The sign reads, if I can cure you, I get $20. If I can’t cure you, I pay you $100.
A lawyer decides that it’s his time to shine, so goes to the doctor. “Doctor, I cant taste anything anymore. Please cure me!”
The doctor tells his nurse to get him some of the medicine from drawer 33.
The lawyer takes a swig, gasps, and spits it out. The lawyer says. “This is gasoline!”
“There you go. $20 please.”
The lawyer pays and leaves, frustrated.
He goes back the next day, determined to succeed. “Doctor, please cure my memory loss.”
“Nurse, fetch some of the medicine from drawer 33!”
“No way!”, the lawyer exclaims, “That’s the same crap you gave me last time!”
“Memory fixed. $20 please.”
The lawyer stomps away, displeased.
The next day, he comes up with a foolproof strategy. “Doctor, I’m blind! Cure me please.”
“I’m sorry, I won’t be able to cure that. Here’s your $100,” he says, handing the lawyer a $5 bill.”
“Wait a second! This is $5, not $100!”
“Blindness cured. $20 please.”
1. The Clever Premise
The setup itself is intriguing: a sign that boldly promises a cure or a hefty compensation if the doctor fails. This instantly sets the stage for a challenge, inviting someone (like the lawyer) to test the doctor’s claim. The stakes are high, making it the perfect foundation for humor.
2. The Lawyer’s Personality
The lawyer embodies arrogance and overconfidence. He assumes he can outsmart the doctor and profit from the challenge. Each visit showcases his increasing determination, but he ultimately underestimates the doctor’s quick thinking.
First Attempt: The lawyer’s taste problem is solved instantly, catching him off guard. The doctor cleverly uses the lawyer’s reaction to prove he can still taste.
Second Attempt: The memory loss claim is dismantled as soon as the lawyer recognizes the “medicine,” proving his memory is intact.
Third Attempt: The lawyer’s “foolproof” blindness claim is brilliantly overturned with the $5 trick, showing how the doctor stays one step ahead.
3. The Doctor’s Wit
The doctor is the true star of the joke, using creativity, logic, and quick thinking to counter each of the lawyer’s challenges. What makes it especially funny is how the doctor turns the lawyer’s assumptions against him. The punchline at the end—using a $5 bill to “cure” blindness—is the ultimate display of the doctor’s cunning.
4. The Satire of Professional Stereotypes
This joke lightly mocks the stereotypical rivalry between doctors and lawyers:
Lawyers are often seen as cunning and opportunistic, trying to exploit loopholes.
Doctors are seen as practical and resourceful, relying on their wits and knowledge.
The humor comes from flipping the expected outcome: the lawyer is the one who gets outsmarted, not the doctor.
5. The Circular Humor
Each encounter builds on the previous one, making the joke feel like a game between the two characters. The lawyer’s frustration grows, while the doctor remains calm and composed, making the lawyer’s defeats even funnier.
Possible Moral of the Joke
“Overconfidence can backfire, especially when you underestimate your opponent.”
“Sometimes, wit and resourcefulness win over logic and technicality.”
Why It Resonates
This joke resonates because it combines intellectual humor with a universal theme: the satisfaction of seeing an overconfident person get their comeuppance. It’s a reminder that quick thinking and adaptability often triumph over arrogance and rigid plans.
In the end, the lawyer walks away defeated, and the audience is left laughing at how brilliantly the doctor turned the tables!
