AND NOW...DEEP THOUGHTS
by Jack Handy

Berkley Books
Copyright 1992

To Marta

It takes a big man to cry,
but it takes a bigger man to laugh at that man.

If you ever fall off the Sears Tower, just go real limp,
because maybe you'll look like a dummy and people will try to
catch you because, hey, free dummy.

If a kid asks where rain comes from, I think a cute thing to tell
him is "God is crying."  And if he asks why God is crying,
another cute thing to tell him is "Probably because of something
you did."

To me, boxing is like a ballet, except there's no music, no
choreography, and the dancers hit each other.

If trees could scream, would we be so cavalier about cutting them
down?  We might, if they screamed all the time, for no good
reason.

Better not take a dog on the Space Shuttle, because if he sticks
his head out when you're coming home his face might burn up.

To me, clowns aren't funny.  In fact, they're kinda scary.  I've
wondered where this started, and I think it goes back to the time
I went to the circus and a clown killed my dead.

I'd like to see a nude opera, because when they hit those high
notes I bet you can really see it in those genitals.

Contrary to popular belief, the most dangerous animal is not the
lion or tiger or even the elephant.  The most dangerous animal is
a shark riding on an elephant, just trampling and eating
everything they see.

As we were driving, we saw a sign that said "Watch For Rocks." 
Marta said it should read "Watch For Pretty Rocks."  I told her
she should write in her suggestion to the highway department, but
she started saying it was a joke--just to get out of writing a
simple letter!  And I thought I was lazy!

As I bit into the nectarine, it had a crisp juiciness about it
that was very pleasurable--until I realized it wasn't a nectarine
at all, but a HUMAN HEAD!!

Once, when I was in Hawaii, on the island of Kauai, I met a
mysterious old stranger.  He said he was about to die and wanted
to tell someone about the treasure.  I said, "Okay, as long as
it's not a long story.  Some of us have a plane to catch, you
know."
He started telling his story, about the treasure and his life and
all, and I thought:  "This story isn't too long."  But then, he
kept going, and I started thinking, "Uh-oh, this story is getting
long."  But then, the story was over, and I said to myself:  "You
know, that story wasn't too long after all."
I forgot what the story was about, but there was a good movie on
the plane.  It was a little long, though.

If you ever teach a yodeling class, probably the hardest thing is
to keep the students from just trying to yodel right off.  You
see, we build to that.

Is there anything more beautiful than a beautiful, beautiful
flamingo, flying across in front of a beautiful sunset?  And he's
carrying a beautiful rose in his beak, and also he's carrying a
very beautiful painting with his feet.  And also, you're drunk.

I guess of all my uncles, I liked Uncle Cave Man the best.  We
called him Uncle Cave Man because he lived in a cave and because
sometimes he'd eat one of us.  Later on we found out he was a
bear.

Anytime I see something screech across a room and latch onto
someone's neck, and the guy screams and tries to get it off, I
have to laugh, because what is that thing?!

In weightlifting, I don't think sudden, uncontrolled urination
should automatically disqualify you.

If you're a horse, and someone gets on you, and falls off, and
then gets right back on you, I think you should buck him off
right away.

If you define cowardice as running away at the first sign of
danger, screaming and tripping and begging for mercy, then yes,
Mister Brave Man, I guess I am a coward.

The memories of my family outings are still a source of strength
to me.  I remember we'd all pile into the car--I forgot what kind
it was--and drive and drive.  I'm not sure where we'd go, but I
think there were some trees there.  The smell of something was
strong in the air as we played whatever sport we played.  I
remember a bigger, older guy we called "Dad."  We'd eat some
stuff, or not, and then I think we went home.
I guess some things never leave you.

Blow ye winds,
Like the trumpet blows;
But without that noise.

I wish a robot would get elected President.  That way, when he
came to town, we could all take a shot at him and not feel too
bad.

He was a cowboy, mister, and he loved the land.  He loved it so
much he made a woman out of dirt and married her.  But when he
kissed her, she disintegrated.  Later, at the funeral, when the
preacher said "Dust to dust," some people laughed, and the cowboy
shot them.  At his hanging, he told the others, "I'll be waiting
for you in heaven--with a gun."

When the age of the Vikings came to a close, they must have
sensed it.  Probably, they gathered together one evening, slapped
each other on the back and said, "Hey, good job."

If you go parachuting, and your parachute doesn't open, and your
friends are all watching you fall, I think a funny gag would be
to pretend you were swimming.

Sometimes when I feel like killing someone, I do a little trick
to calm myself down.  I'll go over to the person's house and ring
the doorbell.  When the person comes to the door, I'm gone, but
you know what I've left on the porch?  A jack-o'-lantern with a
knife in the side of its head with a note that says "You."
After that, I usually feel a lot better, and no harm done.

I can still recall old Mister Barnslow getting out every morning
and nailing a fresh load of tadpoles to that old board of his. 
Then he'd spin it round and round, like a wheel of fortune, and
no matter where it stopped he'd yell out, "Tadpoles!  Tadpoles is
a winner!"
We all thought he was crazy.  But then, we had some growing up to
do.

The face of a child can say it all, especially the mouth part of
the face.

If I ever opened a trampoline store I don't think I'd call it
Trampo-Land, because you might think it was a store for tramps,
which is not the impression we are trying to convey with our
store.  On the other hand, we would not prohibit tramps from
browsing, or testing the trampolines, unless a tramp's gyrations
seemed to be getting out of control.

I wish I had a kryptonite cross, because then you could keep both
Dracula and Superman away.

Too bad you can't just grab a tree by the very tiptop and bend it
clear over the ground and then let her fly, because I bet you'd
be amazed at all the stuff that comes flying out.

I remember that fateful day when Coach took me aside.  I knew
what was coming.  "You don't have to tell me," I said.  "I'm off
the team, aren't I?"
"Well," said Coach, "you never were really on the team.  You made
that uniform you're wearing out of rags and towels, and your
helmet is a toy space helmet.  You show up at practice and then
either steal the ball and make us chase you to get it back, or
you try to tackle people at inappropriate times."
It was all true what he was saying.  And yet, I thought,
something is brewing inside the head of this Coach.  He sees
something in me, some kind of raw talent that he can mold.  But
that's when I felt the handcuffs go on.

If you saw two guys named Hambone and Flippy, which one would you
think liked dolphins the most?  I'd say Flippy, wouldn't you? 
You'd be wrong though.  It's Hambone.

When I heard that trees grow a new "ring" for each year they
live, I thought, we humans are kind of like that:  we grow a new
layer of skin each year, and after many years we are thick and
unwieldy from all our skin layers.

Laurie got offended that I used the word "puke."  But to me,
that's what her dinner tasted like.

If you're in a boxing match, try not to let the other guy's glove
touch your lips, because you don't know where that glove has
been.

It's too bad that whole families have to be torn apart by
something as simple as wild dogs.

Marta says the interesting thing about fly fishing is that it's
two lives connected by a thin strand.  Come on, Marta.  Grow up.

The old pool shooter had won many a game in his life.  But now it
was time to hang up the cue.  When he did, all the other cues
came crashing to the floor.
"Sorry," he said with a smile.

If I ever do a book on the Amazon, I hope I am able to bring a
certain lightheartedness to the subject, in a way that tells the
reader we are going to have fun with this thing.

Even though he was an enemy of mine, I had to admit that what he
had accomplished was a brilliant piece of strategy.  First, he
punched me, then he kicked me, then he punched me again.

If you're at a Thanksgiving dinner, but you don't like the
stuffing or the cranberry sauce or anything else, just pretend
like you're eating it, but instead, put it all in your lap and
form it into a big mushy ball.  Then, later, when you're out back
having cigars with the boys, let out a big fake cough and throw
the ball to the ground.  Then say, "Boy, these are good cigars!"

Most people don't realize that large pieces of coral, which have
been painted brown and attached to the skull by common wood
screws, can make a child look like a deer.

The sound of fresh rain run-off splashing from the roof reminded
me of the sound of urine splashing into a filthy Texaco latrine.

I think somebody should come up with a way to breed a very large
shrimp.  That way, you could ride him, then, after you camped at
night, you could eat him.
How about it, science?

When you go for a job interview, I think a good thing to ask is
if they ever press charges.

I bet the main reason the police keep people away from a plane
crash is they don't want anybody walking in and lying down in the
crash stuff, then when somebody comes up act like they just woke
up and go, "What was that?!"

I scrambled to the top of the precipice where Nick was waiting. 
"That was fun," I said.
"You bet it was," said Nick.  "Let's climb higher."
"No," I said.  "I think we should be heading back now."
"We have time," Nick insisted.
I said we didn't, and Nick said we did.  We argued back and forth
like that for about 20 minutes, then finally decided to head
back.
I didn't say it was an interesting story.

If you're a young Mafia gangster out on your first date, I bet
it's really embarrassing if someone tries to kill you.

Some folks say it was a miracle.  Saint Francis suddenly appeared
and knocked the next pitch clean over the fence.  But I think it
was just a lucky swing.

Too bad there's not such a thing as a golden skunk, because you'd
probably be proud to be sprayed by one.

I bet one legend that keeps recurring throughout history, in
every culture, is the story of Popeye.

To me, truth is not some vague, foggy notion.  Truth is real. 
And, at the same time, unreal.  Fiction and fact and everything
in between, plus some things I can't remember, all rolled into
one big "thing."  This is truth, to me.

Whenever I see an old lady slip and fall on a wet sidewalk, my
first instinct is to laugh.  But then I think, what if I was an
ant, and she fell on me.  Then it wouldn't seem quite so funny.

You know what would make a good story?  Something about a clown
who makes people happy, but inside he's real sad.  Also, he has
severe diarrhea.

I bet a fun thing would be to go way back in time to where there
was going to be an eclipse and tell the cave men, "If I have come
to destroy you, may the sun be blotted out from the sky."  Just
then the eclipse would start, and they'd probably try to kill you
or something, but then you could explain about the rotation of
the moon and all, and everyone would get a good laugh.

We used to laugh at Grandpa when he'd head off to go fishing. 
But we wouldn't be laughing that evening, when he'd come back
with some whore he picked up in town.

I think in one of my previous lives I was a mighty king, because
I like people to do what I say.

Today I accidentally stepped on a snail on the sidewalk in front
of our house.  And I thought, I too am like that snail.  I build
a defensive wall around myself, a "shell" if you will.  But my
shell isn't made out of a hard, protective substance.  Mine is
made out of tinfoil and paper bags.

A man doesn't automatically get my respect.  He has to get down
in the dirt and beg for it.

One thing kids like is to be tricked.  For instance, I was going
to take my little nephew to Disneyland, but instead I drove him
to an old burned-out warehouse.  "Oh, no," I said, "Disneyland
burned down."
He cried and cried, but I think that deep down, he thought it was
a pretty good joke.
I started to drive over to the real Disneyland, but it was
getting pretty late.

As the evening sun faded from a salmon color to a sort of flint
gray, I thought back to the salmon I caught that morning, and how
gray he was, and how I named him Flint.

If you're ever stuck in some thick undergrowth, in your
underwear, don't stop and start thinking of what other words have
"under" in them, because that's probably the first sign of jungle
madness.

Sometimes the beauty of the world is so overwhelming, I just want
to throw back my head and gargle.  Just gargle and gargle, and I
don't care who hears me, because I am beautiful.

Fear can sometimes be a useful emotion.
For instance, let's say you're an astronaut on the moon and you
fear that your partner has been turned into Dracula.  The next
time he goes out for the moon pieces, wham!, you just slam the
door behind him and blast off.  He might call you on the radio
and say he's not Dracula, but you just say, "Think again, bat
man."

I wish scientists would come up with a way to make dogs a lot
bigger, but with a smaller head.  That way, they'd still be good
as watchdogs, but they wouldn't eat so much.

I bet for an Indian, shooting an old fat pioneer woman in the
back with an arrow, and she fires her shotgun into the ground as
she falls over, is like the top thing you can do.

I think a good movie would be about a guy who's a brain
scientist, but he gets hit on the head and it damages the part of
the brain that makes you want to study the brain.

I wouldn't be surprised if someday some fishermen caught a big
shark and cut it open, and there inside was a whole person.  Then
they cut the person open, and in him is a little baby shark.  And
in the baby shark there isn't a person, because it would be too
small.  But there's a little doll or something, like a Johnny
Combat little toy guy--something like that.

It makes me mad when I go to all the trouble to having Marta cook
up about a hundred drumsticks, then the guy at Marineland says,
"You can't throw chicken to the dolphins.  They eat fish."
Sure they eat fish, if that's all you give them.  Man, wise up.

If the Vikings were around today, they would probably be amazed
at how much glow-in-the-dark stuff we have, and how we take so
much of it for granted.

We tend to scoff at the beliefs of the ancients.  But we can't
scoff at them personally, to their faces, and this is what annoys
me.

It's not good to let any kid near a container that has a skull
and crossbones on it, because there might be a skeleton costume
inside and the kid could put it on and really scare you.

If you had a school for professional fireworks people, I don't
think you could cover fuses in just one class.  It's just too
rich a subject.

People think it would be fun to be a bird because you could fly. 
But they forget the negative side, which is the preening.

If I lived back in the Wild West days, instead of carrying a six-
gun in my holster, I'd carry a soldering iron.  That way, if some
smart-aleck cowboy said something like "Hey, look.  He's carrying
a soldering iron!"  and started laughing, and everybody else
started laughing, I could just say, "That's right, it's a
soldering iron.  The soldering iron of justice."
Then everybody would get real quiet and ashamed, because they
made fun of the soldering iron of justice, and I could probably
hit them up for a free drink.

When I think back on all the blessings I have been given in my
life, I can't think of a single one, unless you count that
rattlesnake that granted me all those wishes.

I hope in the future Americans are thought of as a warlike,
vicious people, because I bet a lot of high schools would pick
"Americans" as their mascot.

Sometimes I think the world has gone completely mad.  And then I
think, "Aw, who cares?"  And then I think, "Hey, what's for
supper?"

If you ever discover that what you're seeing is a play within a
play, just slow down, take a deep breath, and hold on for the
ride of your life.

I can see why it would be prohibited to throw most things off the
top of the Empire State Building, but what's wrong with little
bits of cheese?  They probably break down into their various
gases before they even hit.

If you're a circus clown, and you have a dog that you use in your
act, I don't think it's a good idea to also dress the dog up like
a clown, because people see that and they think, "Forgive me, but
that's just too much."

Here's a good joke to do during an earthquake:  straddle a big
crack in the ground, and if it opens wider, go "Whoa!  Whoa!" and
flail your arms around, like you're going to fall in.

If you ever go temporarily insane, don't shoot somebody, like a
lot of people do.  Instead, try to get some weeding done, because
you'd really be surprised.

It makes me mad when people say I turned and ran like a scared
rabbit.  Maybe it was like an angry rabbit, who was running to go
fight in an other fight, away from the first fight.

I hope if dogs ever take over the world, and they choose a king,
they don't just go by size, because I bet there are some
Chihuahuas with some good ideas.

I think a good way to get into a movie is to show up where
they're making the movie, then stick a big cactus plant onto your
buttocks and start yowling and running around.  Everyone would
think it was funny, and the head movie guy would say, "Hey, let's
put him in the movie."

What is it that makes a complete stranger dive into an icy river
to save a solid gold baby?  Maybe we'll never know.

Instead of having "answers" on a math test, they should just call
them "impressions," and if you got a different "impression," so
what, can't we all be brothers?

If God dwells inside us, like some people say, I sure hope He
likes enchiladas, because that's what He's getting!

Probably to a shark, about the funniest thing there is is a
wounded seal, trying to swim to shore, because "where does he
think he's going?!"

Perhaps, if I am very lucky, the feeble efforts of my lifetime
will someday be noticed, and maybe, in some small way, they will
be acknowledged as the greatest works of genius ever created by
Man.