-khan/)

> [Gospel songs to me are about the mansion in the sky, and washed in the blood of Christ's crimson blood, songs that are filled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-norman/gospel-songs-to-me-are-about-the-mansion-in-the-sky-and-washed-in-the/)

[Larry Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-norman/)

> [The only uncertainty surrounding the decision is the wording of the accompanying statement and, in particular, whether the assessment that 'some further policy firming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ashworth/the-only-uncertainty-surrounding-the-decision-is-the-wording-of-the/)

[Paul Ashworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ashworth/)

> [Look for all fancy wordings and get rid of themAvoid all terms and expressions, old or new, that embody affectation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-barzun/look-for-all-fancy-wordings-and-get-rid-of-themavoid-all-terms-and/)

[Jacques Barzun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-barzun/)

> [Muddy language is not confined to policies alone. Each of you has seen replies to simple questions in which the meaning was lost through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-n-bradley/muddy-language-is-not-confined-to-policies-alone-each-of-you-has-seen/)

[Omar N. Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-n-bradley/)

> [Neither the wording of the amendment itself nor common practice challenged the widely held belief that government guaranteed freedom of religion, not freedom from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-chavez/neither-the-wording-of-the-amendment-itself-nor-common-practice/)

[Linda Chavez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-chavez/)

## More by Steven Wright

> [Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/depression-is-merely-anger-without-enthusiasm/)

[Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/)

> [My dental hygienist is cute. Every time I visit, I eat a whole package of Oreo cookies while waiting in the lobby. Sometimes she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/my-dental-hygienist-is-cute-every-time-i-visit-i-eat-a-whole-package/)

[Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/)

> [If lawyers are disbarred and clergymen defrocked, doesn't it follow that electricians can be delighted, musicians denoted, cowboys deranged, models deposed, tree surgeons debarked,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/if-lawyers-are-disbarred-and-clergymen-defrocked-doesn-t-it-follow/)

[Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/)

> [If I ever had twins, I'd use one for parts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/if-i-ever-had-twins-i-d-use-one-for-parts/)

[Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/)

> [Nobody can really compare a relationship in which the victim is 15 years old to one where she's 6. While both criminal, they're very different circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/nobody-can-really-compare-a-relationship-in-which-the-victim-is-15/)

[Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/)

> [I saw a tree fall in the woods, and I didn't hear it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/i-saw-a-tree-fall-in-the-woods-and-i-didn-t-hear-it/)

[Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/)

> [It's very intense to be in front of a live audience. It's just an amazing experience. It's dangerous. Everything out there is heightened. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/it-s-very-intense-to-be-in-front-of-a-live-audience-it-s-just-an/)

[Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/)

> [I got pulled over by a cop, and he said, 'do you know the speed limit here is 55 miles per hour?'. So I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/i-got-pulled-over-by-a-cop-and-he-said-do-you-know-the-speed-limit/)

[Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/)

> [Babies don't need a vacation, but I still see them at the beach... it pisses me off! I'll go over to a little baby…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/babies-don-t-need-a-vacation-but-i-still-see-them-at-the-beach-it/)

[Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/)

> [“I just got out of the hospital. I was in a speed reading accident. I hit a book mark and flew across the room.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/i-just-got-out-of-the-hospital-i-was-in-a-speed-reading-accident-i/)

[Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/)

> [When I'm on stage, it's really intense. My mind is going a million miles an hour, trying to remember my act, trying to say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/when-i-m-on-stage-it-s-really-intense-my-mind-is-going-a-million/)

[Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/)

> [I don't like politicians, and I don't like politics. I definitely don't want to be associated with any of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/i-don-t-like-politicians-and-i-don-t-like-politics-i-definitely-don-t/)

[Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/)

> [I went to this restaurant last night that was set up like a big buffet in the shape of an Ouija board. You'd think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/i-went-to-this-restaurant-last-night-that-was-set-up-like-a-big/)

[Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/)

> [Why isn't the number 11 pronounced onety one?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/why-isn-t-the-number-11-pronounced-onety-one/)

[Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/)

> [A conscience is what hurts when all your other parts feel so good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/a-conscience-is-what-hurts-when-all-your-other-parts-feel-so-good/)

[Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/)

[Explore all 564 Steven Wright quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/)

## 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": "It's very interesting, the joke comes first and then the wording comes within five seconds, maybe ten seconds. My thing is to get the joke across in as few words as possible. However, sometimes a word that's not really needed does help the rhythm of it. It's a gut feeling.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Steven Wright"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/it-s-very-interesting-the-joke-comes-first-and-then-the-wording-comes/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Comedy"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/it-s-very-interesting-the-joke-comes-first-and-then-the-wording-comes/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d0/steven-wright-432_comedy_it-s-very-interesting-the-joke-comes-fir_2785194.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d0/steven-wright-432_comedy_it-s-very-interesting-the-joke-comes-fir_2785194.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d0/steven-wright-432_comedy_it-s-very-interesting-the-joke-comes-fir_2785194.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“It's very interesting, the joke comes first and then the wording comes within five seconds, maybe ten…” — Steven Wright",
                "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": "Steven Wright",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "It's very interesting, the joke comes...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/it-s-very-interesting-the-joke-comes-first-and-then-the-wording-comes/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/it-s-very-interesting-the-joke-comes-first-and-then-the-wording-comes/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
