--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think being funny is not anyone's first…" description: "\"I think being funny is not anyone's first choice.\" — Woody Allen" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e56/woody-allen-176_being-funny_i-think-being-funny-is-not-anyone-s-firs_2473233.jpg" --- # I think being funny is not anyone's first choice. ![“I think being funny is not anyone's first choice.” quote by Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e56/woody-allen-176_being-funny_i-think-being-funny-is-not-anyone-s-firs_2473233.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e56/woody-allen-176_being-funny_i-think-being-funny-is-not-anyone-s-firs_2473233.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e56/woody-allen-176_being-funny_i-think-being-funny-is-not-anyone-s-firs_2473233.jpg) > “I think being funny is not anyone's first choice.” [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Humor is rarely a primary goal; it often follows deeper intentions. **In simple terms:** Funny isn’t usually the main aim. Key Takeaway Don’t chase jokes, focus on purpose. Themes humor intent creativity Mood witty reflective Type observational philosophical When to use this quote - stand‑up performance - writing - social interactions Key Concepts psychology self‑presentation Questions to Reflect On - What deeper purpose drives your humor? - How does humor serve your goals? A Different Perspective Humor can be misunderstood if over‑emphasized. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-funny/) [Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Funny Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny-choice-783301/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think/) [Think Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-funny/) ## Related quotes > [You have a choice in this world, I believe, about how to tell sad stories, and we made the funny choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/you-have-a-choice-in-this-world-i-believe-about-how-to-tell-sad-3/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“You have a choice in this world, I believe, about how to tell sad stories, and we made the funny choice: Augustus, slumped in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/you-have-a-choice-in-this-world-i-believe-about-how-to-tell-sad/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [I like to have fun, but I don't think of myself as being funny. But I'm a big jokester, so I make fun of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-lautner/i-like-to-have-fun-but-i-don-t-think-of-myself-as-being-funny-but-i-m/) [Taylor Lautner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-lautner/) > [I don't think of myself as being funny. But life takes strange turns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gorshin/i-don-t-think-of-myself-as-being-funny-but-life-takes-strange-turns/) [Frank Gorshin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gorshin/) > [People want me to be funny all the time. They think I'm being funny no matter what I say or do and that's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-guest/people-want-me-to-be-funny-all-the-time-they-think-i-m-being-funny-no-2/) [Christopher Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-guest/) > [Until I was about 14, I was a fat boy, or at least I looked like a fat boy. I think that being funny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pippa-evans/until-i-was-about-14-i-was-a-fat-boy-or-at-least-i-looked-like-a-fat/) [Pippa Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pippa-evans/) > [I think being funny had something to do with feeling like an outsider, not feeling cool - insecurity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kumail-nanjiani/i-think-being-funny-had-something-to-do-with-feeling-like-an-outsider/) [Kumail Nanjiani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kumail-nanjiani/) > [People want me to be funny all the time. They think I'm being funny no matter what I say or do and that's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-guest/people-want-me-to-be-funny-all-the-time-they-think-i-m-being-funny-no/) [Christopher Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-guest/) > [I don't really find things funny unless they're deeply tragic at the same time. I think if you're funny just for the sake of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-hall/i-don-t-really-find-things-funny-unless-they-re-deeply-tragic-at-the/) [Lee Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-hall/) > [I actually think of being funny as an odd turn of mind, like a mild disability, some weird way of looking at the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-trillin/i-actually-think-of-being-funny-as-an-odd-turn-of-mind-like-a-mild/) [Calvin Trillin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-trillin/) > [To all the girls out there who think being funny is not sexy, you are wrong!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-michael-murray/to-all-the-girls-out-there-who-think-being-funny-is-not-sexy-you-are/) [Chad Michael Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-michael-murray/) > [I think being funny was a coping mechanism because I was always the new kid in school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-segura/i-think-being-funny-was-a-coping-mechanism-because-i-was-always-the/) [Tom Segura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-segura/) > [I think the second you think that you're funny is when you stop being funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mila-kunis/i-think-the-second-you-think-that-you-re-funny-is-when-you-stop-being/) [Mila Kunis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mila-kunis/) > [In every generation there are a few people who are authentically funny. The cosmetics change. You may not be able to articulate it, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/in-every-generation-there-are-a-few-people-who-are-authentically/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [If I'm honest, I think everything is funny. You've just got to find the right way in. When I'm at my happiest and when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mcintyre/if-i-m-honest-i-think-everything-is-funny-you-ve-just-got-to-find-the/) [Michael McIntyre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mcintyre/) ## More by Woody Allen > [“True, science has conquered many diseases, broken the genetic code, and even placed human beings on the moon, and yet when a man of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/true-science-has-conquered-many-diseases-broken-the-genetic-code-and/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [Bisexuality immediately doubles your chances for a date on Saturday night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/bisexuality-immediately-doubles-your-chances-for-a-date-on-saturday/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [In every generation there are a few people who are authentically funny. The cosmetics change. You may not be able to articulate it, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/in-every-generation-there-are-a-few-people-who-are-authentically/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [I think Frank Capra was a much craftier filmmaker, a wonderful filmmaker. He had enormous technique, and he knew how to manipulate the public…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/i-think-frank-capra-was-a-much-craftier-filmmaker-a-wonderful/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [The food here is terrible, and the portions are too small.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/the-food-here-is-terrible-and-the-portions-are-too-small/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [Gauguin flew into a frenzy! He held my head under the X-ray machine for ten straight minutes and for several hours after I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/gauguin-flew-into-a-frenzy-he-held-my-head-under-the-x-ray-machine/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [What has gotten into you lately? Save a little craziness for menopause!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/what-has-gotten-into-you-lately-save-a-little-craziness-for-menopause/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [I enjoy the making of the film and it's something for me to do. If nobody ever comes to my films, if people don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/i-enjoy-the-making-of-the-film-and-it-s-something-for-me-to-do-if/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [Why does man kill? He kills for food. And not only food: frequently there must be a beverage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/why-does-man-kill-he-kills-for-food-and-not-only-food-frequently/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [A stockbroker is someone who invests other people's money until it is all gone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/a-stockbroker-is-someone-who-invests-other-people-s-money-until-it-is/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [Man cannot live by bread alone. Every once in awhile he needs a salad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/man-cannot-live-by-bread-alone-every-once-in-awhile-he-needs-a-salad/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [All literature is a footnote to Faust. I have no idea what I mean by that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/all-literature-is-a-footnote-to-faust-i-have-no-idea-what-i-mean-by/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [There are two important things in the world, the first is sex. The other isn't all that important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/there-are-two-important-things-in-the-world-the-first-is-sex-the/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [You can't ride two horses with one behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/you-can-t-ride-two-horses-with-one-behind/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [Is old age really so terrible? Not if you've brushed your teeth faithfully.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/is-old-age-really-so-terrible-not-if-you-ve-brushed-your-teeth/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) [Explore all 935 Woody Allen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) ## More Being funny quotes > [Being funny is one of my greatest strengths. I can make girls smile when they're down, and when they're having a good time, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-krasinski/being-funny-is-one-of-my-greatest-strengths-i-can-make-girls-smile/) [John Krasinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-krasinski/) > [I direct with energy. I believe in energy. I think energy is an electric thing in actors. I try to inspire, encourage, and make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-lillard/i-direct-with-energy-i-believe-in-energy-i-think-energy-is-an/) [Matthew Lillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-lillard/) > [I think my way of being "funny" is just saying things that people think but have learned not to say, whereas, I haven't learned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-chang/i-think-my-way-of-being-funny-is-just-saying-things-that-people-think/) [Victoria Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-chang/) > [I guess I'm pleased and proud of the respect of my peers, and that when I disappear from the scene or from this earth,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-klein/i-guess-i-m-pleased-and-proud-of-the-respect-of-my-peers-and-that/) [Robert Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-klein/) > [I like to have fun, but I don't think of myself as being funny. But I'm a big jokester, so I make fun of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-lautner/i-like-to-have-fun-but-i-don-t-think-of-myself-as-being-funny-but-i-m/) [Taylor Lautner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-lautner/) > [If you don't follow the stock market, you are missing some amazing drama.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-cuban/if-you-don-t-follow-the-stock-market-you-are-missing-some-amazing/) [Mark Cuban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-cuban/) > [For my first gig, I got $75. I could make money being funny, so I pursued it as a career and have turned it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-morgan/for-my-first-gig-i-got-75-i-could-make-money-being-funny-so-i-pursued/) [Tracy Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-morgan/) > [It is a difficult thing to like anybody else's ideas of being funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/it-is-a-difficult-thing-to-like-anybody-else-s-ideas-of-being-funny/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [You know, I love airplane food. I'm not being funny; I'm not being ironic. It reminds me of being 12 years old and putting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-freese/you-know-i-love-airplane-food-i-m-not-being-funny-i-m-not-being/) [Josh Freese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-freese/) > [I was the troublemaker, always being funny - that's just who I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-smalls/i-was-the-troublemaker-always-being-funny-that-s-just-who-i-am/) [Joan Smalls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-smalls/) > [Thing is, I'm a funny actor, but I'm not good at being funny. I'm going to ramble for a second: I'm an actor who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-lillard/thing-is-i-m-a-funny-actor-but-i-m-not-good-at-being-funny-i-m-going/) [Matthew Lillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-lillard/) > [On 'The Simpsons,' I will say that we definitely like to comment on what's going on in the world, and we try to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-groening/on-the-simpsons-i-will-say-that-we-definitely-like-to-comment-on-what/) [Matt Groening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-groening/) > [He's never portrayed as being funny. He was a very funny, happy, lively person. Fun to be around and exciting. He was my hero.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-hemingway/he-s-never-portrayed-as-being-funny-he-was-a-very-funny-happy-lively/) [Jack Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-hemingway/) > [People used to make fun of alternative comedy because sometimes it would be someone being funny, and sometimes it was a crazy man with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-mirman/people-used-to-make-fun-of-alternative-comedy-because-sometimes-it/) [Eugene Mirman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-mirman/) > [One second here and there will make all the difference between something being funny and not being funny. That's why I like going, 'Well,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-krisel/one-second-here-and-there-will-make-all-the-difference-between/) [Jonathan Krisel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-krisel/) [Browse all 218 Being funny quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-funny/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think being funny is not anyone's first choice.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Woody Allen" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/i-think-being-funny-is-not-anyone-s-first-choice/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Being funny" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/i-think-being-funny-is-not-anyone-s-first-choice/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e56/woody-allen-176_being-funny_i-think-being-funny-is-not-anyone-s-firs_2473233.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e56/woody-allen-176_being-funny_i-think-being-funny-is-not-anyone-s-firs_2473233.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e56/woody-allen-176_being-funny_i-think-being-funny-is-not-anyone-s-firs_2473233.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think being funny is not anyone's first choice.” — Woody 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": "Woody Allen", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I think being funny is not...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/i-think-being-funny-is-not-anyone-s-first-choice/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/i-think-being-funny-is-not-anyone-s-first-choice/#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 } } ] } ```