--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Throughout my life I have seen, without…" description: "\"“Throughout my life I have seen, without one exception, narrow-shouldered men performing innumerable idiotic acts, brustalising their fellows, and corr..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e3/comte-de-lautr-amont-19764_laughing_throughout-my-life-i-have-seen-without-o_2609143.jpg" --- # Throughout my life I have seen, without one exception… ![“Throughout my life I have seen, without one exception, narrow-shouldered men performing innumerable idiotic acts, brustalising their fellows, and corrupted souls by every means. They call the motive for their actions: fame. Seeing these exhibitions I’ve longed to laugh, with the rest, but that…” quote by Comte de Lautréamont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e3/comte-de-lautr-amont-19764_laughing_throughout-my-life-i-have-seen-without-o_2609143.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e3/comte-de-lautr-amont-19764_laughing_throughout-my-life-i-have-seen-without-o_2609143.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e3/comte-de-lautr-amont-19764_laughing_throughout-my-life-i-have-seen-without-o_2609143.jpg) > ““Throughout my life I have seen, without one exception, narrow-shouldered men performing innumerable idiotic acts, brustalising their fellows, and corrupted souls by every means. They call the motive for their actions: fame. Seeing these exhibitions I’ve longed to laugh, with the rest, but that strange imitation was impossible. Taking a penknife with a sharp-edged blade, I slit the flesh at the points joining the lips. For an instant I believed my aim was achieved. I saw in a mirror the mouth ruined at my own will! An error! Besides, the blood gushing freely from the two wounds prevented my distinguishing whether this really was the grin of others. But after some moments of comparison I saw quite clearly that my smile did not resemble that of humans: the fact is, I was not laughing.”” [Comte de Lautréamont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/comte-de-lautr-amont/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The narrator describes a grotesque act of self‑harm driven by disillusionment with fame and humanity, ending in a realization that true laughter is absent. **In simple terms:** Despair leads to self‑harm, revealing emptiness. Key Takeaway Seek authentic connection over fame. Themes despair fame self‑harm illusion identity Mood dark introspective Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - mental health counseling - art therapy - philosophical discussion Key Concepts psychology existentialism literature Questions to Reflect On - What drives people to self‑destruction? - Can fame be reconciled with authenticity? A Different Perspective Graphic content may be triggering. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fact Laughing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fact-laughing-2011742/) [Laughing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laughing/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Mirror Mouth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mirror-mouth-2011740/) [Mouth Ruined](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mouth-ruined-1756918/) [Slit Flesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slit-flesh-2011741/) ## Related quotes > [“It’s not really my fault. The problem is that my mouth just comes out with these things. 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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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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. 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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/) > [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/) > [“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/) > [(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/) > [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/) ## More by Comte de Lautréamont > [“After some hours, the dogs, exhausted by running round, almost dead, their tongues hanging out, set upon one another and, not knowing what they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/comte-de-lautr-amont/after-some-hours-the-dogs-exhausted-by-running-round-almost-dead/) [Comte de Lautréamont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/comte-de-lautr-amont/) > [“He dreams he is happy; that his corporeal nature has changed; or at least that he has flown off upon a purple cloud of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/comte-de-lautr-amont/he-dreams-he-is-happy-that-his-corporeal-nature-has-changed-or-at/) [Comte de Lautréamont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/comte-de-lautr-amont/) > [“Oh incomprehensible pederasts, I shall not heap insults upon your great degradation; I shall not be the one to pour scorn on your infundibuliform…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/comte-de-lautr-amont/oh-incomprehensible-pederasts-i-shall-not-heap-insults-upon-your/) [Comte de Lautréamont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/comte-de-lautr-amont/) > [“— What were you thinking about, child? — I was thinking of heaven. — It’s unnecessary for you to think of heaven: there’s already…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/comte-de-lautr-amont/what-were-you-thinking-about-child-i-was-thinking-of-heaven-it-s/) [Comte de Lautréamont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/comte-de-lautr-amont/) > [“I do not accept evil. Man is perfect. The soul does not fall. Progress exists. . . . Up till now, misfortune has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/comte-de-lautr-amont/i-do-not-accept-evil-man-is-perfect-the-soul-does-not-fall-progress/) [Comte de Lautréamont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/comte-de-lautr-amont/) > [“…the association of two, or more, apparently alien elements on a plane alien to both is the most potent ignition of poetry.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/comte-de-lautr-amont/the-association-of-two-or-more-apparently-alien-elements-on-a-plane/) [Comte de Lautréamont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/comte-de-lautr-amont/) > [“I find myself nursing keen regret at probably not being able to live long enough to explain properly to you what I do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/comte-de-lautr-amont/i-find-myself-nursing-keen-regret-at-probably-not-being-able-to-live/) [Comte de Lautréamont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/comte-de-lautr-amont/) > [“One should let one’s fingernails grow for a fortnight. Oh! how sweet to snatch brutally from his bed a boy who has as yet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/comte-de-lautr-amont/one-should-let-one-s-fingernails-grow-for-a-fortnight-oh-how-sweet-to/) [Comte de Lautréamont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/comte-de-lautr-amont/) > [“Oh if only instead of being a hell, the universe had been an immense anus!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/comte-de-lautr-amont/oh-if-only-instead-of-being-a-hell-the-universe-had-been-an-immense/) [Comte de Lautréamont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/comte-de-lautr-amont/) > [“I shall set down in a few lines how uptight Maldoror was during his early years, when he lived happy. There: done. He later…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/comte-de-lautr-amont/i-shall-set-down-in-a-few-lines-how-uptight-maldoror-was-during-his/) [Comte de Lautréamont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/comte-de-lautr-amont/) > [“Old ocean, the different species of fish that you nurture have not sworn brotherhood among themselves. Each species lives apart, on its own. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/comte-de-lautr-amont/old-ocean-the-different-species-of-fish-that-you-nurture-have-not/) [Comte de Lautréamont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/comte-de-lautr-amont/) > [I will leave no memoirs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/comte-de-lautr-amont/i-will-leave-no-memoirs/) [Comte de Lautreamont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/comte-de-lautr-amont/) > [“One should let one's nails grow for a fortnight. O, how sweet it is to drag brutally from his bed a child with no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/comte-de-lautr-amont/one-should-let-one-s-nails-grow-for-a-fortnight-o-how-sweet-it-is-to/) [Comte de Lautréamont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/comte-de-lautr-amont/) > [“I am son of man and woman, so they tell me. That astounds me . . . I thought myself more!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/comte-de-lautr-amont/i-am-son-of-man-and-woman-so-they-tell-me-that-astounds-me-i-thought/) [Comte de Lautréamont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/comte-de-lautr-amont/) > [“I sought a soul that might resemble mine, and I could not find it. I scanned all the crannies of the earth: my perseverance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/comte-de-lautr-amont/i-sought-a-soul-that-might-resemble-mine-and-i-could-not-find-it-i/) [Comte de Lautréamont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/comte-de-lautr-amont/) [Explore all 20 Comte de Lautréamont quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/comte-de-lautr-amont/) ## 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 ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laughing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Throughout my life I have seen, without one exception, narrow-shouldered men performing innumerable idiotic acts, brustalising their fellows, and corrupted souls by every means. They call the motive for their actions: fame. Seeing these exhibitions I’ve longed to laugh, with the rest, but that strange imitation was impossible. Taking a penknife with a sharp-edged blade, I slit the flesh at the points joining the lips. For an instant I believed my aim was achieved. I saw in a mirror the mouth ruined at my own will! An error! 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