Him, who incessantly laughs in the street, you may commonly hear grumbling in his closet.
Interpretation
People who appear joyful in public may secretly harbor dissatisfaction or sadness in private.
This quote by Johann Kaspar Lavater suggests that outward appearances can often be misleading. It implies that an individual who expresses happiness or laughter in social settings may actually be dealing with internal struggles or negativity when alone, highlighting the complexities of human emotions and the masks we wear in society.
In practice
In a discussion about mental health awareness, you might use this quote to illustrate how people can hide their true feelings.
There are many kinds of smiles, each having a distinct character. Some announce goodness and sweetness, others betray sarcasm, bitterness and pride; some soften the countenance by their languishing tenderness, others brighten by their spiritual vivacity.
If you wish to appear agreeable in society, you must consent to be taught many things which you already know.
He who seldom speaks, and with one calm well-timed word can strike dumb the loquacious, is a genius or a hero.
Where pride begins, love ceases.
Who in the same given time can produce more than others has vigor; who can produce more and better, has talents; who can produce what none else can, has genius.
When you doubt between words, use the plainest, the commonest, the most idiomatic. Eschew fine words as you would rouge; love simple ones as you would the native roses on your cheek.
Playing golf is like chasing a quinine pill around a cow pasture.
People come up to me in airports, they walk into the office, and they say, 'I'm going to cry; I'm going to pass out.' And I say, 'Please don't pass out; I'm not a doctor.'
Ford Prefect suppressed a little giggle of evil satisfaction, realized that he had no reason to suppress it, and laughed out loud, a wicked laugh.
Animal lover that I am, a cougar I am not.
There is nothing so good as a burial at sea. It is simple, tidy, and not very incriminating.
So that's why one of my rules of parody writing is that it's gotta be funny regardless of whether you know the source material. It has to work on its own merit.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.