Unbounded courage and compassion join'd, Tempering each other in the victor's mind, Alternately proclaim him good and great, And make the hero and the man complete.
Joseph AddisonRead
One should take good care not to grow too wise for so great a pleasure of life as laughter.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Laughter is an essential joy in life, and one should not become overly serious or wise at the expense of enjoying it.
This quote by Joseph Addison emphasizes the importance of laughter and humor in our lives. It suggests that while gaining knowledge and wisdom is valuable, one should not let seriousness overshadow the simple pleasure of laughter, which is a fundamental aspect of enjoying life. Essentially, it serves as a reminder to maintain a light-heartedness despite the complexities of wisdom and knowledge.
Themes
LaughterPleasureWisdomLifeJoy
In practice
Example use cases
During a speech about the importance of happiness in challenging times, one might use this quote to highlight the value of laughter.
More from Joseph Addison
All quotes βGood nature is more agreeable in conversation than wit and gives a certain air to the countenance which is more amiable than beauty.
Joseph AddisonRead
Ridicule is generally made use of to laugh men out of virtue and good sense, by attacking everything praiseworthy in human life.
Joseph AddisonRead
Admiration is a very short lived passion that immediately decays upon growing familiar with its object, unless it still be fed with fresh discoveries, and kept alive by a new perpetual succession of miracles rising up to its view.
Joseph AddisonRead
It is impossible for us, who live in the latter ages of the world, to make observations in criticism, morality, or in any art or science, which have not been touched upon by others. We have little else left us but to represent the common sense of mankind in more strong, more beautiful, or more uncommon lights.
Joseph AddisonRead
An ostentatious man will rather relate a blunder or an absurdity he has committed, than be debarred from talking of his own dear person.
Joseph AddisonRead
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