You’d better get your laugh while you’re making your point, or you won’t be doing it very long.

Meaning of the quote

The quote suggests that if you want people to listen to your message, you should try to make them laugh or smile while you're sharing it. If you're too serious or boring, people might stop paying attention to what you have to say. The key is to find a way to make your point in an entertaining and engaging way, so that your audience will want to keep listening to you.

About Shel Silverstein

Shel Silverstein was an acclaimed American writer and musician known for his children’s books like The Giving Tree and his hit song ‘A Boy Named Sue.’ He was a versatile artist who left behind a remarkable legacy in both literature and music.

More about the author

More quotes from Shel Silverstein

He has the obligation to society that any human being has. I don’t think a satirist has any greater obligation to society than a bricklayer or anybody else.

Shel Silverstein

American poet, cartoonist, songwriter, and children's writer (1930-1999)

I believe that if you don’t want to do anything, then sit there and don’t do it, but don’t expect people to hand you a corn beef sandwich and wash your socks for you and unzip your fly for you.

Shel Silverstein

American poet, cartoonist, songwriter, and children's writer (1930-1999)

Tell me I’m clever, Tell me I’m kind, Tell me I’m talented, Tell me I’m cute, Tell me I’m sensitive, Graceful and wise, Tell me I’m perfect – But tell me the truth.

Shel Silverstein

American poet, cartoonist, songwriter, and children's writer (1930-1999)

You’d better get your laugh while you’re making your point, or you won’t be doing it very long.

Shel Silverstein

American poet, cartoonist, songwriter, and children's writer (1930-1999)

Stand-up comics reflect less of a visual humor and more of a commentary.

Shel Silverstein

American poet, cartoonist, songwriter, and children's writer (1930-1999)

I will not play tug o’ war. I’d rather play hug o’ war. Where everyone hugs instead of tugs, Where everyone giggles and rolls on the rug, Where everyone kisses, and everyone grins, and everyone cuddles, and everyone wins.

Shel Silverstein

American poet, cartoonist, songwriter, and children's writer (1930-1999)

If you’re behind the times, they won’t notice you. If you’re right in tune with them, you’re no better than they are, so they won’t care much for you. Be just a little ahead of them.

Shel Silverstein

American poet, cartoonist, songwriter, and children's writer (1930-1999)

Imagine – four years you could have spent travelling around Europe meeting people, or going to the Far East of Africa or India, meeting people, exchanging ideas, reading all you wanted to anyway, and instead I wasted it at Roosevelt.

Shel Silverstein

American poet, cartoonist, songwriter, and children's writer (1930-1999)

Never explain what you do. It speaks for itself. You only muddle it by talking about it.

Shel Silverstein

American poet, cartoonist, songwriter, and children's writer (1930-1999)

To me, freedom entitles you to do something, not to not do something.

Shel Silverstein

American poet, cartoonist, songwriter, and children's writer (1930-1999)

If the track is tough and the hill is rough, THINKING you can just ain’t enough!

Shel Silverstein

American poet, cartoonist, songwriter, and children's writer (1930-1999)

If you want to find out what a writer or a cartoonist really feels, look at his work. That’s enough.

Shel Silverstein

American poet, cartoonist, songwriter, and children's writer (1930-1999)

I know a way to stay friends forever, There’s really nothing to it, I tell you what to do, And you do it.

Shel Silverstein

American poet, cartoonist, songwriter, and children's writer (1930-1999)

I myself do not believe in explaining anything.

Shel Silverstein

American poet, cartoonist, songwriter, and children's writer (1930-1999)