Famous quotes
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
EnglishItalianoPolskiעבריתFrançaisPortuguêsفارسیEspañol中文РусскийDeutschالعربيةहिन्दी日本語ΕλληνικάLatina
Laughter
LoveFriendshipHappinessHopeFearCourageDeathLifeTimeWarPeaceFreedomTruthWisdomKnowledgeScienceArtMusicNatureMoneyWorkPowerGodBeautyLaughterFamilySuccess and failureChangeDreamsBooks and reading
“Dialogue is not just words; it must carry soul and humor.”
Trivikram Srinivas (born 1974) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I wasn’t shy, but I was really hyper. Nobody got my sense of humor. I was a black skater kid.” – Tyler, the Creator”
Tyler, the Creator (born 1991) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I have always wanted to work in an organization that is global. Whilst these situations are tough, I have found retaining a sense of humor and understanding cultural nuance has been vital to not take things like that too personally.”
Daisy Veerasingham (born 1969) first seen 2021 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Daisy Veerasingham on how she been treated differently during her international travels because of her race or gender, as quoted from the Business Insider. September 29, 2021
“Good humor is the clear blue sky of the soul.”
Frederick Saunders (librarian) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Humor is doubtless intended as the safety-valve of concentrative minds, and its prevalence, in the English race, is owing to their reserve of character, which finds no vent through a mercurial temperament like the French and Italians.”
Henry Theodore Tuckerman (1813–1871) said by 1871 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“It has been often remarked that earnest men excel in humor, and we perceive how benign is the law which thus tempers elements of fearful intensity.”
Henry Theodore Tuckerman (1813–1871) said by 1871 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I find it works to draw people because history can be intimidating. But if you infuse it with some humor, it becomes more palatable in a way”
Fred Khumalo (born 1966) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Humor trumps everything and is probably number one. I think it trumps being politically correct”
Zoë Kravitz (born 1988) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I think there’s something very beautiful and artful about seeing people pursuing their dreams, some of the barriers they face, and what they do to push through that is a very universal journey. And so I hope while they’re laughing, they’re also gleaning the human side of it.And that’s something beautiful: that combination of humor and real grounded emotions”
Dewayne Perkins wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I am ready to run away from any country the moment humor is lost.”
Juan Garaizabal (born 1971) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Just keep going. You'll get to where I am now. I just don't know if you'll like where I am now. Little Melai, keep it up and keep it down,” she laughed, with a mix of humor and honesty.”
Melai Cantiveros (born 1988) first seen 2025 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Melai Cantiveros-Francisco: Laughing Loud, Living Proud Beyond the Kuan, @genzmagph 21 July 2025.
“It has to be said: the prime reason to avoid medieval England is not the violence, the bad humor, the poor roads, the inequality of the class system, the approach to religion and heresy, or the extreme sexism. It is the sickness.”
Ian Mortimer (born 1967) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I love when artists write sad songs and they have a sense of humor to them because it’s just up my alley.”
Sabrina Carpenter (born 1999) first seen 2024 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Sabrina Carpenter Says She Has Chappell Roan's Songs on 'Loopty Loop'". Rolling Stone. June 18, 2024.
“Nothing so uncertain as general reputation. A man injures me from humor, passion, or interest; hates me because he has injured me; and speaks ill of me because he hates me.”
Henry Home, Lord Kames (1696–1782) said by 1782 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I have often started off on a walk in the state called mad — mad in the sense of sore-headed, or mad with tedium or confusion; I have set forth dull, null and even thoroughly discouraged. But I never came back in such a frame of mind, and I never met a human being whose humor was not the better for a walk.”
Donald C. Peattie (1898–1964) said by 1964 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Widely different from the true popular ballads, the spontaneous products of nature, are the works of the professional ballad-maker, which make up the bulk of Garlands and Broadsides. These, though sometimes not without grace, more frequently not lacking in humor, belong to artificial literature, — of course to an humble department.”
Francis James Child (1825–1896) first seen 1860 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: English and Scottish Ballads (Boston: Little, Brown, and Co., 1860), vol. 1, Preface, p. vii. Footnote: "This distinction is not absolute, for several of the ancient ballads have a sort of literary character, and many b…
“art cannot exist without a form of humor and lightness”
Soly Cisse (born 1969) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Humor is what drives us, what allows us to take a step back and provide another reading of the world”
Soly Cisse (born 1969) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“His sense of humor. Everyone saw him as a hardcore rapper and a musical genius. But when the cameras were off, he was also a really funny person.”
Charli Baltimore (born 1974) first seen 2013 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: What Ever Happened To: Charli Baltimore", September 23, 2013
“Imagination was given to man to compensate for what he is not, and a sense of humor to console him for what he is.”
Francis Bacon (disputed) first seen 1938 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Attributed to Bacon without citation of work in Geary's Guide to the World's Great Aphorists (2007) by James Geary, p. 112; this is sometimes attributed to others, also without citation of works, but is most often quote…
“Good-humor is always a success.”
Johann Kaspar Lavater (attributed) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“From Lucifer to Jerry Sneak there is not an aspect of evil, imperfection, and littleness which can elude the lights of humor or the lightning of wit.”
Edwin Percy Whipple (attributed) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Humor, warm and all-embracing as the sunshine, bathes its objects in a genial and abiding light.”
Edwin Percy Whipple (attributed) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Mirth is a Proteus, changing its shape and manner with the thousand diversities of individual character, from the most superfluous gayety to the deepest, most earnest humor.”
Edwin Percy Whipple (attributed) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Whenever you find Humor, you find Pathos close by its side.”
Edwin Percy Whipple (attributed) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Wit, bright, rapid, and blasting as the lightning, flashes, strikes, and vanishes, in an instant; humor, warm and all-embracing as the sunshine, bathes its object in a genial and abiding light.”
Edwin Percy Whipple (attributed) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Susan seidelman: "She's the kind of person that really does get up at five in the morning to go swimming. She wasn't at all prima donna-ish. She wasn't one of those people that want to be alone and sit in their trailer the whole time. I think she has much more of a sense of humor that people give her credit for. Too many people take that femme fetale stuff at face value." .”
Madonna (entertainer) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Fight virtue's cause, stand up in wit's defence, Win us from vice, and laugh us into sense.”
Thomas Tickell (1685–1740) first seen 1713 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: On the Prospect of Peace (1713), line 428.
“Hey, please, if you don't know me, please take a few seconds just to judge me by how I look. Appreciate the laugh there, thank you very much.”
Marc Maron (born 1963) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I accept responsibility for U-boat warfare from 1933 onward, and of the entire navy from 1943 on, but to make me responsible for what happened to Jews in Germany, or Russian soldiers on the east front — it is so ridiculous all I can do is laugh.”
Karl Dönitz (1891–1980) first seen 1946 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: To Leon Goldensohn, July 14, 1946, from "The Nuremberg Interviews" by Leon Goldensohn, Robert Gellately - History - 2004.
“If today he descended from Heaven, the great warrior who struck the money changers, You would once again shout 'crucify!' And nail him to the cross that he himself carried. But he would gently laugh at your hatred. 'The truth remains even when your bearers are passed. Faith remains, because I give my life...' And the fighter of all the world towers on the cross.”
Baldur von Schirach (1907–1974) first seen 1934 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Christ ("Christus"), from "The Flag of the Persecuted" (Die Fahne der Verfolgten, 1934), pg 51.
“I have this massive love for the whole culture of pop music … It has probably been the biggest relationship in my life. It's my fascination, my on-going passion. … I really, really love music. I'm affected by it and uplifted by it, and made to laugh and cry, and almost fall in love with the person who has made me feel so brilliant and communicated so profoundly to me.”
Siobhan Fahey (born 1958) first seen 1996 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Mad About The Music" in The Daily Telegraph (13 June 1996)
“Music bypasses the intellect, it makes you laugh, makes you cry, makes you want to dance, makes you want to have sex.”
Siobhan Fahey (born 1958) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“'Tis mighty easy o'er a glass of wine On vain refinements vainly to refine, To laugh at poverty in plenty's reign, To boast of apathy when out of pain, And in each sentence, worthy of the schools, Varnish'd with sophistry, to deal out rules Most fit for practice, but for one poor fault, That into practice they can ne'er be brought.”
Charles Churchill (satirist) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Suddenly she laughed again. It was a shriek, a mad laugh like the clatter of dishes and it was over as quickly as it began. I looked at her feet again. I could feel something inside her retreating. I wanted to hurt her.”
John Fante (1909–1983) said by 1983 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“And oh! I shall find how, day by day, All thoughts and things look older; How the laugh of pleasure grows less gay, And the heart of friendship colder.”
Winthrop Mackworth Praed (1802–1839) said by 1839 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Twenty-eight and Twenty-nine" in The Poetical Works of Winthrop Mackworth Praed (published 1860) p. 212.
“Some people think I always wear the hat, but that's not true. Sometimes I don't wear the hat. It makes me laugh that some people think I always wear the hat, because obviously I don't wear the hat all the time. What about when I sleep or take a shower? I don't wear the hat then. Also, I don't wear the hat to go to Millets.”
Slash (musician) first seen 2003 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Interview with Rock Guitar Player Magazine, 2003.
“If women could be fair and yet not fond, Or that their love were firm, not fickle still, I would not marvel that they make men bond By service long to purchase their good will; But when I see how frail those creatures are, I laugh that men forget themselves so far.”
Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford (1550–1604) first seen 1587 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Poem "If women could be fair and yet not fond", also sometimes titled "Woman's Changeableness". According to Oxford specialist Steven May this is "possibly" by Oxford, but his authorship is not certain. It was printed i…
“if a Swedish news editor was ever gang raped by Muslim immigrants it would be hard not to laugh.”
Pat Condell (born 1949) first seen 2015 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: twitter.com (15 March 2015)
“Many times I been arrested, that might be the only thing I haven't tried. Stay tuned to TMZ. If I get pulled over one more motherfucking time, that's how the fuck I'm getting out of my car, just, "No, no, no. We already did this shit." Just saying, all got to be able to laugh.”
Katt Williams (born 1973) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The days of wine and roses laugh and run away like a child at play Through the meadow land toward a closing door A door marked "nevermore" that wasn't there before”
Johnny Mercer (1909–1976) first seen 1961 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Song: "Days of Wine and Roses" (first recorded 1961)
“Our song is the slamming screen door, Sneakin' out late, tapping on your window. When we're on the phone and you talk real slow 'Cause it's late and your mama don't know. Our song is the way you laugh, The first date "man, I didn't kiss her, and I should have." And when I got home, before I said amen Asking God if he could play it again.”
Taylor Swift (born 1989) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“If you were not to be its victim, this book and body would amuse you with its arrogance. It would make you laugh. Because you were not its victim, you could feel no pain of betrayal.”
Peter Greenaway (born 1942) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“You don't go into the National Gallery of any famous capital city and cry, sob, laugh, fall about on the floor, become very angry -- it's a completely different reaction. It's a reaction which is to do with a much more composed sense of regarding an image; it's a reaction with a thought process as opposed to an immediate emotional reaction.”
Peter Greenaway (born 1942) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I laugh, for hope hath happy place with me; If my bark sinks, 'tis to another sea.”
William Ellery Channing (poet) first seen 1843 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: A Poet's Hope", Poems (1843) p. 100
“He's got a lead brain. It's a battle magnet. He carries it around by the guilt straps...don't laugh, you didn't see the size of the blizzard that birthed him.”
Buddy Wakefield (born 1974) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“How do you want to make white lilies into red roses? Kiss a white Galatea and she will blushingly laugh.”
Friedrich von Logau (1604–1655) said by 1655 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Miss Twye was soaping her breasts in the bath When she heard behind her a meaning laugh And to her amazement she discovered A wicked man in the bathroom cupboard.”
Gavin Ewart (1916–1995) first seen 1939 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Miss Twye", line 1, from Poems and Songs (1939)
“Ha, ha, ha! Never let it be said Americans are unconcerned about foreign countries. You're so nice to us you very kindly elected a complete vegetable as your president, so we can all point and laugh! (My Tribute to the U.S.)”
Ben Croshaw (born 1983) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Did you know that a laugh is something that comes out of a hole in your face? Anywhere else and you're in dead trouble!”
Ken Dodd (1927–2018) first seen 2008 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Quoted in Manchester Evening News, Dodd's Bolton bonus, Natalie Anglesey. (2008-04-28)