--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Why should I laugh?' asked the old man…" description: "\"“Why should I laugh?' asked the old man. 'Madness in youth is true wisdom. Go, young man, follow your dream, and if you do not find the happiness that ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de6/andrew-lang-15654_comedy_why-should-i-laugh-asked-the-old-man-mad_2847171.jpg" --- # Why should I laugh?' asked the old man. 'Madness in youth… ![“Why should I laugh?' asked the old man. 'Madness in youth is true wisdom. Go, young man, follow your dream, and if you do not find the happiness that you seek, at any rate you will have had the happiness of seeking it.” quote by Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de6/andrew-lang-15654_comedy_why-should-i-laugh-asked-the-old-man-mad_2847171.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de6/andrew-lang-15654_comedy_why-should-i-laugh-asked-the-old-man-mad_2847171.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de6/andrew-lang-15654_comedy_why-should-i-laugh-asked-the-old-man-mad_2847171.jpg) > ““Why should I laugh?' asked the old man. 'Madness in youth is true wisdom. Go, young man, follow your dream, and if you do not find the happiness that you seek, at any rate you will have had the happiness of seeking it.”” [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Youthful madness holds true wisdom; pursuing dreams brings happiness even if the goal isn’t reached. **In simple terms:** Madness in youth is wisdom. Key Takeaway Follow dreams for fulfillment. Themes wisdom youth dreams Mood reflective encouraging Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career planning - creative pursuits - life coaching Key Concepts philosophy of happiness personal growth Questions to Reflect On - What defines “madness” in youth? - How can we balance dream‑chasing with responsibility? A Different Perspective May romanticize reckless behavior. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Fairy tales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fairy-tales/) [Follow your dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/follow-your-dreams/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Laugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laugh/) [Madness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/madness/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Old man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-man/) [True wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-wisdom/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) [Your dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/your-dreams/) [Youth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/youth/) ## Related quotes > [“Heidi came running in, "Grandfather can the sun still laugh at me? she asked”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-spyri/heidi-came-running-in-grandfather-can-the-sun-still-laugh-at-me-she/) [Johanna Spyri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-spyri/) > [When times are troubled, SMILE. When disaster threatens, LAUGH. When asked your age, LIE.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-times-are-troubled-smile-when-disaster-threatens-laugh-when/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The madness of youth made me unafraid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-destefano/the-madness-of-youth-made-me-unafraid/) [Lauren DeStefano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-destefano/) > [“The madness of youth had made me unafraid.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-destefano/the-madness-of-youth-had-made-me-unafraid/) [Lauren DeStefano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-destefano/) > [There is madness in youth, but sometimes a god inspires it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-renault/there-is-madness-in-youth-but-sometimes-a-god-inspires-it/) [Mary Renault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-renault/) > [I am surrounded by flatterers and fools. It can drive a man to madness,.. . 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I believe it is the biggest thing in the human race, and the most constant. How do you take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-saroyan/i-am-interested-in-madness-i-believe-it-is-the-biggest-thing-in-the/) [William Saroyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-saroyan/) > [“If men learn this, it will implant forgetfulness in their souls; they will cease to exercise memory because they rely on that which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/if-men-learn-this-it-will-implant-forgetfulness-in-their-souls-they/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Why is wisdom so fair? Why is beauty so wise? 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