Try any goddam thing you like, no matter how boringly normal or outrageous. If it works, fine. If it doesn't, toss it. Toss it even if you love it.
Stephen KingRead
A tragedy is a tragedy, and at the bottom, all tragedies are stupid. Give me a choice and I'll take A Midsummer Night's Dream over Hamlet every time. Any fool with steady hands and a working set of lungs can build up a house of cards and then blow it down, but it takes a genius to make people laugh.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Tragedies, though impactful, often lack the sophisticated skill required to create laughter, which is a true art form.
In this quote, Stephen King contrasts tragedies with comedies, suggesting that while tragedies are inevitable and often uninspired, the ability to evoke laughter is a more significant and admirable talent. He implies that making people laugh requires greater genius and skill than simply creating dramatic or tragic narratives, highlighting the complexity and brilliance involved in humor.
Themes
TragedyComedyHumorGeniusLaughter
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about the importance of humor in stressful situations.
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