Laughter on American television has taken the place of the chorus in Greek tragedy. In other countries, the business of laughing is left to the viewers. Here, their laughter is put on the screen, integrated into the show. It is the screen that is laughing and having a good time. You are simply left alone with your consternation.

Baudrillard, Jean

16.

Most of the appearance of mirth in the world is not mirth, it is art. The wounded spirit is not seen, but walks under a disguise.

South, Bishop Robert

17.

Laughter -- An interior convulsion, producing a distortion of the features and accompanied by inarticulate noises. It is infectious and, though intermittent, incurable.

Bierce, Ambrose

18.

Laughter is the greatest weapon we have and we, as humans, use it the least.

Twain, Mark

19.

I quickly laugh at everything for fear of having to cry.

Beaumarchais, Pierre De

20.

Him, who incessantly laughs in the street, you may commonly hear grumbling in his closet.

Lavater, Johann Kaspar

21.

Laughter gives us distance. It allows us to step back from an event, deal with it and then move on.

Bob Newhart

22.

Laughter kills fear, and without fear there can be no faith. For without fear of the devil there is no need for God.

Connery, Sean

23.

The burden of the self is lightened with I laugh at myself.

Tagore, Rabindranath

24.

Man is distinguished from all other creatures by the faculty of laughter.

Joseph Addison

25.

We cannot really love anybody with whom we never laugh.

Agnes Repplier

26.

No one is more profoundly sad as one who laughs too much.

Paul, Jean

27.

If I am not allowed to laugh in heaven, I don't want to go there.

Luther, Martin

28.

One horse-laugh is worth ten thousand syllogisms. It is not only more effective; it is also vastly more intelligent.

Mencken, H. L.

29.

The person who cannot laugh is not only ready for treason, and deceptions, their whole life is already a treason and deception.

Carlyle, Thomas

30.

The most wasted of all days is one without laughter.

e e cummings

31.

He who laughs best today, will also laugh last.

Nietzsche, Friedrich

32.

If we may believe our logicians, man is distinguished from all other creatures by the faculty of laughter. He has a heart capable of mirth, and naturally disposed to it.

Addison, Joseph

33.

The difference between an optimist and a pessimist? An optimist laughs to forget, but a pessimist forgets to laugh.

Bodett, Tom

34.

To promote laughter without joining in it greatly heightens the effect.

Balzac, Honore De

35.

There is a form of laughter that springs from the heart, heard every day in the merry voice of childhood, the expression of a laughter -- loving spirit that defies analysis by the philosopher, which has nothing rigid or mechanical in it, and totally without social significance. Bubbling spontaneously from the heart of child or man. Without egotism and full of feeling, laughter is the music of life.

Osler, Sir William

36.

Laughter can be more satisfying than honor; more precious than money; more heart-cleansing than prayer.

Rochlin, Harriet

37.

Observe it, the vulgar often laugh, but never smile, whereas well-bred people often smile, and seldom or never laugh. A witty thing never excited laughter, it pleases only the mind and never distorts the countenance.

Chesterfield, Lord

38.

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 and worry with laughter at your predicaments, thus freeing your mind to think clearly toward the solution that is certain to come. Never take yourself too seriously.

Mandino, Og

39.

I hasten to laugh at everything, for fear of being obliged to weep.

Beaumarchais, Pierre De

40.

You grow up on the day you have your first real laugh at, yourself.

Barrymore, Ethel

41.

Total absence of humor renders life impossible.

Colette

42.

They laugh well who laugh last.