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About this quote

What does it mean?
Carlin mocks self-serving justifications by pretending to warn against attacking children while admitting he will.
In plain terms
He jokes about pretending not to attack children but admits he will.
What can you take from it?
Beware of false reassurances.

Where it applies

  • debates
  • performances
  • public speaking

Putting it to work

  • spot false warnings

Questions to consider

  • When do leaders say one thing and do another?
  • How do we spot lies?

Another view

It relies on absurdity that may not land.

More from George Carlin

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  2. There's a lot of things you could use to kill a guy with. You could probably beat a guy to death with the Sunday New York Times!

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  3. Religion has actually convinced people : that there's an invisible man : living in the sky : who watches everything you do, every minute of every day. And the …

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