--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A harmless hilarity and a buoyant…" description: "\"A harmless hilarity and a buoyant cheerfulness are not infrequent concomitants of genius; and we are never more deceived than when we mistake gravity f..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5a/charles-caleb-colton-270_cheerfulness_a-harmless-hilarity-and-a-buoyant-cheerf_2854424.jpg" --- # A harmless hilarity and a buoyant cheerfulness are not… ![“A harmless hilarity and a buoyant cheerfulness are not infrequent concomitants of genius; and we are never more deceived than when we mistake gravity for greatness, solemnity for science, and pomposity for erudition.” quote by Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5a/charles-caleb-colton-270_cheerfulness_a-harmless-hilarity-and-a-buoyant-cheerf_2854424.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5a/charles-caleb-colton-270_cheerfulness_a-harmless-hilarity-and-a-buoyant-cheerf_2854424.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5a/charles-caleb-colton-270_cheerfulness_a-harmless-hilarity-and-a-buoyant-cheerf_2854424.jpg) > “A harmless hilarity and a buoyant cheerfulness are not infrequent concomitants of genius; and we are never more deceived than when we mistake gravity for greatness, solemnity for science, and pomposity for erudition.” [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Genius often appears playful, while seriousness can be mistaken for depth; true wisdom lies beyond pretensions. **In simple terms:** Playful genius vs. false seriousness. Key Takeaway Seek genuine insight over show. Themes genius humor pretension Mood witty thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - education - creative work - leadership - critical thinking Key Concepts philosophy psychology culture Questions to Reflect On - When have you confused pomp with substance? - How can you value humility in expertise? A Different Perspective Over‑seriousness can stifle innovation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cheerfulness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cheerfulness/) [Creativity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creativity/) [Enjoyment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enjoyment/) [Genius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genius/) [Gravity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gravity/) [Greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatness/) [Hilarity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hilarity/) [Innovation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/innovation/) [Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) [Mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake/) [Pomposity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pomposity/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Solemnity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solemnity/) ## Related quotes > [Language is in decline. 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The unnecessary cruelties, the pomposity and vanity of people who should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hunt/all-i-have-left-is-my-anger-at-the-foolishness-of-the-world-the/) [Stephen Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hunt/) > [We are not actually in charge of life, yet behave as if we are the masters of our own destiny. The realization of this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-childish/we-are-not-actually-in-charge-of-life-yet-behave-as-if-we-are-the/) [Billy Childish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-childish/) > [French intellectual life has, in my opinion, been turned into something cheap and meretricious by the 'star' system. It is like Hollywood. Thus we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/french-intellectual-life-has-in-my-opinion-been-turned-into-something/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Liberals sit from this lofty perch of pomposity, but they are the champions of ignorance. They don't know what they're talking about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/liberals-sit-from-this-lofty-perch-of-pomposity-but-they-are-the/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [These religions that are so freighted with their own pomposity are no better than inspired guesses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/these-religions-that-are-so-freighted-with-their-own-pomposity-are-no/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [“It was due to this attitude of pomposity that he set the villa on fire. Leslie”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-durrell/it-was-due-to-this-attitude-of-pomposity-that-he-set-the-villa-on/) [Gerald Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-durrell/) > [Well, the film's not only pricking the pomposity of the Church, it's pricking the pomposity, and sometimes you would think fraudulence, of the insurance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-connolly/well-the-film-s-not-only-pricking-the-pomposity-of-the-church-it-s/) [Billy Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-connolly/) > [In many college English courses the words “myth” and “symbol” are given a tremendous charge of significance. You just ain’t no good unless you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-k-le-guin/in-many-college-english-courses-the-words-myth-and-symbol-are-given-a/) [Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-k-le-guin/) > [An orotundity, which I define as Nobelitis a pomposity in which one is treated as representative of more than oneself by someone conscious of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-golding/an-orotundity-which-i-define-as-nobelitis-a-pomposity-in-which-one-is/) [William Golding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-golding/) > [Your assumptions about the lives of others are in direct relation to your naïve pomposity. Many people you believe to be rich are not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-strayed/your-assumptions-about-the-lives-of-others-are-in-direct-relation-to/) [Cheryl Strayed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-strayed/) > [“...I'm worried I will leave grad school and no longer be able to speak English. I know this woman in grad school, a friend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/i-m-worried-i-will-leave-grad-school-and-no-longer-be-able-to-speak/) [Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/) > [“How true is the saying that the very highest in rank are always the most simple and kindly. It is from you half-and-half sort…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-rider-haggard/how-true-is-the-saying-that-the-very-highest-in-rank-are-always-the/) [H. Rider Haggard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-rider-haggard/) > [I know the Muslim psychology. It is all pomposity and bravado. I give you my word that if Islam is ridiculed publicly and systematically,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-sina/i-know-the-muslim-psychology-it-is-all-pomposity-and-bravado-i-give/) [Ali Sina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-sina/) ## More by Charles Caleb Colton > [Villainy that is vigilant will be an overmatch for virtue, if she slumber at her post.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/villainy-that-is-vigilant-will-be-an-overmatch-for-virtue-if-she/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [A beautiful woman, if poor, should use double circumspection; for her beauty will tempt others, her poverty herself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/a-beautiful-woman-if-poor-should-use-double-circumspection-for-her/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [Were the life of man prolonged, he would become such a proficient in villainy, that it would become necessary again to drown or to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/were-the-life-of-man-prolonged-he-would-become-such-a-proficient-in/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [To dare to live alone is the rarest courage; since there are many who had rather meet their bitterest enemy in the field, than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/to-dare-to-live-alone-is-the-rarest-courage-since-there-are-many-who/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [It is doubtful whether mankind are most indebted to those who like Bacon and Butler dig the gold from the mine of literature, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/it-is-doubtful-whether-mankind-are-most-indebted-to-those-who-like/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [Be very slow to believe that you are wiser than all others; it is a fatal but common error. Where one has been saved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/be-very-slow-to-believe-that-you-are-wiser-than-all-others-it-is-a/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [None are so fond of secrets as those who do not mean to keep them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/none-are-so-fond-of-secrets-as-those-who-do-not-mean-to-keep-them/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [Mental pleasures never cloy; unlike those of the body, they are increased by reputation, approved by reflection, and strengthened by enjoyment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/mental-pleasures-never-cloy-unlike-those-of-the-body-they-are/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [Ignorance lies at the bottom of all human knowledge, and the deeper we penetrate, the nearer we arrive unto it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/ignorance-lies-at-the-bottom-of-all-human-knowledge-and-the-deeper-we/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [Heroism, self-denial, and magnanimity, in all instances where they do not spring from a principle of religion, are but splendid altars on which we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/heroism-self-denial-and-magnanimity-in-all-instances-where-they-do/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [We ought not to be over-anxious to encourage innovation in cases of doubtful improvement, for an old system must ever have two advantages over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/we-ought-not-to-be-over-anxious-to-encourage-innovation-in-cases-of/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [We owe almost all our knowledge not to those who have agreed, but to those who have differed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/we-owe-almost-all-our-knowledge-not-to-those-who-have-agreed-but-to/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [Metaphysicians have been learning their lessons for the last four thousand years, and it is high time that they should now begin to teach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/metaphysicians-have-been-learning-their-lessons-for-the-last-four/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [Faith and works are necessary to our spiritual life as Christians, as soul and body are to our natural life as men; for faith…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/faith-and-works-are-necessary-to-our-spiritual-life-as-christians-as/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [When all moves equally (says Pascal), nothing seems to move as in a vessel under sail; and when all run by common consent into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/when-all-moves-equally-says-pascal-nothing-seems-to-move-as-in-a/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) [Explore all 778 Charles Caleb Colton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) ## More Cheerfulness quotes > [Poor David Hume is dying fast, but with more real cheerfulness and good humor and with more real resignation to the necessary course of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/poor-david-hume-is-dying-fast-but-with-more-real-cheerfulness-and/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [Cheerfulness in most cheerful people is the rich and satisfying result of strenuous discipline.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-percy-whipple/cheerfulness-in-most-cheerful-people-is-the-rich-and-satisfying/) [Edwin Percy Whipple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-percy-whipple/) > [When you drop your unnecessary things, you finally can swoop and fly in vast space. It is so blue, so bright, and so nice,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/when-you-drop-your-unnecessary-things-you-finally-can-swoop-and-fly/) [Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/) > [The plainest sign of wisdom is a continual cheerfulness: her state is like that of things in the regions above the moon, always clear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-plainest-sign-of-wisdom-is-a-continual-cheerfulness-her-state-is/) [Michel De Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Mark how fleeting and paltry is the estate of man-yesterday in embryo, tomorrow a mummy or ashes. So for the hairsbreadth of time assigned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/mark-how-fleeting-and-paltry-is-the-estate-of-man-yesterday-in-embryo/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [Even the smallest landscape can offer pride of ownership not only to its inhabitants but to its neighbors. The world delights in a garden……](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-moir-messervy/even-the-smallest-landscape-can-offer-pride-of-ownership-not-only-to/) Julie Moir Messervy > [Cheerfulness means a contented spirit, a pure heart, a kind and loving disposition; it means humility and ~ charity, a generous appreciation of others,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/cheerfulness-means-a-contented-spirit-a-pure-heart-a-kind-and-loving/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [I have observed that in comedies the best actor plays the droll, while some scrub rogue is made the fine gentleman or hero. Thus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-st-john-1st-viscount-bolingbroke/i-have-observed-that-in-comedies-the-best-actor-plays-the-droll-while/) [Henry St John, 1st Viscount Bolingbroke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-st-john-1st-viscount-bolingbroke/) > [I believe that God will help us to forget things, the memory of which would do us harm, or rather that He will enable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-vaughan/i-believe-that-god-will-help-us-to-forget-things-the-memory-of-which/) [Bill Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-vaughan/) > [“Unsavoury as it is below, there is cheerfulness, and comfort, and hard, honest work above. ("In The Court Of The Dragon")”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-w-chambers/unsavoury-as-it-is-below-there-is-cheerfulness-and-comfort-and-hard/) [Robert W. Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-w-chambers/) > [“Cheerfulness keeps up a kind of daylight in the mind, and fills it with a steady and perpetual serenity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/cheerfulness-keeps-up-a-kind-of-daylight-in-the-mind-and-fills-it/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [“One world is aware and by far the largest to me, and that is myself, / And whether I come to my own to-day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/one-world-is-aware-and-by-far-the-largest-to-me-and-that-is-myself/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [Actions seems to follow feeling, but really actions and feeling go together; and by regulating the action, which is under the more direct control…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/actions-seems-to-follow-feeling-but-really-actions-and-feeling-go/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [“Cheerfulness and contentment are great beautifiers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-e-smith/cheerfulness-and-contentment-are-great-beautifiers/) [Jennifer E. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-e-smith/) > [Health is the condition of wisdom, and the sign is cheerfulness, - an open and noble temper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/health-is-the-condition-of-wisdom-and-the-sign-is-cheerfulness-an/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) [Browse all 346 Cheerfulness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cheerfulness/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A harmless hilarity and a buoyant cheerfulness are not infrequent concomitants of genius; and we are never more deceived than when we mistake gravity for greatness, solemnity for science, and pomposity for erudition.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Charles Caleb Colton" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/a-harmless-hilarity-and-a-buoyant-cheerfulness-are-not-infrequent/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cheerfulness" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/a-harmless-hilarity-and-a-buoyant-cheerfulness-are-not-infrequent/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5a/charles-caleb-colton-270_cheerfulness_a-harmless-hilarity-and-a-buoyant-cheerf_2854424.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5a/charles-caleb-colton-270_cheerfulness_a-harmless-hilarity-and-a-buoyant-cheerf_2854424.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5a/charles-caleb-colton-270_cheerfulness_a-harmless-hilarity-and-a-buoyant-cheerf_2854424.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A harmless hilarity and a buoyant cheerfulness are not infrequent concomitants of genius; and we are never…” — Charles Caleb Colton", "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": "Charles Caleb Colton", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A harmless hilarity and a buoyant...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/a-harmless-hilarity-and-a-buoyant-cheerfulness-are-not-infrequent/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/a-harmless-hilarity-and-a-buoyant-cheerfulness-are-not-infrequent/#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 } } ] } ```