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About this quote

What does it mean?
A dark joke implying Jack Benny would do anything extreme to save money.
In plain terms
He joked that Benny killed his parents to avoid paying for his own care.
What can you take from it?
Humor often exaggerates traits like stinginess to an extreme.

Where it applies

  • character satire
  • costume jokes

Putting it to work

  • comedic characterization
  • exaggeration

Questions to consider

  • Why do we laugh at cruelty?
  • How far does satire go?

Another view

It uses dark themes that might not be acceptable in all contexts.

More from Bob Hope

  1. People who throw kisses are hopelessly lazy.

    Permalink to quote #11
  2. You mean like Democrats?

    Permalink to quote #13
  3. My father told me all about the birds and the bees, the liar - I went steady with a woodpecker till I was twenty-one.

    Permalink to quote #10

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