There is a great deal of truth in that statement. The difference between a good joke and a bad one is a person's sense of timing. An appropriate pause makes a joke .
Timing is essential when dealing with people.
You don't ask for a raise when business is not going well or when things are tense around the office. You don't try to correct someone who feels threatened by you. You don't ask for a favor when someone is under a lot of stress or angry. Timing is important in cooking. The juicy hamburger on the grill is raw meat if cooked for too little time and a clump of charcoal if it is cooked too long.