--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What is the work of a Master?\" said a…" description: "\"What is the work of a Master?\" said a solemn-faced visitor. \"To teach people to laugh ,\" said the Master gravely.\" — Anthony de Mello" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fc/anthony-de-mello-1331_laughing_what-is-the-work-of-a-master-said-a-sole_637390.png" --- # What is the work of a Master?" said a solemn-faced… ![“What is the work of a Master?" said a solemn-faced visitor. "To teach people to laugh ," said the Master gravely.” quote by Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fc/anthony-de-mello-1331_laughing_what-is-the-work-of-a-master-said-a-sole_637390.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fc/anthony-de-mello-1331_laughing_what-is-the-work-of-a-master-said-a-sole_637390.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fc/anthony-de-mello-1331_laughing_what-is-the-work-of-a-master-said-a-sole_637390.png) > “What is the work of a Master?" said a solemn-faced visitor. "To teach people to laugh ," said the Master gravely.” [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The Master teaches that the purpose of mastery is to bring joy and laughter to others. **In simple terms:** Teaching is about making people laugh. Key Takeaway Use humor to uplift and teach. Themes wisdom joy teaching Mood playful thoughtful Type spiritual educational When to use this quote - classroom teaching - stand‑up comedy - leadership workshops - community gatherings Key Concepts laughter compassion mindfulness spirituality Questions to Reflect On - How can you adapt humor for different cultures? - When is seriousness more appropriate? A Different Perspective Not all audiences respond to humor equally. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Solemn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solemn/) ## Related quotes > [Jacques said that his master said that everything good or evil we encounter here below was written on high.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-diderot/jacques-said-that-his-master-said-that-everything-good-or-evil-we/) [Denis Diderot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-diderot/) > [Said the master: "Where does your question come from?"](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/said-the-master-where-does-your-question-come-from/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > ["What is love?"; "The total absence of fear," said the Master; "What is it we fear?"; "Love," said the Master.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/what-is-love-the-total-absence-of-fear-said-the-master-what-is-it-we/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [Why is everyone here so happy except me?" "Because they have learned to see goodness and beauty everywhere," said the Master. "Why don't I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/why-is-everyone-here-so-happy-except-me-because-they-have-learned-to/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > ["That of the person who sees other human beings as sinners," said the Master.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/that-of-the-person-who-sees-other-human-beings-as-sinners-said-the/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [Isn't there such a thing as social liberation?" "Of course there is," said the Master. "How would you describe it?" "Liberation from the need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/isn-t-there-such-a-thing-as-social-liberation-of-course-there-is-said/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [The master never seemed to have his fill of gazing at his firstborn child. "What do you want him to be when he grows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/the-master-never-seemed-to-have-his-fill-of-gazing-at-his-firstborn/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [Said the monk: "All these mountains and rivers and the earth and stars - where do they come from?" Said the master: "Where does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/said-the-monk-all-these-mountains-and-rivers-and-the-earth-and-stars/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [What is the secret of your serenity?" Said the master: "Wholehearted cooperation with the inevitable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/what-is-the-secret-of-your-serenity-said-the-master-wholehearted/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [You are so proud of your intelligence," said the master. "You are like a like a condemned man, proud of the vastness of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/you-are-so-proud-of-your-intelligence-said-the-master-you-are-like-a/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [My plan is to work on a master's in philosophy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-trotter/my-plan-is-to-work-on-a-master-s-in-philosophy/) [Charlie Trotter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-trotter/) > [Work is the master key that opens the door to all opportunities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemmons-wilson/work-is-the-master-key-that-opens-the-door-to-all-opportunities/) [Kemmons Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemmons-wilson/) > [My time is always divided when I prepare for a wire walk. First I dream, technically and artistically, and then I go to work,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/my-time-is-always-divided-when-i-prepare-for-a-wire-walk-first-i/) [Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) > [“He was not his father, and this was not his work; but he was the master, and this was his masterpiece.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/he-was-not-his-father-and-this-was-not-his-work-but-he-was-the-master/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [Work always as if you were a master, expect from yourself a masterpiece.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-henri/work-always-as-if-you-were-a-master-expect-from-yourself-a-masterpiece/) [Robert Henri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-henri/) ## More by Anthony de Mello > [The poor think they will be happy when they become rich. The rich think they will be happy when they are rid of their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/the-poor-think-they-will-be-happy-when-they-become-rich-the-rich/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [You only change what you understand. What you do not understand and are not aware of, you repress. You dont change. But when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/you-only-change-what-you-understand-what-you-do-not-understand-and/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [A zealous disciple expressed a desire to teach others the Truth and asked the Master what he thought about this. The Master said, "Wait."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/a-zealous-disciple-expressed-a-desire-to-teach-others-the-truth-and/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [As the Arabs say, "The nature of rain is the same, but it makes thorns grow in the marshes and flowers in the gardens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/as-the-arabs-say-the-nature-of-rain-is-the-same-but-it-makes-thorns/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [Sinners often speak the truth. And saints have led people astray. Examine what is said, not the one who says it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/sinners-often-speak-the-truth-and-saints-have-led-people-astray/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [Isn't there such a thing as social liberation?" "Of course there is," said the Master. "How would you describe it?" "Liberation from the need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/isn-t-there-such-a-thing-as-social-liberation-of-course-there-is-said/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [The important thing is not to know who "I" is or what "I" is. You'll never succeed. There are no words for it. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/the-important-thing-is-not-to-know-who-i-is-or-what-i-is-you-ll-never/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [And increasingly - you know this and so do I we're losing the youth everywhere. They hate us; they are not interested in having…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/and-increasingly-you-know-this-and-so-do-i-we-re-losing-the-youth/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [Spirituality practiced in the state of activity is incomparably superior to that practiced in a state of withdrawel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/spirituality-practiced-in-the-state-of-activity-is-incomparably/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [You know, all mystics - Catholic, Christian, non-Christian, no matter what their theology, no matter what their religion - are unanimous on one thing:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/you-know-all-mystics-catholic-christian-non-christian-no-matter-what/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [There were rules in the monastery, but the Master always warned against the tyranny of the law. 'Obedience keeps the rules,' he would say.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/there-were-rules-in-the-monastery-but-the-master-always-warned/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [A disciple, in his reverence for the Master, looked upon him as God incarnate. "Tell me, O Master," he said, "why you have come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/a-disciple-in-his-reverence-for-the-master-looked-upon-him-as-god/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [“And how about you? Do you want to understand and play the game of life or fool around with miracles?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/and-how-about-you-do-you-want-to-understand-and-play-the-game-of-life/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [You don't have to add anything in order to be happy; you've got to drop something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/you-don-t-have-to-add-anything-in-order-to-be-happy-you-ve-got-to/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [Rare indeed, is the relationship in which the other is not cultivated for what one can get for oneself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/rare-indeed-is-the-relationship-in-which-the-other-is-not-cultivated/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) [Explore all 253 Anthony de Mello quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) ## More Laughing quotes > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [(knitting while on a motorcycle) "For several years she knitted in secret (my father would not approve; she was to concentrate on motorcycling and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-zimmermann/knitting-while-on-a-motorcycle-for-several-years-she-knitted-in/) [Elizabeth Zimmermann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-zimmermann/) > [“Laugh and grow strong”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ignatius-of-loyola/laugh-and-grow-strong/) [Ignatius of Loyola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ignatius-of-loyola/) > [I really enjoy making people laugh; I've discovered that's a great technique. That's as powerful as stirring their sorrow, stirring their compassion, because that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/i-really-enjoy-making-people-laugh-i-ve-discovered-that-s-a-great/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [We do not claim that punning is legitimate wit. Wit consists in combination of ideas, punning in combination of words only. We wonder at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-hosmer/we-do-not-claim-that-punning-is-legitimate-wit-wit-consists-in/) [Harriet Hosmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-hosmer/) > [Laughter is one of the great beacons in life because we don't refract it by gunning it through our intellectual prism. What makes us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-miller/laughter-is-one-of-the-great-beacons-in-life-because-we-don-t-refract/) [Dennis Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-miller/) > [Nothing's funnier to me than laughing at myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-mcgraw/nothing-s-funnier-to-me-than-laughing-at-myself/) [Phil McGraw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-mcgraw/) > [“I hate the way you talk to me And the way you cut your hair I hate the way you drive my car I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/i-hate-the-way-you-talk-to-me-and-the-way-you-cut-your-hair-i-hate/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [The spring came suddenly, bursting upon the world as a child bursts into a room, with a laugh and a shout and hands full…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/the-spring-came-suddenly-bursting-upon-the-world-as-a-child-bursts/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) > [For war to man, like childbirth to women, is simplifying in its emotions and activities. All the real problems of life can be put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-s-buck/for-war-to-man-like-childbirth-to-women-is-simplifying-in-its/) [Pearl S. Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-s-buck/) > [The major caveat in all of comedy is that it's all instinctive. There's no true criteria. There is no right or wrong. Ultimately, often…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-charles/the-major-caveat-in-all-of-comedy-is-that-it-s-all-instinctive-there/) [Larry Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-charles/) > [In theater, one of the biggest problems when you're rehearsing comedy over and over again is that you stop laughing at each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-ashley-carter/in-theater-one-of-the-biggest-problems-when-you-re-rehearsing-comedy/) [Lauren Ashley Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-ashley-carter/) > [If somebody tells you 'History will never forgive you,' just laugh at him! Because when the history comes, you won't be here! The threat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/if-somebody-tells-you-history-will-never-forgive-you-just-laugh-at/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [We're all basically decent human beings so if 3,000 people are laughing at a joke then it's worth telling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-mack/we-re-all-basically-decent-human-beings-so-if-3-000-people-are/) [Lee Mack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-mack/) > [I've been a poser for f--ing years. I say, pose your arse off. You know, have a laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-connolly/i-ve-been-a-poser-for-f-ing-years-i-say-pose-your-arse-off-you-know/) [Billy Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-connolly/) Browse all 6,780 Laughing quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What is the work of a Master?\" said a solemn-faced visitor. \"To teach people to laugh ,\" said the Master gravely.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Anthony de Mello" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/what-is-the-work-of-a-master-said-a-solemn-faced-visitor-to-teach/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Laughing" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/what-is-the-work-of-a-master-said-a-solemn-faced-visitor-to-teach/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fc/anthony-de-mello-1331_laughing_what-is-the-work-of-a-master-said-a-sole_637390.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fc/anthony-de-mello-1331_laughing_what-is-the-work-of-a-master-said-a-sole_637390.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fc/anthony-de-mello-1331_laughing_what-is-the-work-of-a-master-said-a-sole_637390.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What is the work of a Master?\" said a solemn-faced visitor. \"To teach people to laugh ,\" said the Master…” — Anthony de Mello", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Anthony de Mello", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "What is the work of a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/what-is-the-work-of-a-master-said-a-solemn-faced-visitor-to-teach/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/what-is-the-work-of-a-master-said-a-solemn-faced-visitor-to-teach/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```