"When in doubt, go for the dick joke"
About this Quote
The intent is pragmatic, not philosophical. Williams came up in an ecosystem where speed mattered - clubs, late-night sets, improv riffs - and “when in doubt” is the key phrase. Doubt is the comedian’s natural habitat: you’re reading microexpressions, adjusting cadence, chasing laughter like it’s oxygen. A dick joke is a blunt instrument, but it’s also a universally understood one; it cuts through class, politics, and most cultural references with caveman efficiency.
The subtext is more revealing: sophistication is fragile, but tension is constant. A cheap laugh isn’t just cheap; it’s a pressure valve. Williams, famously elastic and manic in performance, knew that audiences don’t only want cleverness - they want release. The joke becomes a lifeline, a way to keep intimacy with the crowd when the “smart” material risks turning into homework.
Context matters, too: it’s Williams the virtuoso admitting that even virtuosos keep a spare tire. The confession is half strategy, half self-mockery - a reminder that comedy’s highest art still runs on the oldest fuel.
Quote Details
| Topic | Witty One-Liners |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Williams, Robin. (2026, January 18). When in doubt, go for the dick joke. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/when-in-doubt-go-for-the-dick-joke-21022/
Chicago Style
Williams, Robin. "When in doubt, go for the dick joke." FixQuotes. January 18, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/when-in-doubt-go-for-the-dick-joke-21022/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"When in doubt, go for the dick joke." FixQuotes, 18 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/when-in-doubt-go-for-the-dick-joke-21022/. Accessed 13 Feb. 2026.












