I grant men the land, the government, the wealth, all the chances. I accept that you have to hold all the cards, since that's the only way you know how to play; but I refuse to swallow your disrespect.
Pierre BeaumarchaisRead
I quickly laugh at everything for fear of having to cry.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects the idea of using laughter as a defense mechanism against sadness.
In this quote, Pierre Beaumarchais highlights the human tendency to resort to humor as a way to cope with difficult emotions. Laughter serves as a shield, preventing one from confronting the deeper sorrow that lies beneath the surface, illustrating a common struggle between joy and pain in life.
Themes
LaughterCryHumorPainEmotion
In practice
Example use cases
Using this quote in a comedy routine to emphasize the importance of laughter.
More from Pierre Beaumarchais
All quotes βWhere love is concerned, too much is not even enough.
Pierre BeaumarchaisRead
Because you are a great lord, you believe yourself to be a great genius. You took the trouble to be born, but no more.
Pierre BeaumarchaisRead
Drinking when we are not thirsty and making love at all seasons, madam: that is all there is to distinguish us from other animals.
Pierre BeaumarchaisRead
Without the freedom to criticize, there is no true praise.
Pierre BeaumarchaisRead
I hasten to laugh at everything, for fear of being obliged to weep.
Pierre BeaumarchaisRead
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Everything human is pathetic. The secret source of humor itself is not joy but sorrow. There is no humor in heaven.
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I got a fever, and the only prescription is more cowbell.
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There's nobody for me to attack in this matter even with soft and gentle ridicule-and I shouldn't ever think of using a grown up weapon in this kind of a nursery. Above all, I couldn't venture to attack the clergymen whom you mention, for I have their habits and live in the same glass house which they are occupying. I am always reading immoral books on the sly, and then selfishly trying to prevent other people from having the same wicked good time.
Mark TwainRead
They who have drunk beer, fall on their back, but there is a peculiarity in the effects of the drink made from barley, for they that get drunk on other intoxicating liquors fall on all parts of their body, they fall on the left side, on the right side, on their faces, and and on their backs. But it is only those who get drunk on beer that fall on their backs with their faces upward.
AristotleRead
She looked at nice young men as if she could smell their stupidity.
Flannery O'ConnorRead
Satire is a composition of salt and mercury; and it depends upon the different mixture and preparation of those ingredients, that it comes out a noble medicine, or a rank poison.
Francis Jeffrey, Lord JeffreyRead