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About this quote

What does it mean?
A joke playing on stereotypes about Jewish knowledge and literalism.
In plain terms
A Jewish man knows directions but leaves immediately.
What can you take from it?
Stereotypes are often used for quick punchlines.

Where it applies

  • telling ethnic jokes
  • crowd work

Putting it to work

  • using cultural references in humor

Questions to consider

  • Is all humor fair game?
  • How do stereotypes shape jokes?

Another view

This relies on offensive generalizations.

More from Henny Youngman

  1. A Jewish man pulls up to the curb and asks the policeman 'Can I park here?' 'No' says the cop. 'What about all these other cars?' 'They didn't ask!

    Permalink to quote #27
  2. A Jewish woman had 2 chickens. One got sick, so the woman made chicken soup out of the other one to help the sick one get well.

    Permalink to quote #29
  3. He hit me among my face.

    Permalink to quote #26

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