A sense of humor is the ability to understand a joke - and that the joke is oneself.
Interpretation
Having a sense of humor means being able to recognize humor, especially at your own expense.
This quote by Clifton Fadiman emphasizes the importance of being able to laugh at oneself, which is a crucial aspect of a healthy sense of humor. It suggests that true humor comes from understanding one's own imperfections and being able to take lightheartedness in situations, which can lead to a more enjoyable life and better connections with others.
In practice
In a speech about resilience, one might say, 'Remember, a sense of humor is the ability to understand a joke - and that the joke is oneself.'
To read in bed is to draw around us invisible, noiseless curtains. Then at last we are in a room of our own and are ready to burrow back, back to that private life of the imagination we all led as a child and to whose secret satisfactions so many of us have mislaid the key.
One measure of friendship consists not in the number of things friends can discuss, but in the number of things they need no longer mention.
Insomnia is a gross feeder. It will nourish itself on any kind of thinking, including thinking about not thinking.
There are two kinds of writers; the great ones who can give you truths, and the lessor ones, who can only give you themselves.
When you reread a classic, you do not see more in the book than you did before; you see more in you than there was before.
A sense of humor is the ability to understand a joke-and that the joke is oneself.
Last time I was down South I walked into this restaurant, and this white waitress came up to me and said: 'We don't serve colored people here.' "I said: 'that's all right, I don't eat colored people. Bring me a whole fried chicken.
A good laugh is a mighty good thing, and rather too scarce a good thing.
Why a four-year-old child could understand this report. Run out and find me a four-year-old child. I can't make head nor tail out of it.
I've been on a calendar, but I've never been on time.
What use are cartridges in battle? I always carry chocolate instead.
I think that sometimes you do something that makes a small group of people laugh, which is all we were trying to do; we were just trying to make each other laugh.
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