When I started, I wanted to be thought of as tortured and seductive, not funny, but humor tends to be a reflexive part of a person's sensibility. It's an almost impossible thing to teach anyone, which leads me to believe that it's intuitive.

In this quote, Mark Leyner reflects on his initial desire to be perceived as tortured and seductive rather than funny in his writing or persona. He acknowledges that, despite his initial ambitions, humor naturally became a part of his sensibility. Leyner suggests that humor, which may seem like a secondary trait, is an intrinsic part of one's character or creative expression, often emerging even when it is not the primary goal.

Leyner further discusses the difficulty of teaching humor, indicating that it is not something that can be easily learned or formalized. This idea points to the intuitive nature of humor, suggesting that it arises naturally from a person's mindset or worldview, rather than being a skill that can be honed in a classroom or through instruction. For Leyner, humor seems to be an essential part of one’s personal identity, rather than something that can be acquired through effort alone.

By stating that humor is almost impossible to teach, Leyner implies that it is something deeply connected to a person's unique perspective on life. It is a reflection of their personality and experiences, rather than a learned technique. This idea challenges the conventional notion that humor can be simply crafted, instead suggesting that it is more about an individual’s instinctive reactions and sensibility.

Ultimately, Mark Leyner’s quote reveals his evolving understanding of humor as an organic part of one's identity. While he initially sought to embody a more serious, tortured image, he realized that humor was an inescapable aspect of his expression. His comment highlights how humor can naturally emerge in creative work and life, often reflecting deeper elements of human nature that are difficult to control or teach.