--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But it is only in epic tragedies that…" description: "\"But it is only in epic tragedies that gloom is unrelieved. In real life tragedy and comedy are so intermingled that when one is most wretched ridiculou..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de9/georgette-heyer-1080_comedy_but-it-is-only-in-epic-tragedies-that-gl_2902030.jpg" --- # But it is only in epic tragedies that gloom is unrelieved… ![“But it is only in epic tragedies that gloom is unrelieved. In real life tragedy and comedy are so intermingled that when one is most wretched ridiculous things happen to make one laugh in spite of oneself.” quote by Georgette Heyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de9/georgette-heyer-1080_comedy_but-it-is-only-in-epic-tragedies-that-gl_2902030.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de9/georgette-heyer-1080_comedy_but-it-is-only-in-epic-tragedies-that-gl_2902030.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de9/georgette-heyer-1080_comedy_but-it-is-only-in-epic-tragedies-that-gl_2902030.jpg) > “But it is only in epic tragedies that gloom is unrelieved. In real life tragedy and comedy are so intermingled that when one is most wretched ridiculous things happen to make one laugh in spite of oneself.” [Georgette Heyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Tragedy and comedy coexist; real life mixes sorrow with absurdity, prompting laughter despite distress. **In simple terms:** Sadness and humor mix, causing laughter in hardship. Key Takeaway Embrace humor amid hardship. Themes humor tragedy human experience resilience Mood bittersweet reflective Type observational philosophical When to use this quote - personal loss - daily stress - social awkwardness - unexpected mishaps Key Concepts existential irony psychology of laughter Questions to Reflect On - How do you find humor in painful moments? - Can laughter mask unresolved sorrow? A Different Perspective Humor may not fully alleviate deep grief. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Epic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/epic/) [Gloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gloom/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Real life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-life/) [Ridiculous things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ridiculous-things/) [Sad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sad/) [Spite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spite/) [Things happen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-happen/) [Tragedies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tragedies/) [Tragedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tragedy/) [Tragedy and comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tragedy-and-comedy/) ## Related quotes > [The difference between tragedy and comedy is the difference between experience and intuition. In the experience we strive against every condition of our animal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-fry/the-difference-between-tragedy-and-comedy-is-the-difference-between/) [Christopher Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-fry/) > [Avoiding humiliation is the core of tragedy and comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-guare/avoiding-humiliation-is-the-core-of-tragedy-and-comedy/) [John Guare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-guare/) > [The tapestry of history that seems so full of tragedy when viewed from the front has countless comic scenes woven into its reverse side.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-ortega-y-gasset/the-tapestry-of-history-that-seems-so-full-of-tragedy-when-viewed/) [Jose Ortega y Gasset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-ortega-y-gasset/) > [Life is a drama full of tragedy and comedy. You should learn to enjoy the comic episodes a little more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-walls/life-is-a-drama-full-of-tragedy-and-comedy-you-should-learn-to-enjoy/) [Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/) > [Wherever comes man comes tragedy and comedy also.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amos-bronson-alcott/wherever-comes-man-comes-tragedy-and-comedy-also/) [Amos Bronson Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amos-bronson-alcott/) > [The difference between tragedy and comedy: Tragedy is something awful happening to somebody else, while comedy is something awful happening to somebody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-allston/the-difference-between-tragedy-and-comedy-tragedy-is-something-awful/) [Aaron Allston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-allston/) > [I see tragedy and comedy and pain and irony and all that stuff. But in the end I think life is fascinating, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-see-tragedy-and-comedy-and-pain-and-irony-and-all-that-stuff-but-in/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Chess is a game sufficiently rich in meaning that it is easily capable of containing elements of both tragedy and comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-mcshane/chess-is-a-game-sufficiently-rich-in-meaning-that-it-is-easily/) Luke McShane > [There is a point in portraying surface vulgarity where tragedy and comedy are very close.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-stanwyck/there-is-a-point-in-portraying-surface-vulgarity-where-tragedy-and/) [Barbara Stanwyck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-stanwyck/) > [Tragedy and comedy are simply questions of value; a little misfit in life makes us laugh; a great one is tragedy and cause for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/tragedy-and-comedy-are-simply-questions-of-value-a-little-misfit-in/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [Human life is a combination of tragedy and comedy. The shapes and designs that surround us are the music accompanying this tragedy and this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvar-aalto/human-life-is-a-combination-of-tragedy-and-comedy-the-shapes-and/) [Alvar Aalto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvar-aalto/) > [I think when I started out, when I was very young, I wanted to be an actor and do the great epic tragedies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-dobson/i-think-when-i-started-out-when-i-was-very-young-i-wanted-to-be-an/) [Anita Dobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-dobson/) > [Is not the decisive difference between comedy and tragedy that tragedy denies us another chance?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-updike/is-not-the-decisive-difference-between-comedy-and-tragedy-that/) [John Updike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-updike/) > [The Greek tragedies and comedies are like a roadmap to all the ways in which trying to live this rich, full life can go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-c-nussbaum/the-greek-tragedies-and-comedies-are-like-a-roadmap-to-all-the-ways/) [Martha C. Nussbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-c-nussbaum/) > [Sin and grace, absence and presence, tragedy and comedy, they divide the world between them and where they meet head on, the Gospel happens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/sin-and-grace-absence-and-presence-tragedy-and-comedy-they-divide-the/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) ## More by Georgette Heyer > [“Upon her butler’s announcing the arrival of Mr Ravenscar, Lady Mablethorpe, who had been dozing over a novel from the Circulating Library, sat up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-heyer/upon-her-butler-s-announcing-the-arrival-of-mr-ravenscar-lady/) [Georgette Heyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/) > [“I may have said that I wanted to have an adventure," replied Miss Thane. "But I never said that I wanted to be murdered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-heyer/i-may-have-said-that-i-wanted-to-have-an-adventure-replied-miss-thane/) [Georgette Heyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/) > [Will you marry me, vile and abominable girl that you are? Yes, but, mind, it only to save my neck from being wrung!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-heyer/will-you-marry-me-vile-and-abominable-girl-that-you-are-yes-but-mind/) [Georgette Heyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/) > [“Lady Winwood being denied, the morning caller inquired with some anxiety for Miss Winwood, or, in fact, for any of the young ladies.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-heyer/lady-winwood-being-denied-the-morning-caller-inquired-with-some/) [Georgette Heyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/) > [I have seen what comes of being patient," Amanda said with a boding look. "And I have no opinion of it." "What does come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-heyer/i-have-seen-what-comes-of-being-patient-amanda-said-with-a-boding/) [Georgette Heyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/) > [“Goodbye!" "Oh, not goodbye!" he protested. "I mean to know you better, Miss Lanyon of Undershaw!" "To be sure, it does seem a pity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-heyer/goodbye-oh-not-goodbye-he-protested-i-mean-to-know-you-better-miss/) [Georgette Heyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/) > [“he disclosed that he had been set upon by two Bedlamites, both of whom had jumped out from behind a bush, roaring at him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-heyer/he-disclosed-that-he-had-been-set-upon-by-two-bedlamites-both-of-whom/) [Georgette Heyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/) > [Randall laid his hand on Stella's, but only to remove it from his sleeve. "My precious, you really must have some regard for my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-heyer/randall-laid-his-hand-on-stella-s-but-only-to-remove-it-from-his/) [Georgette Heyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/) > [She stretched out her hand, saying, “Vernon! My dear, what a delightful surprise!” “What’s surprising about it?” he enquired, lifting his black brows. “Didn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-heyer/she-stretched-out-her-hand-saying-vernon-my-dear-what-a-delightful/) [Georgette Heyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/) > [“Nothing more likely,"said Hannasyde. "I've got to try and rattle him." "It's him that'll do the rattling,"said the Sergeant darkly. "he's the nearest thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-heyer/nothing-more-likely-said-hannasyde-i-ve-got-to-try-and-rattle-him-it/) [Georgette Heyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/) > [“Yes, darling, that is quite a nice frock, but the hankerchief is not only the wrong shade of grey, but quite damnably tied. Let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-heyer/yes-darling-that-is-quite-a-nice-frock-but-the-hankerchief-is-not/) [Georgette Heyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/) > [“The Viscount stepped into the room. "Came to see if you was dead," he said. "Laid Pom odds you weren't." Lethbridge passed his hand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-heyer/the-viscount-stepped-into-the-room-came-to-see-if-you-was-dead-he/) [Georgette Heyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/) > [“If you imagine that I have the smallest desire to receive your hand as a reward for having performed a difficult task to your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-heyer/if-you-imagine-that-i-have-the-smallest-desire-to-receive-your-hand/) [Georgette Heyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/) > [ \[...\]my memory is reasonably good—unlike yours, dear sir!” “Mine is erratic,” he said imperturbably. “I remember only what interests me. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-heyer/my-memory-is-reasonably-good-unlike-yours-dear-sir-mine-is-erratic-he/) [Georgette Heyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/) > [Do you recall Fred Merriville?” She stared at him. “Fred Merriville? Pray, what has he to say to anything?” “The poor fellow has nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-heyer/do-you-recall-fred-merriville-she-stared-at-him-fred-merriville-pray/) [Georgette Heyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/) [Explore all 296 Georgette Heyer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/) ## More Comedy quotes > ['Mad TV' is one of my most favorite shows of all time and is a huge part of my obsession with sketch comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-dawson/mad-tv-is-one-of-my-most-favorite-shows-of-all-time-and-is-a-huge/) [Shane Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-dawson/) > [You can laugh at me, but I understand show business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ksenia-sobchak/you-can-laugh-at-me-but-i-understand-show-business/) [Ksenia Sobchak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ksenia-sobchak/) > [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/) [Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/) > [I wouldn't want people to laugh at me. That's why I have to give all that I can, and at least produce something that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhao-wei/i-wouldn-t-want-people-to-laugh-at-me-that-s-why-i-have-to-give-all/) [Zhao Wei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhao-wei/) > [“Our world will not die as a result of the bomb, as the papers say, it will die of laughter, of banality, of making a joke…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/our-world-will-not-die-as-a-result-of-the-bomb-as-the-papers-say-it/) [Carlos Ruiz Zafon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/) > [I've been funny my whole life. This is a gift God gave me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-morgan/i-ve-been-funny-my-whole-life-this-is-a-gift-god-gave-me/) [Tracy Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-morgan/) > [“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/) > [In the future, I would like to do more films with contemporary themes. Perhaps comedy, which is something I have done in theater but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/in-the-future-i-would-like-to-do-more-films-with-contemporary-themes/) [Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/) > [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/) [Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [There's a difference between delivering real funny and just silly funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-rel-howery/there-s-a-difference-between-delivering-real-funny-and-just-silly/) [Lil Rel Howery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-rel-howery/) > [Oh to that corkscrew, the useful tool to unlock the treasure of wit, the treasury of laughter, the front door of fellowship, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-guzaldo/oh-to-that-corkscrew-the-useful-tool-to-unlock-the-treasure-of-wit/) [Andrew Guzaldo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-guzaldo/) > [“Men circle like bees around honey, buzzing to communicate their sexual despair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carla-h-krueger/men-circle-like-bees-around-honey-buzzing-to-communicate-their-sexual/) [Carla H Krueger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carla-h-krueger/) > [I do love to laugh!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-giudice/i-do-love-to-laugh/) [Teresa Giudice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-giudice/) > [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/) [Browse all 19,795 Comedy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "But it is only in epic tragedies that gloom is unrelieved. In real life tragedy and comedy are so intermingled that when one is most wretched ridiculous things happen to make one laugh in spite of oneself.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Georgette Heyer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-heyer/but-it-is-only-in-epic-tragedies-that-gloom-is-unrelieved-in-real/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Comedy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-heyer/but-it-is-only-in-epic-tragedies-that-gloom-is-unrelieved-in-real/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de9/georgette-heyer-1080_comedy_but-it-is-only-in-epic-tragedies-that-gl_2902030.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de9/georgette-heyer-1080_comedy_but-it-is-only-in-epic-tragedies-that-gl_2902030.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de9/georgette-heyer-1080_comedy_but-it-is-only-in-epic-tragedies-that-gl_2902030.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“But it is only in epic tragedies that gloom is unrelieved. In real life tragedy and comedy are so…” — Georgette Heyer", "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": "Georgette Heyer", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "But it is only in epic...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-heyer/but-it-is-only-in-epic-tragedies-that-gloom-is-unrelieved-in-real/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-heyer/but-it-is-only-in-epic-tragedies-that-gloom-is-unrelieved-in-real/#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 } } ] } ```