Skip to content
quotesby

About this quote

What does it mean?
Truthfulness is the most effective and unexpected form of humor.
In plain terms
Telling the truth is the funniest joke.
What can you take from it?
Honesty can be surprising and humorous.

Where it applies

  • storytelling
  • comedy
  • daily conversation

Putting it to work

  • speak honestly
  • use truth for wit
  • value authenticity

Questions to consider

  • Is truth always funny?
  • When does honesty fail?

Another view

Truth can sometimes hurt rather than amuse.

More from Muhammad Ali

  1. How do you feel about Hitler sharing yours?

    Permalink to quote #105
  2. No Vietnamese ever called me a nigger. (Sometimes quoted as 'No Viet Cong ever called me a nigger.')

    Permalink to quote #107
  3. When you're as great as I am, it's hard to be humble.

    Permalink to quote #104

Related quotes

  1. There's a hell of a distance between wise-cracking and wit. Wit has truth in it; wise-cracking is simply calisthenics with words.

    Dorothy ParkerDorothy Parker quote #15
  2. The well of true wit is truth itself.

    George MeredithGeorge Meredith quote #42
  3. Humor is the only test of gravity, and gravity of humor; for a subject which will not bear raillery is suspicious, and a jest which will not bear serious exami…

    AristotleAristotle quote #101