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Comedy Thesaurus

A comedy thesaurus contains funny quotes from different sources. It will likely be arranged by subject so you can read the musings of some of the wittiest people who have ever lived.

What is Comedy?

According to yourDictionary.com, "comedy" can be defined as:

  1. a. A dramatic work that is light and often humorous or satirical in tone and that usually contains a happy resolution of the thematic conflict.
    b. The genre made up of such works.
  2. A literary or cinematic work of a comic nature or that uses the themes or methods of comedy.
  3. Popular entertainment composed of jokes, satire, or humorous performance.
  4. The art of composing or performing comedy.
  5. A humorous element of life or literature: the human comedy of political campaigns.
  6. A humorous occurrence.

Comedy has been with us in one form or another since ancient times. Plato said the comedy was "the generic name for all exhibitions which have a tendency to excite laughter." People have been enjoying these types of exhibitions ever since.

Health Benefits of Laughter

Laughter has been shown to help lower stress levels and blood pressure. It can help to diffuse anger. Having a good laugh is a great way to release tension. Families who are able to see the humor in something are more likely to be able to pull together during times of trouble. Given all of these benefits, it is important to laugh well and often.

Why Use a Comedy Thesaurus?

There are a number of situations in which a comedy thesaurus may prove to be helpful. You may be looking for a quote to add to an essay or an article. A quick quip may be a good way to capture the audience's interest when making a speech at a wedding or conference. A sales representative making a presentation to a group of people may wish to include an item from a comedy thesaurus as a way to establish a rapport with his or her audience. A comedy thesaurus can be read by those who simply appreciate one-liners or stand-up comedy as well.

Online Resources

  • Thinkexist.com offers a number of different quotations, including an impressive collection of humorous ones. Visitors to the site can search for quotations by keyword, author, or general topic. If you have a favorite quote, the site owners invite you to submit it so that others can read it as well.
  • Check out the Funny Quotes Archives at Comedy Zone for a collection of quotable quotes. The offerings here are varied and include thoughts on such topics as politics, holidays, religion, education, drinking, and sports. The collection also includes observations from such noted comics as Groucho Marx, George Carlin, Dave Barry, Oscar Wilde, John Cleese, and George Burns.
  • Another online source of comedy quotes is Don't Quote Me. Search for quotes by author, keyword, or media category to find quotes from movies, TV shows, products, or companies.

Print Resources

  • The Comedy Thesaurus a collection of humorous quotes compiled by Judy Brown. The Los Angeles-based author has included more than 3,000 entries in her book. The selections offered include comments made by such individuals as Eddie Murphy, Margaret Cho, and Jon Stewart.
  • Ms. Brown has found herself in legal hot water over her books of collected comedy quips. She has recently been sued by Jay Leno and NBC Studios, among others, for allegedly stealing the intellectual property of the comedians who originally used the jokes. However, the jokes used in Ms. Brown's books are credited to the original source.

  • Squeaky Clean Comedy is another example of a collection of one-liners collected by Judy Brown. The work of Rodney Dangerfield, Robin Williams, Phyllis Diller, David Letterman, Bill Cosby, and many others are included. As the title implies, the comedic quotes contain no objectionable language.

Tickle Your Funny Bone

No matter whether you explore a print comedy thesaurus or one of the online offerings, you will no doubt find something to suit your mood and taste. You will be impressed by the comedians' ability to provide food for thought while tickling your funny bone.

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