If I can get you to laugh with me, you like me better, which makes you open to my ideas
John CleeseRead
Laughter is a force for democracy.
Interpretation
Laughter promotes free expression and equality in society.
John Cleese's quote emphasizes the idea that laughter plays a vital role in fostering democracy. It suggests that humor allows people to express themselves freely, challenge authority, and engage in dialogue, making it an essential tool for a healthy democratic society where everyone has a voice.
In practice
Using this quote in a speech about the importance of free expression in a democratic society.
If I can get you to laugh with me, you like me better, which makes you open to my ideas
Because, as we all know, itβs easier to do trivial things that are urgent than it is to do important things that are not urgent, like thinking. And itβs also easier to do little things we know we can do than to start on big things that weβre not so sure about.
If you are leaping a ravine, the moment of takeoff is a bad time to be considering alternative strategies.
In Britain, girls seem to be either bright or attractive. In America, that's not the case. They're both.
I used to desire many, many things, but now I have just one desire, and that's to get rid of all my other desires.
When the target audience is American teenage kids, you can have problems. My generation prized really fine acting and writing. Sometimes you have to go back to the basic principles which underpin great visual comedy.
Here's a good rule of thumb; too clever is dumb.
Not here not there not anywhere!
The audience today has heard every joke. They know every plot. They know where you're going before you even start. That's a tough audience to surprise, and a tough audience to write for. It's much more competitive now, because the audience is so much more - I want to say sophisticated.
Oh, I love critics. Because they love me. It's not a joke. They care.
Golf is a funny game. It's done much for health, and at the same time has ruined people by robbing them of their peace of mind. Look at me, I'm the healthiest idiot in the world.
A good laugh is a mighty good thing, and rather too scarce a good thing.
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