Laughter is the brush that sweeps away the cobwebs of the heart.
—Mort Walker (b.1923) American Comic Artist, Cartoonist
The more laws, the more offenders.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
I like the laughter that opens the lips and the heart, that shows at the same time pearls and the soul.
—Victor Hugo (1802–85) French Novelist
Wrinkle not thy face with too much laughter, lest thou become ridiculous; neither wanton thy heart with too much mirth, lest thou become vain; the suburbs of folly is vain mirth, and profuseness of laughter is the city of fools.
—Francis Quarles (1592–1644) English Religious Poet
Laughter’s the nearest we ever get, or should get, to sainthood. It’s the state of grace that saves most of us from contempt.
—John Osborne (1929–94) English Playwright, Actor
Loud laughter is the mirth of the mob, who are only pleased with silly things; for true Wit or good Sense never excited a laugh since the creation of the world. A man of parts and fashion is therefore often seen to smile, but never heard to laugh.
—Earl of Chesterfield (1694–1773) English Statesman, Man of Letters
Not by wrath does one kill, but by laughter.
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900) German Philosopher, Scholar, Writer
Present mirth hath present laughter. What’s to come is still unsure.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
The most wasted of all days is one without laughter.
—e. e. cummings (1894–1962) American Poet, Writer, Painter
Laughter does not seem to be a sin, but it leads to sin.
—John Chrysostom (c.347–407 CE) Archbishop of Constantinople
Laughter is nothing else but a sudden glory arising from some sudden conception of some eminency in ourselves, by comparison with the infirmity of others, or with our own formerly.
—Thomas Hobbes (1588–1679) English Political Philosopher
It was not a laugh but merely a loud smile.
—Unknown
It is a good thing to laugh, at any rate; and if a straw can tickle a man, it is an instrument of happiness. Beasts can weep when they suffer, but they cannot laugh.
—John Dryden (1631–1700) English Poet, Literary Critic, Playwright
I live in a constant endeavor to fence against the infirmities of ill-health, and other evils of life, by mirth. I am persuaded that every time a man smiles—but much more so when he laughs—it adds something to this fragment of life.
—Laurence Sterne (1713–68) Irish Anglican Novelist, Clergyman
A laugh is worth a hundred groans in any market.
—Charles Lamb (1775–1834) British Essayist, Poet
From quiet homes and first beginning,
Out to the undiscovered ends,
There’s nothing worth the winning,
But laughter and the love of friends.
—Hilaire Belloc (1870–1953) British Historian, Poet, Critic
The nightmare always becomes laughter, once it’s understood.
—Byron Katie (b.1942) American Speaker, Author
I hasten to laugh at everything, for fear of being obliged to weep.
—Pierre Beaumarchais (1732–99) French Inventor, Diplomat, Musician, Fugitive, Revolutionary
Every new time will give its law.
—Maxim Gorky (1868–1936) Russian Writer, Dramatist, Political Activist, Novelist
Laughter on American television has taken the place of the chorus in Greek tragedy. In other countries, the business of laughing is left to the viewers. Here, their laughter is put on the screen, integrated into the show. It is the screen that is laughing and having a good time. You are simply left alone with your consternation.
—Jean Baudrillard (1929–2007) French Sociologist, Philosopher
O, glorious laughter! thou man-loving spirit, that for a time doth take the burden from the weary back, that doth lay salve to the weary feet, bruised and cut by flints and shards.
—Douglas William Jerrold (1803–57) English Writer, Dramatist, Wit
A good laugh overcomes more difficulties and dissipates more dark clouds than any other one thing.
—Laura Ingalls Wilder (1867–1957) American Children’s Novelist
The loud laugh, that speaks the vacant mind.
—Oliver Goldsmith (1730–74) Irish Novelist, Playwright, Poet
The first person I learned I could make happy with laughter was my mother, whom I idolize. It was a powerful thing to realize. I knew I had found my life’s work.
—Ellen DeGeneres (b.1958) American Comedian, Television Host
If you can laugh at it then you can live with it
—Unknown
Beware of him who hates the laugh of a child.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater (1741–1801) Swiss Theologian, Poet
Laughter kills fear, and without fear there can be no faith. For without fear of the devil there is no need for God.
—Sean Connery (1930–2020) Scottish Actor, Film Producer
Observe it, the vulgar often laugh, but never smile, whereas well-bred people often smile, and seldom or never laugh. A witty thing never excited laughter, it pleases only the mind and never distorts the countenance.
—Earl of Chesterfield (1694–1773) English Statesman, Man of Letters
Laughter is day, and sobriety is night; a smile is the twilight that hovers gently between both, more bewitching than either.
—Henry Ward Beecher (1813–87) American Clergyman, Writer
You can turn painful situations around through laughter. If you can find humor in anything, even poverty, you can survive it.
—Bill Cosby (b.1937) American Actor, Comedian, Activist, Producer, Author
You can judge a man by what he laughs at.
—Unknown
Laugh and the world laughs with you;
Weep, and you weep alone;
For the sad old earth must borrow its mirth,
But has trouble enough of its own.
—Ella Wheeler Wilcox (1850–1919) American Poet, Journalist
Laughter is the greatest weapon that we humans possess and it’s the one we use the least.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
No one is laughable who laughs at himself.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
There comes a time when suddenly you realize that laughter is something you remember and that you were the one laughing.
—Marlene Dietrich (1901–92) German-born American Actor, Singer
You can’t deny laughter; when it comes, it plops down in your favorite chair and stays as long as it wants.
—Stephen King (b.1947) American Novelist, Short-Story Writer, Screenwriter, Columnist, Film Director
You enjoy it more if you can laugh at it.
—Unknown
How much lies in laughter: the cipher key, wherewith we decipher the whole man!
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
Laugh if you are wise.
—Martial (40–104) Ancient Roman Latin Poet
He who laughs best today, will also laughs last.
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900) German Philosopher, Scholar, Writer
It is more fitting for a man to laugh at life than to lament over it.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
In my mind, there is nothing so illiberal and so ill-bred, as audible laughter.
—Earl of Chesterfield (1694–1773) English Statesman, Man of Letters
One can never speak enough of the virtues, the dangers, the power of shared laughter.
—Francoise Sagan (1935–2004) French Novelist, Playwright, Short-Story Writer
Laughter is the closest thing to the grace of God.
—Karl Barth (1886–1968) Swiss Reformed Theologian, Author
Time spent laughing is time spent with the Gods.
—Japanese Proverb
God made both tears and laughter, and both for kind purposes; for as laughter enables mirth and surprise to breathe freely, so tears enable sorrow to vent itself patiently. Tears hinder sorrow from becoming despair and madness; and laughter is one of the very privilegea of reason, being confined to the human species.
—Leigh Hunt (1784–1859) British Poet, Essayist, Journalist
From your parents you learn love and laughter and how to put one foot before the other. But when books are opened you discover you have wings.
—Helen Hayes (1900–93) American Actor, Philanthropist
We sometimes laugh from ear to ear, but it would be impossible for a smile to be wider than the distance between our eyes.
—Malcolm de Chazal (1902–81) Mauritian Writer, Painter, Visionary
With the fearful strain that is on me night and day, if I did not laugh I should die.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
The malicious sneer is improperly called laughter.
—Oliver Goldsmith (1730–74) Irish Novelist, Playwright, Poet