--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In every generation there are a few…" description: "\"In every generation there are a few people who are authentically funny. The cosmetics change. You may not be able to articulate it, and you may laugh a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/653/woody-allen-176_able_in-every-generation-there-are-a-few-peop_23697.jpg" --- # In every generation there are a few people who are… ![“In every generation there are a few people who are authentically funny. The cosmetics change. You may not be able to articulate it, and you may laugh at them and get a certain amount of enjoyment. But when you're asleep at night, and you wake up at 3 in the morning, and you're alone in your bed…” quote by Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/653/woody-allen-176_able_in-every-generation-there-are-a-few-peop_23697.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/653/woody-allen-176_able_in-every-generation-there-are-a-few-peop_23697.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/653/woody-allen-176_able_in-every-generation-there-are-a-few-peop_23697.jpg) > “In every generation there are a few people who are authentically funny. The cosmetics change. You may not be able to articulate it, and you may laugh at them and get a certain amount of enjoyment. But when you're asleep at night, and you wake up at 3 in the morning, and you're alone in your bed, you know who's really funny.” [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. True humor is rare and authentic; it persists beyond superficial trends and is recognized privately, even when not publicly acknowledged. **In simple terms:** Real wit endures beyond fashion. Key Takeaway Authentic humor is timeless. Themes humor authenticity loneliness self‑recognition Mood melancholy wry amusement Type philosophical musing personal anecdote When to use this quote - late‑night introspection - private journal writing - solo travel Key Concepts subjective perception social masking Practical Applications - Keep a personal humor journal - Seek quiet moments to assess what truly amuses you Questions to Reflect On - What makes a joke feel genuinely funny to you? - Do you ever hide your true sense of humor? A Different Perspective Humor is highly subjective; what one finds authentic may not resonate with others. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Enjoyment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enjoyment/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Generations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generations/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Laugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laugh/) [Morning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morning/) [Night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/night/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Wake up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wake-up/) ## Related quotes > [It's one thing to make people laugh, but after a certain point, comedy is almost cheap.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-conover/it-s-one-thing-to-make-people-laugh-but-after-a-certain-point-comedy/) [Adam Conover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-conover/) > [Sometimes it's difficult to laugh at certain things but comedy can help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mcintyre/sometimes-it-s-difficult-to-laugh-at-certain-things-but-comedy-can/) [Michael McIntyre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mcintyre/) > [I think that when you’re doing a comedy and it makes you laugh, there’s a certain… like you can reject it, and it’s okay.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pena/i-think-that-when-you-re-doing-a-comedy-and-it-makes-you-laugh-there/) [Michael Pena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pena/) > [I laugh, that there's a certain kind of cyclical nature to life and that I don't have to worry because whatever isn't there right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-mosley/i-laugh-that-there-s-a-certain-kind-of-cyclical-nature-to-life-and/) [Walter Mosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-mosley/) > [The history of the world is like: He kills me, I kill him, only with different cosmetics and different castings. So in 2001, some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/the-history-of-the-world-is-like-he-kills-me-i-kill-him-only-with/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [Wearing cosmetics that were tested on animals makes you ugly on the inside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/wearing-cosmetics-that-were-tested-on-animals-makes-you-ugly-on-the/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [I swear it takes almost as much time to remove makeup as it does to put it on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-swear-it-takes-almost-as-much-time-to-remove-makeup-as-it-does-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I've often said that we are doing something far more important than just selling cosmetics; we are changing lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-kay-ash/i-ve-often-said-that-we-are-doing-something-far-more-important-than/) [Mary Kay Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-kay-ash/) > [I have a cosmetics line in Walgreens. It's exclusively at Walgreens. It's called Circa and it's basically prestige cosmetics that are at drug-store prices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-mendes/i-have-a-cosmetics-line-in-walgreens-it-s-exclusively-at-walgreens-it/) [Eva Mendes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-mendes/) > [God not only loves me as I am, but also knows me as I am. Because of this I don't need to apply spiritual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/god-not-only-loves-me-as-i-am-but-also-knows-me-as-i-am-because-of/) [Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/) > [“The air is full of flying kisses sent by the people who are watching you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/the-air-is-full-of-flying-kisses-sent-by-the-people-who-are-watching/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [When I get stressed out my de-stress default is - not cat videos - but I just watch his surrogates. They're so entertaining. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-hanna/when-i-get-stressed-out-my-de-stress-default-is-not-cat-videos-but-i/) [Kathleen Hanna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-hanna/) > [Gentlemen, comrades, do not be concerned about all you hear about Glasnost and Perestroika and democracy in the coming years. They are primarily for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-gorbachev/gentlemen-comrades-do-not-be-concerned-about-all-you-hear-about/) [Mikhail Gorbachev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-gorbachev/) > [I don't sell cosmetics, I sell hope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-arden/i-don-t-sell-cosmetics-i-sell-hope/) [Elizabeth Arden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-arden/) > [“Take care of your costume and your confidence will take care of itself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/take-care-of-your-costume-and-your-confidence-will-take-care-of-itself/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) ## 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/) > [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/) > [My grammy never gave gifts, you know. She was too busy getting raped by Cossacks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/my-grammy-never-gave-gifts-you-know-she-was-too-busy-getting-raped-by/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) [Explore all 935 Woody Allen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) ## More Able quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [In the '80s, the way radio was programmed, if you didn't have a hit record you weren't going to be able to make any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-lewis/in-the-80s-the-way-radio-was-programmed-if-you-didn-t-have-a-hit/) [Huey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-lewis/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [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/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/) [Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/) > [I wanted to remember in order to be able to return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-wanted-to-remember-in-order-to-be-able-to-return/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [Government schools, with your tax money, now discourage the teaching of multiplication tables by rote memorization but teach reading by the 'look-and-say' method which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-perry/government-schools-with-your-tax-money-now-discourage-the-teaching-of/) Greg Perry > [I don't know if I would qualify as mainstream. I think I have managed to function pretty successfully on the fringes of the music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-metheny/i-don-t-know-if-i-would-qualify-as-mainstream-i-think-i-have-managed/) [Pat Metheny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-metheny/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) > [The reason that Apple is able to create products like iPad is because we always try to be at the intersection of technology and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-reason-that-apple-is-able-to-create-products-like-ipad-is-because/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [It was an important period for us, because even though we weren't a "punk band", and what became a model for a punk band,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mallinder/it-was-an-important-period-for-us-because-even-though-we-weren-t-a/) [Stephen Mallinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mallinder/) > [- You look fine. - Right. I look fine. Except I don't, said Zora, tugging sadly at her man's nightshirt. This was why Kiki…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/you-look-fine-right-i-look-fine-except-i-don-t-said-zora-tugging/) [Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/) > [There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/there-is-a-way-to-be-a-woman-ask-for-what-we-deserve-and-be-able-to/) [Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/) Browse all 17,257 Able quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In every generation there are a few people who are authentically funny. The cosmetics change. You may not be able to articulate it, and you may laugh at them and get a certain amount of enjoyment. 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