Laughter is easier minute by minute, spilled with prodigality, tipped out at a cheerful word.
Interpretation
Laughter comes more easily and frequently through simple, positive interactions.
In this quote, F. Scott Fitzgerald suggests that laughter is a natural and abundant response to kind words or cheerful moments. He emphasizes the ease with which joy can fill our lives when we engage in light-hearted exchanges and share positivity with one another.
In practice
In a speech about mental health, one could include this quote to highlight the importance of humor in coping.
Don't be so anxious about it,' she laughed. 'I'm not used to being loved. I wouldn't know what to do; I never got the trick of it.' She looked down at him, shy and fatigued. 'So here we are. I told you years ago that I had the makings of Cinderella.' He took her hand; she drew it back instinctively and then replaced it in his. 'Beg your pardon. Not even used to being touched. But I'm not afraid of you, if you stay quiet and don't move suddenly.
The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function.
It was about then [1920] that I wrote a line which certain people will not let me forget: "She was a faded but still lovely woman of twenty-seven."
The words seemed to bite physically into Gatsby.
But you can love more than just one person, can't you?
A sudden gust of rain blew over them and then another - as if small liquid clouds were bouncing along the land. Lightning entered the sea far off and the air blew full of crackling thunder. The table cloths blew around the pillars. They blew and blew and blew. The flags twisted around the red chairs like live things, the banners were ragged, the corners of the table tore off through the burbling billowing ends of the cloths.
When a man's stomach is full it makes no difference whether he is rich or poor.
One thing I am convinced more and more is true, and that is this: The only way to be truly happy is to make others happy. When you realize that and take advantage of the fact, everything is made perfect.
There is a calmness to a life lived in gratitude, a quiet joy.
Some people are so much sunshine to the square inch.
My wife, whenever I'd go off to work and I'd be kind of anxious, she'll say, 'Remember, have fun.' Oh, I forgot, thanks for the reminder. Because sometimes we do forget. We take it all too seriously and there's a lot of joy to be had wherever you are.
Children are happy because they don't have a file in their minds called "All the Things That Could Go Wrong.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.