"Contraceptives should be used on every conceivable occasion"

Spike Milligan’s witty play on words delivers a satirical commentary on both language and societal attitudes toward contraception. The humor arises from the word "conceivable", which, in typical use, means "imaginable" or "possible". However, in the context of contraception, it simultaneously evokes the biological process of conception, egg meeting sperm, the initiation of pregnancy. By suggesting contraceptives should be used on every "conceivable" occasion, Milligan jests that they should be deployed whenever conception might occur, alluding to sexual activity.

At the same time, the ambiguity of the language gives the phrase a wider, almost absurd sense, comically suggesting that contraceptives should be used every time any possibility arises, however remote or unrelated to actual conception. This exaggeration exposes the sometimes overzealous or cautious approaches societies or individuals might take when it comes to sexual mores. Milligan’s dry delivery lampoons the tendency to apply serious policy or social rules with heavy-handed universality, regardless of context, rendering the advice intentionally overprotective.

Beneath the joke lies a pointed social critique. The era when Milligan crafted many of his best-known lines saw considerable debate and, often, taboo around sex education, family planning, and birth control. The statement pokes fun not only at the prudishness and anxieties of his time, but also at the awkwardness with which issues of sex and contraception were often discussed in public life.

Moreover, the pun relies on the blending of literal and figurative language, which is a hallmark of Milligan’s comedic style. Such humor invites audiences to think critically about language, question literal interpretations, and recognize the gap between what is said and what is meant. In sum, the quote uses wordplay to gently poke fun at societal discomfort with contraception, exaggerated caution, and the absurdity that can arise when bureaucratic thinking meets everyday human experience.