LAUGH, and the world laughs with you; Weep, and you weep…
““LAUGH, and the world laughs with you; Weep, and you weep alone. For the sad old earth must borrow its mirth, But has trouble enough of its own. Sing, and the hills will answer; Sigh, it is lost on the air. The echoes bound to a joyful sound, But shrink from voicing care. Rejoice, and men will seek you; Grieve, and they turn and go. They want full measure of all your pleasure, But they do not need your woe. Be glad, and your friends are many; Be sad, and you lose them all. There are none to decline your nectared wine, But alone you must drink life’s gall. Feast, and your halls are crowded; Fast, and the world goes by. Succeed and give, and it helps you live, But no man can help you die. There is room in the halls of pleasure For a long and lordly train, But one by one we must all file on Through the narrow aisles of pain. —””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The poem contrasts joy and sorrow, illustrating how society responds differently to happiness and sadness, and the inevitability of pain in life
In simple terms: Joy attracts people, sorrow isolates; life includes both pleasure and pain
Key Takeaway
Embrace both joy and sorrow as parts of life
Themes
joy
sorrow
society
Mood
melancholic
inspirational
Type
poetic
philosophical
When to use this quote
- celebrations
- grieving
- community events
- personal loss
Key Concepts
Existentialism
human condition
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance expressing joy and sorrow?
- What does this say about societal expectations?
A Different Perspective
May oversimplify complex emotional experiences