--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The funny thing about history is that we…" description: "\"The funny thing about history is that we imagine that people didn't laugh in the old days, but of course they did, at stupid things.\" — Terry Jones" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7e/terry-jones-16451_about_the-funny-thing-about-history-is-that-we_2910123.jpg" --- # The funny thing about history is that we imagine that… ![“The funny thing about history is that we imagine that people didn't laugh in the old days, but of course they did, at stupid things.” quote by Terry Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7e/terry-jones-16451_about_the-funny-thing-about-history-is-that-we_2910123.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7e/terry-jones-16451_about_the-funny-thing-about-history-is-that-we_2910123.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7e/terry-jones-16451_about_the-funny-thing-about-history-is-that-we_2910123.jpg) > “The funny thing about history is that we imagine that people didn't laugh in the old days, but of course they did, at stupid things.” [Terry Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-jones/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People have always laughed at absurdities, even in past eras. **In simple terms:** Humor is timeless. Key Takeaway Recognize humor across history. Themes humor history human nature Mood lighthearted reflective Type observational satirical When to use this quote - everyday conversation - historical analysis - media critique Key Concepts social commentary satire Questions to Reflect On - What absurdities do we overlook today? - How does humor shape our view of history? A Different Perspective Humor may mask deeper societal issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [About](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/about/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Course](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/course/) [Days](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/days/) [Did](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/did/) [Didn Laugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/didn-laugh-2318414/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Funny thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny-thing/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [History Imagine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history-imagine-4186735/) [Imagine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imagine/) [Laugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laugh/) [Laugh Old](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laugh-old-1749235/) [Old](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old/) [Old days](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-days/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Stupid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stupid/) [Stupid things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stupid-things/) [Thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing/) [Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things/) ## Related quotes > [“For her heart, I know that cannot grow old; and while the heart is young, man may laugh Old Time in the face, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/for-her-heart-i-know-that-cannot-grow-old-and-while-the-heart-is/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [As long as you can laugh, you are not old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sofia-vassilieva/as-long-as-you-can-laugh-you-are-not-old/) [Sofia Vassilieva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sofia-vassilieva/) > [Because you don't know us at all we laugh when old people fall, but what would you expect with a conscience so small.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sum-41/because-you-don-t-know-us-at-all-we-laugh-when-old-people-fall-but/) [Sum 41](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sum-41/) > [I steeled myself against laughter; I would rather die than laugh. I didn’t laugh, I did not laugh. But I died, I did die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-july/i-steeled-myself-against-laughter-i-would-rather-die-than-laugh-i/) [Miranda July](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-july/) > [I just looked preposterous. It would be 'King Lear' and I'd walk on with Cordelia's dead body in my arms and the audience would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-coles/i-just-looked-preposterous-it-would-be-king-lear-and-i-d-walk-on-with/) [Richard Coles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-coles/) > [“He didn't laugh when he thought something was funny--he laughed when he was happy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/he-didn-t-laugh-when-he-thought-something-was-funny-he-laughed-when/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [- I notice you didn't laugh, Mr. Black! - No, Your Majesty. We are forbidden to laugh at the things kings say, sire, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/i-notice-you-didn-t-laugh-mr-black-no-your-majesty-we-are-forbidden/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“If I didn't laugh, I'd rip out my hair, one graying strand at a time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elsie-love/if-i-didn-t-laugh-i-d-rip-out-my-hair-one-graying-strand-at-a-time/) [Elsie Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elsie-love/) > [“Leo didn’t laugh. He also didn’t cry. Which it looked for a minute like he might do. I knew that feeling. Hold your mouth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-condie/leo-didn-t-laugh-he-also-didn-t-cry-which-it-looked-for-a-minute-like/) [Ally Condie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-condie/) > [The funny thing is I'm actually really insecure. I have a lot of girl issues - 'I'm not pretty enough,' 'I'm not skinny enough'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-pearce/the-funny-thing-is-i-m-actually-really-insecure-i-have-a-lot-of-girl/) [Lindsay Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay-pearce/) > [Funny thing is, You can have everything and still be unhappy...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-s-voice/funny-thing-is-you-can-have-everything-and-still-be-unhappy/) [Lisa's Voice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-s-voice/) > [I don't think I said a single funny thing in class between 2004 and 2008.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivo-graham/i-don-t-think-i-said-a-single-funny-thing-in-class-between-2004-and/) [Ivo Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivo-graham/) > [“Hope is a funny thing when you think about it. It’s something you always have. You just have to believe you do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-miller/hope-is-a-funny-thing-when-you-think-about-it-it-s-something-you/) [Laura Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-miller/) > [The funny thing when you are with a man that has lots of fans - particularly female fans - it gets sensitive!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-degarmo/the-funny-thing-when-you-are-with-a-man-that-has-lots-of-fans/) [Diana DeGarmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-degarmo/) > [“There's a funny thing about everything, even if you have to make it up!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-jo-ann-thometz/there-s-a-funny-thing-about-everything-even-if-you-have-to-make-it-up/) [Jessica Jo Ann Thometz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-jo-ann-thometz/) ## More by Terry Jones > [We will definitely not burn the Koran, no. Not today, not ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-jones/we-will-definitely-not-burn-the-koran-no-not-today-not-ever/) [Terry Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-jones/) > [Saying We will destroy terrorism is about as meaningful as saying: We shall annihilate mockery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-jones/saying-we-will-destroy-terrorism-is-about-as-meaningful-as-saying-we/) [Terry Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-jones/) > [We are, of course, now against any other group burning Qurans. We would right now ask no one to burn Qurans. We are absolutely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-jones/we-are-of-course-now-against-any-other-group-burning-qurans-we-would/) [Terry Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-jones/) > [I can direct things but I can't write. My memory is going, so I struggle for words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-jones/i-can-direct-things-but-i-can-t-write-my-memory-is-going-so-i/) [Terry Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-jones/) > [Pinterest may have more travel intent data than any other site, so many people are pinning where they want to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-jones/pinterest-may-have-more-travel-intent-data-than-any-other-site-so/) [Terry Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-jones/) > [We think of medieval England as being a place of unbelievable cruelty and darkness and superstition. We think of it as all being about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-jones/we-think-of-medieval-england-as-being-a-place-of-unbelievable-cruelty/) [Terry Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-jones/) > [I've got a soft spot for Theatr Colwyn because my granddad used to run the Colwyn amateur dramatic society in the 1930s.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-jones/i-ve-got-a-soft-spot-for-theatr-colwyn-because-my-granddad-used-to/) [Terry Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-jones/) > [No matter how much I struggle through life, I have my head up and positive attitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-jones/no-matter-how-much-i-struggle-through-life-i-have-my-head-up-and/) [Terry Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-jones/) > [I'm a good cook; one of my specialities is reindeer and potato pie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-jones/i-m-a-good-cook-one-of-my-specialities-is-reindeer-and-potato-pie/) [Terry Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-jones/) > [“The light of reason and civilization was virtually snuffed out by the Barbarian hordes who swarmed across Europe, annihilating everything the Romans had put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-jones/the-light-of-reason-and-civilization-was-virtually-snuffed-out-by-the/) [Terry Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-jones/) > [I'd always thought that if Python was going to go on at all, it'd be nice to get into storylines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-jones/i-d-always-thought-that-if-python-was-going-to-go-on-at-all-it-d-be/) [Terry Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-jones/) > [You know, I've never thought of myself as a comedian.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-jones/you-know-i-ve-never-thought-of-myself-as-a-comedian/) [Terry Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-jones/) > [“A newt?" "I got better.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-jones/a-newt-i-got-better/) [Terry Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-jones/) > [I don't think you need religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-jones/i-don-t-think-you-need-religion/) [Terry Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-jones/) > [ The Romans did not see \[the tale of Romulus, Remus and the she-wolf\] as a charming story; they meant to show that they had… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-jones/the-romans-did-not-see-the-tale-of-romulus-remus-and-the-she-wolf-as/) [Terry Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-jones/) [Explore all 40 Terry Jones quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-jones/) ## More About quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [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 talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/) [Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/) > [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [I write about presidents. That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [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 learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/) [Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/) [Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-didn-t-want-to-do-fashion-police-because-i-thought-this-is-stupid/) [Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/) > [I just worried about my weight. Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/) [Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/) > [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/) [Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/) > [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/) [John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/) > [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) [Browse all 26,122 About quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/about/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The funny thing about history is that we imagine that people didn't laugh in the old days, but of course they did, at stupid things.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Terry Jones" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-jones/the-funny-thing-about-history-is-that-we-imagine-that-people-didn-t/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "About" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-jones/the-funny-thing-about-history-is-that-we-imagine-that-people-didn-t/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7e/terry-jones-16451_about_the-funny-thing-about-history-is-that-we_2910123.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7e/terry-jones-16451_about_the-funny-thing-about-history-is-that-we_2910123.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7e/terry-jones-16451_about_the-funny-thing-about-history-is-that-we_2910123.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The funny thing about history is that we imagine that people didn't laugh in the old days, but of course…” — Terry Jones", "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": "Terry Jones", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-jones/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The funny thing about history is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-jones/the-funny-thing-about-history-is-that-we-imagine-that-people-didn-t/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-jones/the-funny-thing-about-history-is-that-we-imagine-that-people-didn-t/#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 } } ] } ```