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“Humor is by far the most significant activity of the human brain.” — Edward de Bono

Images and words are processed by, respectively, the rear and right, and left and front lobes of the human CPU. Those in this series are processed by the fan. A cool processing unit reboots all the lobes and makes your brain laugh. 

We don’t laugh because we’re happy – we’re happy because we laugh.

— William James

The highest state is laughter.

— Maharishi Mahesh Yogi

Humor is my default mode.

—John Updike

What soap is to the body, laughter is to the soul.

— Yiddish Proverb

I have been confronted with many difficulties throughout the course of my life, and my country is going through a critical period. But I laugh often, and my laughter is contagious. When people ask me how I find the strength to laugh now, I reply that I am a professional laugher.

— Dalai Lama XIV

To make mistakes is human; to stumble is commonplace; to be able to laugh at yourself is maturity.

— William Arthur Ward

Let me give you a wonderful Zen practice. Wake up in the morning…look in the mirror, and laugh at yourself.

— Roshi Bernie Glassman

Laughter is the tonic, the relief, the surcease for pain.

— Charlie Chaplin

The person who can bring the spirit of laughter into a room is indeed blessed.

— Bennett Cerf

Laugh at yourself and at life. Not in the spirit of derision or whining self-pity, but as a remedy, a miracle drug, that will ease your pain, cure your depression, and help you to put in perspective that seemingly terrible defeat… Never take yourself too seriously.

— Og Mandino

If you find it hard to laugh at yourself, I would be happy to do it for you.

— Groucho Marx

If love is the treasure, laughter is the key.

—Yakov Smirnoff

The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds the most discoveries, is not “Eureka!” (I found it!) but “That’s funny…”

—Isaac Asimov

The gods, too, are fond of a joke.

— Socrates*

Laughter is the closest thing to the grace of God.

— Karl Barth

Laughter is a holy thing. It is as sacred as music and silence and solemnity, maybe more sacred. Laughter is like a prayer, like a bridge over which creatures tiptoe to meet each other. Laughter is like mercy; it heals. When you can laugh at yourself, you are free.

— Ted Loder

As soon as you have made a thought, laugh at it.

— Lao-Tzu

Laughter and orgasm are great bedfellows.

— John Callahan

A smile starts on the lips, a grin spreads to the eyes, a chuckle comes from the belly; but a good laugh bursts forth from the soul, overflows, and bubbles all around.

— Carolyn Birmingham

4 Comments Post a comment
  1. You laugh at me, I’ll laugh at you
    it will be contagious, beyond
    even scientists and Zen masters

    What a fun post, Edward.

    October 26, 2025
    • Very glad you enjoyed the post, LuAnne, and happy to accept your kind offer. We could all use kind help to laugh at ourselves. Kind help is as rare as fatal laughter, of which Wikipedia lists only ten cases since the 5th-century BCE. These include a king, a stoic painter, an aristocrat, an ice-cream truck driver, among others, but not single scientist or Zen master. Thank you and merci for your gentillesse.
      (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_from_laughter).

      October 26, 2025
  2. When I think back on my twenties, it feels like I was always laughing. I had so many funny friends then. These days, I don’t laugh like I once did—but those will always be some of my favorite memories. Nicely done, Leduc & Sum.

    October 27, 2025
    • George, please put this is in the suggestion box on Trefology: Write a post on the theme of “My funny Twenties” or “Where have all my funny friends gone since Y2K?” or “Why don’t I laugh like I did when I was immature? Something like that would be much appreciated by at least one of your funny old friends on Trefology. Thank you for your comment, and for not taking this suggestion too seriously.

      October 27, 2025

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