Twain Quote

One of the quotes from The Wit and Wisdom of Mark Twain that I found particularly interesting is about, of all things, laughter.  This quote is very appropriate for this class, but there is a lot of truth in what it says.  It is from an unfinished work by Twain called The Mysterious Stranger.

“Your race, in its poverty, has unquestionably one really effective weapon—laughter.  Power, money, persuasion, supplication, persecution—these can lift at a colossal humbug—push it a little—weaken it a little, century by century; but only laughter can blow it to rags and atoms at a blast.  Against the assault of laughter nothing can stand.” 

This quote brings up one of the points our class readings seem to keep returning to.  Laughter is powerful.   

Laughter has the capacity for breaking things down.  Laughing at someone can have terribly painful effects.  Oppressive governments keep a watchful eye on comics for a reason.  Unflattering political cartoons, or mockery by a stand-up comedian can really hurt their reputation.  A strong enough degree of ridicule can even help to spark a revolution.  So many people would not have banned laughter had they not seen its ability to tear down.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, we have looked at laughter's benefits.  It can help, both emotionally and physically, to heal people's wounds.  Humor is incorporated more and more in settings such as  hospitals and counseling sessions.   People use it to dispel the tension in situations.  Laughter helps us form relationships, even before we can speak, and it can show good-will across language barriers.  Laughter is quite a mysterious and powerful thing.