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. 1,158,269 quotes Who coined it · How we decide
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Laughter
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“I said, ‘This going to perhaps sound cheesy, but two of the things I love the most are making people laugh and America,’…I like patriotism. There is an underlying theme of patriotism in all of the Harold and Kumar movies for example. I love that feeling because it’s very much my sense of humor, which is sort of aspirational as opposed to cynical.”
Kal Penn (born 1977) first seen 2019 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: On what inspired him to co-create the show Sunnyside in “Kal Penn Talks Putting A Twist On Immigration Narrative With ‘Sunnyside’ & Chances For Another ‘Harold And Kumar’ Movie” in Deadline (2019 Sep 26)
“He has to have a sense of humor. I love to laugh. I’m a funny person myself. I’m a happy person.”
Regine Velasquez (born 1970) first seen 2005 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: https://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2005/10/25/303534/reflections-regine
“Good-humor, gay spirits, are the liberators, the sure cure for spleen and melancholy. Deeper than tears, these irradiate the tophets with their glad heavens. Go laugh, vent the pits, transmuting imps into angels by the alchemy of smiles. The satans flee at the sight of these redeemers.”
Amos Bronson Alcott (attributed) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“This is how it works — You're young until you're not You love until you don't You try until you can't You laugh until you cry You cry until you laugh And everyone must breathe Until their dying breath.”
Regina Spektor (born 1980) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree, Merry merry king of the bush is he. Laugh, Kookaburra, laugh, Kookaburra, Gay your life must be!”
Marion Sinclair (1896–1988) said by 1988 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Caricatures speak through visual language and are therefore understandable by all people. They trigger a laugh which is also an international language and reaction. Caricatures can decrease violence and converge cultures. They aim to promote peace, and teach us to be moderate and laugh at our problems.”
Javad Alizadeh (born 1953) first seen 2009 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Quoted in "Cartoonist Alizadeh, translating world into humor" in Press TV (23 April 2009)
“It is indeed very possible, that the Persons we laugh at may in the main of their Characters be much wiser Men than our selves; but if they would have us laugh at them, they must fall short of us in those Respects which stir up this Passion.”
Joseph Addison (1672–1719) first seen 1711 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: No. 47 (24 April 1711)
Also quoted by: ジョゼフ・アディソン (ja)
“But I saw not Christ laugh. For I understood that we may laugh in comforting of ourselves and joying in God for that the devil is overcome. And when I saw Him scorn his malice, it was by leading of mine understanding into our Lord: that is to say, it was an inward shewing of verity, without changing of look. For, as to my sight, it is a worshipful property of God's that is ever the same.”
Julian of Norwich (1342–1500) said by 1500 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“You laugh at me because I'm different, I laugh at you because you're all the same.”
Jonathan Davis (born 1971) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“She flushed, her eyes sparkled. “So—you laugh at me!” After an instant of contemplation Joe asked, “Don’t you ever laugh at yourself?” “No. Of course not.” “Try it sometime.”
Jack Vance (1916–2013) said by 2013 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“My appearance still made people laugh, with that hearty jovial laugh so good for the health.”
Samuel Beckett (1906–1989) said by 1989 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The movie cheerfully offends all civilized notions of taste, decorum, manners and hygiene... is the movie vulgar? Vulgarity is when we don't laugh. When we laugh, it's merely human nature.”
Roger Ebert (1942–2013) first seen 2003 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Review of American Wedding (1 August 2003)
“Then let us love one another and laugh. Time passes, and we shall soon laugh no longer—and meanwhile common living is a burden, and earnest men are in siege upon us all around. Let us suffer absurdities, for this is only to suffer one another.”
Hilaire Belloc (1870–1953) said by 1953 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“In another thirty years people will laugh at anyone who tries to invent a language without closures, just as they'll laugh now at anyone who tries to invent a language without recursion.”
Mark Jason Dominus (born 1969) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“And you can laugh A spineless laugh We hope your rules and wisdom choke you And now we are one In everlasting peace We hope that you choke, that you choke”
Thom Yorke (born 1968) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“If you want to make an audience laugh, you dress a man up like an old lady and push her down the stairs. If you want to make comedy writers laugh, you push an actual old lady down the stairs.”
“I love people who make me laugh. I honestly think it's the thing I like most, to laugh. It cures a multitude of ills. It's probably the most important thing in a person.”
Audrey Hepburn (1929–1993) said by 1993 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“You hear that boy laughing?—you think he’s all fun; But the angels laugh, too, at the good he has done; The children laugh loud as they troop to his call, And the poor man that knows him laughs loudest of all.”
Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. (1809–1894) said by 1894 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Also quoted by: Oliver Wendell Holmes
“I shall laugh my bitter laugh.”
Nikolai Gogol (1809–1852) said by 1852 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The most solid advice for a writer is this, I think: Try to learn to breathe deeply, really to taste food when you eat, and when you sleep really to sleep. Try as much as possible to be wholly alive with all your might, and when you laugh, laugh like hell. And when you get angry, get good and angry. Try to be alive. You will be dead soon enough.”
William Saroyan (1908–1981) said by 1981 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“This is a big statement and it sounds a little precious. Generally a man is ashamed to make such a statement. He is afraid sophisticated people will laugh at him. But I don't mind. I'm asking sophisticated people to laugh. That is what sophistication is for.”
William Saroyan (1908–1981) said by 1981 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I am very satisfied with my invention. With this pocket, the rain can fall, and i'm not afraid: my beard will stay dry. You laugh, but you don't laugh when a woman, after washing her hair, dries it and wraps it in a towel. You are not laughing, and yet it is the same. Women drying their hair, and I guaranteeing my beard from the rain, we are only keeping us from colds!”
Leopold II of Belgium (1835–1909) said by 1909 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Oh, yes,” murmured Nela. “The only excuse we had for overpopulating our world was that it wouldn’t matter in heaven.” She tried to laugh but couldn’t manage it. The laugh turned into a sob.”
Sheri S. Tepper (1929–2016) said by 2016 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“In Puerto Rico, we like to laugh and talk before a game. Then we go out and play as hard as we can to win. Afterwards, we laugh and talk again. But in America, baseball is much more of a business. Play well and you get pats on the back and congratulations. Play bad and no pats and maybe nobody talks to you.”
Roberto Clemente (1934–1972) first seen 1964 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: As quoted in "Roberto Clementeː Pounder from Puerto Rico" by John Devaney, in Baseball Stars of 1964 (1964), edited by Ray Robinson, p. 149
“So I spit back at you, Huelsenbeck But where you spit venom, I spit art I laugh at you -- HA HA -- I laugh at you”
Kurt Schwitters (1887–1948) said by 1948 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The force of the idea was such that I drew the car to the side of the road and stopped and, for some reason, laughed. It was a loud laugh, unsteady, and sounded, even to my own ears, slightly maniacal. Thinking back now, I realise it was less a laugh than the birth-cry of my dark and twin brother Benjamin Black.”
John Banville (born 1945) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Humans: The only animal who can laugh!/ We can enjoy the lighter side of life/ And we can also laugh at others/ And ridicule others!”
Kuruvilla Pandikattu (born 1957) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“In Paris a queer little man you may see, A little man all in gray; Rosy and round as an apple is he, Content with the present whate'er it may be, While from care and from cash he is equally free, And merry both night and day! "Ma foi! I laugh at the world." says he, "I laugh at the world, and the world laughs at me!" What a gay little man in gray.”
Pierre-Jean de Béranger (1780–1857) said by 1857 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: The Little Man all in Gray, translation by Amelia B. Edwards; reported in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 133.
“They’re not really so different. You know the old thing, comedy and tragedy are akin? Like lots of old things, it's the truth. Back of all comedy, there is tragedy; back of every good belly-laugh there is a familiarity with things not funny at all. There must be. You laugh with tears in your eyes, don’t you?”
Carole Lombard (1908–1942) said by 1942 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Comedy is quite different to anything else – the most important thing is getting a laugh, and it’s a technical skill. You can easily kill a laugh by coming in too soon or with a different expression, so in a way it’s much harder work than drama, because with drama you just get into the script and that’s it! And the more you’re into the script, the more convincing you’ll be.”
Margaret Nolan (1943–2020) first seen 2007 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: The Den of Geek interview: Margaret Nolan (December 7, 2007)
“I’m laughing now and I’m glad I can laugh. It’s good to be able to look back and laugh at your problems.”
Kate Henshaw (born 1971) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Ido's mother is the only person with whom Ada can really laugh out loud, the way you can laugh with someone who has known you since childhood.”
Shulamith Hareven (1930–2003) said by 2003 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“If it weren't for the suffering of others to make us laugh, we would never laugh.”
Antonio Delfini (1907–1963) said by 1963 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“It's such a great feeling to make people laugh. I know I've made people cry or want to slit their wrists, but to make people laugh is a very intoxicating, wonderful thing.”
Joan Allen (born 1956) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I’ve said a lot of stupid things on camera, sometimes when you’re in the public eye you make mistakes and again. I think the best way to deal with it is to laugh at ourselves, laugh at this stuff and try to have some fun in politics.”
J.D. Vance (born 1984) first seen 2024 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Vance Bizarrely Compares Harris's CNN Interview To Flubbed Answer by Teen Beauty Queen 17 Years Ago", Inkl (August 30, 2024)
“I can’t stand people who laugh at other people. They’d get a bigger laugh if they laughed at themselves.”
Shelagh Delaney (1938–2011) said by 2011 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“We laugh a lot. The three of us have worked together for many years. We understand each other, so there is a lot of give and take. As soon as we see pressure on one of us, the other two step in and shift the focus. We balance each other out. And then laugh some more. We are highly professional, but have a huge amount of fun, because we love what we do.”
Judy Ditchfield (born 1963) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“It’s okay to laugh at hard things – and we must laugh. Life is filled with light and shade”
Shannon Esra (born 1984) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I have learnt to develop a thick skin. I am thankful for my family who has been my backbone and my fiends too who have been very supportive. So, you see negative things and you just laugh it off, because if people are not talking about you, then you are nobody; you are not relevant. You see negative reports and you just laugh and move on with your life”
Unoaku Anyadike (born 1994) first seen 2017 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: My struggle with endometriosis – MBGN Queen, Unoaku Anyadike,20th August 2017
“Don’t get stuck in a bad place. Know that life is a cycle and good and bad it all passes. Be in the moment but don't be swept away from it, live in your authenticity. Repair when you can. Laugh or make someone laugh and last but not least celebrate yourself. You deserve it.”
Kylie Padilla (born 1993) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“That will have to be the ‘it’s a Skoda, serious’ by Skoda. I was amazed that a brand would take something as serious as a negative brand perception and turn it into something to laugh about. I think that Nigerian brands ought to learn to laugh at themselves a little bit – for starters.”
Ndukwe Onuoha (born 1982) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“So I got to experience white people, black people; all different shades of people. I witnessed that we are [all] the same – but we’re still very different and we need to celebrate those differences. In my show I want people to laugh, not just at other people, but they must laugh at themselves.”
“Eddie makes me laugh and I’m very respectful of him. But the thought of the two of us having a romance is the biggest laugh between us.”
Shari Headley (born 1964) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“We must laugh before we are happy, for fear we die before we laugh at all.”
Jean de La Fontaine (misattributed) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Henry Kissinger is possessed of a truly superior intelligence, in addition to which he has two qualities which, unfortunately, many great men lack: he is able to listen and he has a very subtle sense of humour.”
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi (1919–1980) said by 1980 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Not without Art, but yet to Nature true, She charms the town with humour just, yet new.”
Charles Churchill (satirist) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“A prig is a pompous fool who has gone out for a ceremonial walk, and without knowing it has lost an important part of his attire, namely, his sense of humour.”
Arnold Bennett (1867–1931) said by 1931 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Yet Dafydd's humour does not obscure, any more than Chaucer's does, the underlying seriousness of his poetry. Behind his poems of requited and unrequited love, whether idyllic or idealizing, whether streaked by savage jealousy or a profound feeling of betrayal reminiscent of Troilus and Criseyde, there runs a sense of the cruel impermanence of the world.”
Dafydd ap Gwilym (1320–1380) said by 1380 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Patrick Sims-Williams, in Boris Ford (ed.) Medieval Literature: The European Inheritance (Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1983) p. 302.
“Even the British Arthur becomes an Englishman, a Germanic hero, brave, daring and open-handed. We are in a world of feasts and vaunting speeches, flytings and lusty battles, fierce deeds and bloody humour, with the Fiend, the Adversary of Man, always round the next corner.”
Layamon (1200–1300) said by 1300 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Gwyn Jones, in Wace and Layamon (trans. Eugene Mason) Arthurian Chronicles (London: Dent, [1912] 1976) p. xi.
“From his entrance, in medias rape, Vytas Juozapaitis had a compelling presence as both seductive and dangerous Don Juan. He had a dash, swagger, a sense of humour, and a strong, lustrous voice. He's a good actor too. You believed both in the way he was driven by his carnality and in his self possession. In short, he embodied the music.”
Vytautas Juozapaitis (born 1963) first seen 2003 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Lloyd Schwartz, "Teatro Lirico's fire breathing Don Giovanni". Boston Phoenix (October, 2003)