A while ago, I left my apartment building and walked my dog... on the ledge. A lot of people are afraid of heights. Not me, I'm afraid of widths.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Wright jokes that while many fear heights, he fears widths, turning a common fear on its head.
- In plain terms
- He says he’s afraid of widths, not heights.
- What can you take from it?
- Humor can arise from flipping expectations about fear.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Why does reversing the fear create humor?
- What does this say about personal anxieties?
Another view
The joke relies on a nonsensical premise that may not resonate with all audiences.
More from Steven Wright
A friend of mine once sent me a post card with a picture of the entire planet Earth taken from space. On the back it said, 'Wish you were here.'
Permalink to quote #5 About a year ago, my girlfriend was on the pill, wearing a diaphragm, and an IUD all at once. Recently, she had a baby; baby was born wearing armor.
Permalink to quote #7 A fool and his money are soon partying.
Permalink to quote #4
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