Tragically I was an only twin.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- A humorous paradox suggesting being an only child is a tragedy when you are actually a twin who lost their sibling.
- In plain terms
- It is ironic to mourn not having a twin when you already lost one.
- What can you take from it?
- Use contradiction to create humor about personal loss.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How can tragedy be framed lightly?
- What defines family loss?
Another view
The joke relies on the audience understanding the wordplay.
More from Peter Cook
There's terrific merit in having no sense of humour, no sense of irony, practically no sense of anything at all. If you're born with these so-called defects yo…
Permalink to quote #44 The funniest man who ever drew breath. ~ Stephen Fry
Permalink to quote #46 The most ordinary thing like appearing on Clive James fills me with panic, I don't much enjoy being on television. I'd rather be sarcastic to myself. I'd rathe…
Permalink to quote #43
Related quotes
Comedy is tragedy plus time.
Carol BurnettCarol Burnett quote #3 Comedy: Why do we laugh at such terrible things? Because comedy is often the sarcastic realization of inescapable tragedy.
Bryant McGillBryant McGill quote #36 Now, I think that I should have known that he was magic all along. I did know it - but I should have guessed that it would be too much to ask to grow old with …
Jacqueline Kennedy OnassisJacqueline Kennedy Onassis quote #47