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.
It startled him even more when just after he was awarded the Galactic Institute's Prize for Extreme Cleverness he got lynched by a rampaging mob of respectable physicists who had finally realized that the one thing they really couldn't stand was a smart-ass.
The coffee is prepared in such a way that it makes those who drink it witty: at least there is not a single soul who, on quitting the house, does not believe himself four times wittier that when he entered it.
A Christian telling an atheist they're going to hell is as scary as a child telling an adult they're not getting any presents from Santa.
A good joke is the closest thing we have to divine revelation.
The truth is, Pavlov's dog trained Pavlov to ring this bell just before the dog salivated.
If compliments were food, I'd have starved to death 28 years ago.
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