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
The man who cannot laugh is not only fit for treasons, stratagems and spoils, but his whole life is already a treason and a stratagem.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
When people are laughing, they’re generally not killing each other.
—Alan Alda (b.1936) American Actor, TV Personality, Screenwriter
There are some things so serious you have to laugh at them.
—Niels Bohr (1885–1962) Danish Physicist
If I were given the opportunity to present a gift to the next generation, it would be the ability for each individual to learn to laugh at himself.
—Charles M. Schulz (1922–2000) American Cartoonist, Writer, Artist
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
If I can get you to laugh with me, you like me better, which makes you more open to my ideas. And if I can persuade you to laugh at the particular point I make, by laughing at it you acknowledge its truth.
—John Cleese (b.1939) British Actor, Writer, Comic Innovator
We do have a zeal for laughter in most situations, give or take a dentist.
—Joseph Heller (1923–99) American Novelist
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
He who laughs, lasts.
—Mary Pettibone Poole American Aphorist
Laughter is a tranquilizer with no side effects.
—Arnold Glasow (1905–98) American Businessman
Every new time will give its law.
—Maxim Gorky (1868–1936) Russian Writer, Dramatist, Political Activist, Novelist
Get into the habit of laughing; too many of us have forgotten how to laugh. As people grow older, they sometimes forget that they ever laughed. It is a part of their childhood that they can no longer remember.
—Maxwell Maltz (1899–1975) American Surgeon, Motivational Writer
The malicious sneer is improperly called laughter.
—Oliver Goldsmith (1730–74) Irish Novelist, Playwright, Poet
The nightmare always becomes laughter, once it’s understood.
—Byron Katie (b.1942) American Speaker, Author
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
I quickly laugh at everything for fear of having to cry.
—Pierre Beaumarchais (1732–99) French Inventor, Diplomat, Musician, Fugitive, Revolutionary
At the height of laughter, the universe is flung into a kaleidoscope of new possibilities.
—Jean Houston (b.1937) American New Thought Author, Speaker
Seven days without laughter makes one weak.
—Unknown
Laughter is the corrective force which prevents us from becoming cranks.
—Henri Bergson (1859–1941) French Philosopher, Evolutionist
Laughter is the greatest weapon that we humans possess and it’s the one we use the least.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
Blessed are those who can laugh at themselves, they will never cease to be amused.
—Unknown
I have seen what a laugh can do. It can transform almost unbearable tears into something bearable, even hopeful.
—Bob Hope (1903–2003) British-born American Comedian
Laughter is regional: a smile extends over the whole face.
—Malcolm de Chazal (1902–81) Mauritian Writer, Painter, Visionary
How inevitably does an immoderate laughter end in a sigh!
—Robert South (1634–1716) English Theologian
If we consider the frequent reliefs we receive from laughter, and how often it breaks the gloom which is apt to depress the mind, one would take carp not to grow too wise for so great a pleasure of life.
—Joseph Addison (1672–1719) English Essayist, Poet, Playwright, Politician
Anyone who takes himself too seriously always runs the risk of looking ridiculous; anyone who can consistently laugh at himself does not.
—Vaclav Havel (1936–2011) Czech Dramatist, Statesman
I am sure that since I have had the full use of my reason, nobody has heard me laugh.
—Earl of Chesterfield (1694–1773) English Statesman, Man of Letters
No one is more profoundly sad than he who laughs too much.
—Jean Paul (1763–1825) German Novelist, Humorist
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
In every job, relationship, or life situation there is inevitably some turbulence. Learn to laugh at it. It is part of what you do and who you are.
—Allen Klein (1931–2009) American Businessperson
Maturity is a bitter disappointment for which no remedy exists, unless laughter can be said to remedy anything.
—Kurt Vonnegut (1922–2007) American Novelist, Short Story Writer
Laughter is one of the very privileges of reason, being confined to the human species.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
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
One good, hearty laugh is a bomb shell exploding in the right place, while spleen and discontent are a gun that kicks over the man who shoots it off.
—Thomas De Witt Talmage (1832–1902) American Presbyterian Clergyman, Religious Leader
The flower in the vase smiles, but no longer laughs.
—Malcolm de Chazal (1902–81) Mauritian Writer, Painter, Visionary
The beauty of the world, which is so soon to perish, has two edges, one of laughter, one of anguish, cutting the heart asunder.
—Virginia Woolf (1882–1941) English Novelist
Laugh if you are wise.
—Martial (40–104) Ancient Roman Latin Poet
If we couldn’t laugh, we would all go insane.
—Jimmy Buffett (b.1946) American Musician, Author
Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face.
—Victor Hugo (1802–85) French Novelist
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
Search not a Wound too deep, lest thou make a new one.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
No man who has once heartily and wholly laughed can be altogether and irreclaimably depraved.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
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
If you lose the power to laugh, you lose the power to think.
—Clarence Darrow (1857–1938) American Civil Liberties Lawyer
Laughter is the brush that sweeps away the cobwebs of the heart.
—Mort Walker (b.1923) American Comic Artist, Cartoonist
The sound of laughter is like the vaulted dome of a temple of happiness.
—Milan Kundera (b.1929) Czech Novelist
That laughter costs too much which is purchased by the sacrifice of decency.
—Quintilian (c.35–c.100 CE) Roman Rhetorician, Literary Critic
Laughter gives us distance. It allows us to step back from an event, deal with it and then move on.
—Bob Newhart (b.1929) American Comedian, Actor, TV Personality, Film Personality
That is the saving grace of humor, if you fail no one is laughing at you.
—A. Whitney Brown (b.1952) American Comedian, TV Personality
I hasten to laugh at everything, for fear of being obliged to weep.
—Pierre Beaumarchais (1732–99) French Inventor, Diplomat, Musician, Fugitive, Revolutionary
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
Laugh at yourself, but don’t ever aim your doubt at yourself. Be bold. When you embark for strange places, don’t leave any of yourself safely on shore. Have the nerve to go into unexplored territory.
—Alan Alda (b.1936) American Actor, TV Personality, Screenwriter
Man, when you lose your laugh you lose your footing.
—Ken Kesey (1935–2001) American Novelist, Essayist, Short Story Writer
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
Laughter is wine for the soul—laugh soft, or loud and deep, tinged through with seriousness. Comedy and tragedy step through life together, arm in arm… Once we can laugh, we can live.
—Sean O’Casey (1880–1964) Irish Dramatist, Memoirist
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
Nobody ever died of laughter.
—Max Beerbohm (1872–1956) British Essayist, Caricaturist, Novelist
We must laugh before we are happy, for fear of dying without having laughed at all.
—Jean de La Bruyere (1645–96) French Satiric Moralist, Author
Laughter is the closest thing to the grace of God.
—Karl Barth (1886–1968) Swiss Reformed Theologian, Author
There exists a kind of laughter, which is worthy to be ranked with the higher lyric emotions and is infinitely different from the twitching of a mean merrymaker.
—Nikolai Gogol (1809–52) Russian Novelist, Dramatist
Though laughter is looked upon by philosophers as the property of reason, the excess of it has always been considered the mark of folly.
—Joseph Addison (1672–1719) English Essayist, Poet, Playwright, Politician
Laughter is the tonic, the relief, the surcease for pain.
—Charlie Chaplin (1889–1977) British Actor
The most wasted of all days is one without laughter.
—e. e. cummings (1894–1962) American Poet, Writer, Painter
He deserves Paradise who makes his companions laugh.
—The Holy Quran Sacred Scripture of Islam
I want someone to laugh with me, someone to be grave with me, someone to please me and help my discrimination with his or her own remark, and at times, no doubt, to admire my acuteness and penetration.
—Robert Burns (1759–96) Scottish Poet, Songwriter
Life does not cease to be funny when people die any more than it ceases to be serious when people laugh.
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) Irish Playwright
The laughter of girls is, and ever was, among the delightful sounds of earth.
—Thomas de Quincey (1785–1859) English Essayist, Critic
Laughter is not at all a bad beginning for a friendship, and it is far the best ending for one.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
The human race has one really effective weapon, and that is laughter.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist