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Quotes by famous people, credited to who said them. Your own quotes must not match any of these. More are added all the time. 1,158,808 quotes Who coined it · How we decide

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Laughter

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“Grown more confident of the queen's humor, Relius said, "I had not pictured you for a fishwife." "Lo, the transforming power of love.”
Megan Whalen Turner (born 1965) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“A good skeptical mind doesn't waste itself on drugs or ideology, and prefers to break the rules in our minds, in the form of humor, rather than in real life.”
Mark Rosenfelder wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“If there’s one thing extreme god-botherers of every stripe have in common, it’s that they don’t have any sense of humor at all where their beliefs are concerned.”
Charles Stross (born 1964) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“We’re from the Ministry of Defense: our sense of humor is surgically excised at birth.”
Charles Stross (born 1964) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I regard the writing of humor as a supreme artistic challenge.”
Herman Wouk (1915–2019) first seen 1985 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Book-of-the-Month Club News (May 1985).
“Macho attitudes usually fall victim to hard work, timely humor, and an absence of resentment.”
Shirley Temple (1928–2014) said by 2014 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Quoted in: Kalb, Claudia. "Shirley Temple Black’s Remarkable Second Act as a Diplomat." Smithsonian Magazine, June 2022.
“Life is nothing without a good sense of humor.”
John Waters (born 1946) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“(First woman)...Men lose their sense of humor as they get older...their brains shrink...So men will be getting grumpier, just as we're getting...(Second woman) Shorter.”
Nicole Hollander (1939–2026) said by 2026 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“(Telephone) Hi, this is Sylvia's opinion hotline....How fair are you? Would you support laws mandating discrimination in hiring, housing, and employment against anyone who lacked a sense of humor, knowing that these laws would impact most heavily on fundamentalists?”
Nicole Hollander (1939–2026) said by 2026 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“(Television) Humor will never be the same. Sarcasm, irony, and cynicism will disappear. (Sylvia) Right. I'm having mine surgically removed. (Rita) Ma, cut it out!”
Nicole Hollander (1939–2026) said by 2026 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I have been accused of being a joker. But the most successful art to me involves humor.”
Man Ray (1890–1976) said by 1976 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: As quoted in an interview "Man Ray: Photographer" published in Camera (1981) edited by Philippe Sers
“Humor aside, I think the reason we sometimes have the false sense that God is so far away is because that is where we have put him. We have kept him at a distance, and then when we are in need and call on him in prayer, we wonder where he is. He is exactly where we left him.”
Ravi Zacharias (1946–2020) said by 2020 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Honest change? Honest? Has someone altered the definition of the word while my back was turned, or have you recently developed a sense of humor?”
Ellen Kushner (born 1955) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“It was the sort of atmosphere of good humor which so often accompanies a total absence of good taste.”
Robert Sheckley (1928–2005) said by 2005 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I sat on the bed and read the Gideon Bible until the food came. That Gideon sure had a weird sense of humor. Try “The Book of Genesis.”
John Varley (1947–2025) said by 2025 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Before one scoffs at national pride and the fatherland, at wealth and good manners, love of one's country, family, and traditions, one must have arrived at a proper evaluation of one's country, have had enough to eat, and have received a good education. Then one can look on from afar and make wisecracks. But I have no sense of humor and not enough courage to be cynical.”
Albert Memmi (1920–2020) said by 2020 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“It's generally double-edged. It seems with humor, there's always something beyond just the laughing that when you're laughing, you have to think beyond to greater considerations.”
Leslie Marmon Silko (born 1948) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“This is not for wimps. You have to keep a sense of humor. You have to develop stamina because there's going to be tough days.”
Michelle J. Howard (born 1960) first seen 2010 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: On military service, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 2010.
“Jane never said much about this to me, and the few comments she did make, about a priest who "chased her around the bed," were delivered casually in group settings, with deprecating humor, no hint of the frightening child-molesting scenario or later sexual browbeating that Rob's notes make plain.”
Susan M. Watkins (born 1945) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“[Makes a good architect] an open mind, energy, an appetite for hard work, a willingness to explore new solutions and push boundaries. A sense of humor is also helpful.”
Norman Foster, Baron Foster of Thames Bank (born 1935) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The man dissatisfied with the world will be dissatisfied with himself, so as to be continually eaten up by his own ill humor. And in such a state of mind how can he retain health?”
Ernst, Baron von Feuchtersleben (1806–1849) said by 1849 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Humor is a conformity enforcer clothed in the garb of congeniality. It focuses on others' weaknesses, disasters, stupiidities, and abnormalities.”
Howard Bloom (born 1943) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I find both humor and grimness in most issues.”
Bill Nye (born 1955) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Schumann's humor is rarely either witty or light: the unrealizable musical structure, the musical motto hidden and partly inaudible, must have stirred his musical fantasy.”
Charles Rosen (1927–2012) said by 2012 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Chabrier (1841–1894) is noted for a bold exuberance and vividness of expression, for a sense of humor and for a power of orchestral color and brilliance which have not been duplicated. … Born in the South of France, the hot blood of that magic land seems to throb in his music.”
Walter Raymond Spalding (1865–1962) said by 1962 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I fall into the category of Weird West, but I think it may be more of a “Down West” as I’d like to call it, for its sense of macabre western humor.”
Lorin Morgan-Richards (born 1975) first seen 2017 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: interview with Lorin Morgan-Richards by Laura LaVelle of Newswhistle (28 November 2017).
“Humor bridges the weight of serious reflection.”
Lorin Morgan-Richards (born 1975) first seen 2013 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: interview with Lorin Morgan-Richards by Rose Traul of Columbia College Chicago (22 January 2013).
“There's a crisis of ideas in art, which is felt by many, many people. Not only in art: in social thinking, in politics. That's one of the other things about this poll, one of the attempts to get out of this, by some maybe funny means — humor helps — because we really don't know where to go. and what our next step has to be. Artists now.”
Alexander Melamid (born 1945) first seen 1997 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Vitaly Komar, ‎Aleksandr Melamid, ‎JoAnn Wypijewski (1997). Painting by Numbers: Komar and Melamid's Scientific Guide to Art p. 16
“My humor was never cruel or cynical. I just took life and poked fun at it. We made it so it could be understood the world over, without language barriers. We seem to have conquered the time barrier, too.”
Harold Lloyd (1893–1971) first seen 1970 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: December 1970, four months before his death
“Indeed, Henson understood that to truly reach another person, you must aim beyond the intellect, at the heart—at the unguarded, joyful corner of the soul known as the inner child, which, incidentally, is where Jesus was especially focused. Puppetry and humor were Henson's tools for penetrating adult defenses.”
Jim Henson (1936–1990) said by 1990 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Jim giggled when he laughed. His sense of humor could be sly and wicked.”
Jim Henson (1936–1990) said by 1990 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Vampires, like virgins or priests, are things that women believe in. We must never fail to humor them in such matters.”
Brian McNaughton (1935–2004) first seen 1995 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Child of the Night" in 100 Vicious Little Vampire Stories (1995) edited by Robert Weinberg, Stefan Dziemianowicz, and Martin H. Greenberg
“Corben's technique introduced the airbrush to comics. His sophisticated knowledge of how color is printed allowed him to get fantastic results. His work has maintained a sense of humor and spectacle in tales of barbarians, time travelers and Arabian nights.|Harvey Kurtzman”
Richard Corben (1940–2020) said by 2020 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Crowd men have no sense of humor. It is very difficult to educate solemn and opinionated people.”
Everett Dean Martin (1880–1941) said by 1941 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“They stopped at The Sahara, taking a long table near the back, and listened to a baldheaded little comedian named , who is probably more caustic than any comic in the country. His humor is so rude, in such bad taste, that it offends no one — it is too offensive to be offensive.”
Gay Talese (born 1932) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“# Ditch the self-deprecating humor”
Jen Sincero (born 1965) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The subject matter ranges from subtle forms of intellectual sarcasm and humor to the crudest possible attacks on a person's courage, sexual prowess, or relatives. At one level, attacks may be subtle and indirect, involving allusion and figurative speech; at another, there may be explicit taunts, boasts, name calling, and jokes at the other's expense.”
David Crystal (born 1941) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Humor has been the balm of my life, but it's been reserved for those close to me, not part of the public Lana.”
Lana Turner (1921–1995) said by 1995 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“You hate men, you hate bras, you hate African culture, you think women should always be in charge, you don’t wear makeup, you don’t shave, you’re always angry, you don’t have a sense of humor, you don’t use deodorant.”
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (born 1977) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“As a director, you must keep your sense of humor, your patience and, most of all, your ability to funnel the collective energies of a large group of creative people. For that, you must stay well-hydrated, well-fed, and well-rested. It's also crucial that you have a top-notch ensemble.”
Tommy Lee Wallace (born 1949) first seen 2015 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Tommy Lee Wallace on Crafting His Miniseries Masterpiece, IT (October 27, 2015)
“As the outsider, you can retreat into a shell, be anonymous, be invisible. Or you can go the other way. You protect yourself by opening up. You don't ask to be accepted for everything you are, just the one part of yourself that you're willing to share. For me it was humor. I learned that even though I didn't belong to one group, I could be a part of any group that was laughing.”
Trevor Noah (born 1984) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Tessa’s hilarious… I think it’s one of the things that gets overlooked because she’s always so pulled together, but she has the best sense of humor. It’s been the joy of my life to have as many laughs as we’ve had along the way.”
Tessa Virtue (born 1989) first seen 2018 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Scott Moir, quoted in "Scott & Tessa Say Their Relationship Is “So Much Better” than People Imagine" (26 February 2018)
Also quoted by: Scott Moir
“Together the, two ingredients—a perceived incongruity with a point and an appropriate emotional climate—seem to be both necessary and sufficient for humor.”
John Allen Paulos (born 1945) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The necessity of this psychic stepping back (or up) to the metalevel is probably what is meant when people say that a sense of perspective is needed for an appreciation of humor. It also explains why dogmatists, idealogues, and others with one-track minds are often notoriously humorless.”
John Allen Paulos (born 1945) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Appreciating humor—even recognizing it—requires human skills of the highest order (level?); no computer comes close to having them.”
John Allen Paulos (born 1945) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Humor, since it depends on so many emotional, social, and intellectual facets of human beings, is particularly immune to computer simulation.”
John Allen Paulos (born 1945) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“This is a technique of the GOP, to take dry humor + sarcasm literally and ‘fact check’ it. Like the ‘world ending in 12 years’ thing, you’d have to have the social intelligence of a sea sponge to think it’s literal. But the GOP is basically Dwight from The Office so who knows.”
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (born 1989) first seen 2019 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Just Kidding, Says Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez”, Kyle Smith, National Review (May 13, 2019), tweet from May 12, 2019
“The one thing I feel is lacking in Hollywood today is an understanding of the beauty, the power, the sexuality, the uniqueness, the humor of being a regular Black woman.”
Viola Davis (born 1965) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The global village is a reality. We are joined by satellite, supersonic travel, four thousand international meetings each year, tens of thousands of multinational companies, international organizations and newsletters and journals, even an emergent pan-culture of music, movies, art, humor.”
Marilyn Ferguson (1938–2008) said by 2008 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I am not advocating humor at a church gathering, or at a funeral, but I do believe Mormon Elders ought to rise to the occasion either by inspiration or the use of good common sense. Being your own dear self and acting or speaking natural is at least refreshing if not entertaining.”
J. Golden Kimball (1853–1938) said by 1938 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source