The test of a real comedian is whether you laugh at him before he opens his mouth.
George Jean NathanRead
Beauty makes idiots sad and wise men merry.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Beauty elicits different emotional responses depending on one's wisdom and perspective.
This quote suggests that while beauty can bring joy and positivity to those who are wise and understanding, it can also lead to sadness for those who may not grasp its deeper significance. Those who lack wisdom may feel disillusioned or overwhelmed by beauty, while those who appreciate it are able to find happiness in its presence.
Themes
BeautyWisdomEmotionSadnessHappiness
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about art, one might say, 'As George Jean Nathan said, beauty makes idiots sad and wise men merry.'
More from George Jean Nathan
All quotes βIt may be said that artist and censor differ in this wise: that the first is a decent mind in an indecent body and that the second is an indecent mind in a decent body.
George Jean NathanRead
Bad officials are the ones elected by good citizens who do not vote.
George Jean NathanRead
It is the mark of a superior person that, left to themselves they are able endlessly to amuse, interest and entertain themselves out of their personal stock of meditations, ideas, criticisms, memories, philosophy, humor and what not.
George Jean NathanRead
Politics is the diversion of trivial men who, when they succeed at it, become important in the eyes of more trivial men.
George Jean NathanRead
All that is necessary to raise imbecility into what the mob regards as profundity is to lift it off the floor and put it on a platform.
George Jean NathanRead
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No revolution is worth anything unless it can defend itself.
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