There are two insults no human being will endure: that he has no sense of humor, and that he has never known trouble.
Interpretation
People despise being called humorless or trouble-free, as these imply a lack of depth in their experiences.
This quote by Sinclair Lewis highlights the societal perceptions surrounding humor and personal struggles. It suggests that individuals take offense when they are labeled as having no sense of humor, which can imply a lack of emotional intelligence or relatable experience. Similarly, being told one has never faced trouble undermines the validity of their journey and growth, as overcoming challenges is a fundamental aspect of the human experience.
In practice
During a speech about resilience, the speaker referenced this quote to emphasize the importance of facing life's challenges.
Upon this theology he rarely pondered. The kernel of his practical religion was that it was respectable, and beneficial to one's business, to be seen going to services; that the church kept the Worst Elements from being still worse; and that the pastor's sermons, however dull they might seem at the time of taking, yet had a voodooistic power which 'did a fellow good-- kept him in touch with Higher Things.
Intellectually I know that America is no better than any other country; emotionally I know she is better than every other country.
Writers kid themselves-about themselves and other people. Take the talk about writing methods. Writing is just work-there's no secret. If you dictate or use a pen or type with your toes-it is just work.
She did her work with the thoroughness of a mind which reveres details and never quite understands them.
Writing is just work-there's no secret. If you dictate or use a pen or type or write with your toes-it's still just work.
It is, I think, an error to believe that there is any need of religion to make life seem worth living.
God bless our good and gracious King, Whose promise none relies on; Who never said a foolish thing, Nor ever did a wise one.
Adolescence: The stage between puberty and adultery.
At every party there are two kinds of people - those who want to go home and those who don't. The trouble is, they are usually married to each other.
It was sad, like those businessmen who came to work in serious clothes but wore colorful ties in a mad, desperate attempt to show there was a free spirit in there somewhere.
Historical Re-creation, he thought glumly, as they picked their way across, under, over or through the boulders and insect-buzzing heaps of splintered timber, with streamlets running everywhere. Only we do it with people dressing up and running around with blunt weapons, and people selling hot dogs, and the girls all miserable because they can only dress up as wenches, wenching being the only job available to women in the olden days.
Soft rock music isn't rock, and it ain't music. It's just soft. Reminds me of something my third-grade teacher said to us. She said, "You show me a tropical fruit and I'll show you a cocksucker from Guatemala."
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