--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The only cure for vanity is laughter. And…" description: "\"The only cure for vanity is laughter. And the only fault that's laughable is vanity.\" — Henri Bergson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7bd/henri-bergson-7179_comedy_the-only-cure-for-vanity-is-laughter-and_484105.jpg" --- # The only cure for vanity is laughter. And the only fault… ![“The only cure for vanity is laughter. And the only fault that's laughable is vanity.” quote by Henri Bergson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7bd/henri-bergson-7179_comedy_the-only-cure-for-vanity-is-laughter-and_484105.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7bd/henri-bergson-7179_comedy_the-only-cure-for-vanity-is-laughter-and_484105.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7bd/henri-bergson-7179_comedy_the-only-cure-for-vanity-is-laughter-and_484105.jpg) > “The only cure for vanity is laughter. And the only fault that's laughable is vanity.” [Henri Bergson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-bergson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Laughter exposes vanity, making it harmless and ridiculable. **In simple terms:** Laughter makes vanity laughable. Key Takeaway Use humor to deflate ego. Themes humor vanity self-awareness Mood lighthearted insightful Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - interpersonal conflict - public speaking - self-improvement Key Concepts psychology social critique Questions to Reflect On - How can you laugh at yourself? - When is humor inappropriate? A Different Perspective Humor may not reach everyone. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Laughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laughter/) [Pride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pride/) [Vanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vanity/) ## Related quotes > [“The hearing of masterworks of different epochs will speediest of all cure you of vanity and self-adoration.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/schumann-robert/the-hearing-of-masterworks-of-different-epochs-will-speediest-of-all/) Schumann Robert > [The surest cure for vanity is loneliness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/the-surest-cure-for-vanity-is-loneliness/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) > [A good laugh is a mighty good thing, a rather too scarce a good thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/a-good-laugh-is-a-mighty-good-thing-a-rather-too-scarce-a-good-thing/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“What is so often laughable, in the stories of Kundera's Czechoslovakia, is how grimly serious just about everything turns out to be, jokes and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-roth/what-is-so-often-laughable-in-the-stories-of-kundera-s-czechoslovakia/) [Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/) > [Even Jesus Christ cannot conduct a free and fair election in Nigeria.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olusegun-obasanjo/even-jesus-christ-cannot-conduct-a-free-and-fair-election-in-nigeria/) [Olusegun Obasanjo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olusegun-obasanjo/) > [It's malarkey. When you tell people that the roof crushing in on your head is not the cause of injury, it's your head hitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-claybrook/it-s-malarkey-when-you-tell-people-that-the-roof-crushing-in-on-your/) Joan Claybrook > [Small actions are at the heart of kaizen. By taking steps so tiny that they seem trivial or even laughable, you'll sail calmly past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-d-maurer/small-actions-are-at-the-heart-of-kaizen-by-taking-steps-so-tiny-that/) Robert D. Maurer > [There are some tales not for telling, whether because they are too long, too precious, too laughable, too painful, too easy to need telling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-donoghue/there-are-some-tales-not-for-telling-whether-because-they-are-too/) [Emma Donoghue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-donoghue/) > [That Newt Gingrich or any mainstream Republican has the nerve to look down from what they perceive as their moral mountaintop at anyone is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/that-newt-gingrich-or-any-mainstream-republican-has-the-nerve-to-look/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [Comedy exists to laugh at things that aren't laughable. But isn't it? That's what separates us from the animals. We laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/comedy-exists-to-laugh-at-things-that-aren-t-laughable-but-isn-t-it/) [Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/) > [Batroc is a laughable character. I'm the one who always makes fun of him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeph-loeb/batroc-is-a-laughable-character-i-m-the-one-who-always-makes-fun-of/) [Jeph Loeb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeph-loeb/) > [The idea that money is corrupting innocent politicians would be laughable if it did not lead to such dangerous legislation...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-idea-that-money-is-corrupting-innocent-politicians-would-be/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [“Men show their characters in nothing more clearly than in what they think laughable. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/men-show-their-characters-in-nothing-more-clearly-than-in-what-they/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [What's really interesting about that is that a lot of these words that were incendiary in their time now seem almost harmless and laughable,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-kaufman/what-s-really-interesting-about-that-is-that-a-lot-of-these-words/) [Philip Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-kaufman/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) ## More by Henri Bergson > [The present contains nothing more than the past, and what is found in the effect was already in the cause.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-bergson/the-present-contains-nothing-more-than-the-past-and-what-is-found-in/) [Henri Bergson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-bergson/) > [Action on the move creates its own route, creates to a very great extent the conditions under which it is to be fulfilled and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-bergson/action-on-the-move-creates-its-own-route-creates-to-a-very-great/) [Henri Bergson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-bergson/) > [Intuition is a method of feeling one's way intellectually into the inner heart of a thing, in order to locate what is unique and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-bergson/intuition-is-a-method-of-feeling-one-s-way-intellectually-into-the/) [Henri Bergson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-bergson/) > [“But, then, I cannot escape the objection that there is no state of mind, however simple, which does not change every moment, since there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-bergson/but-then-i-cannot-escape-the-objection-that-there-is-no-state-of-mind/) [Henri Bergson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-bergson/) > [In laughter we always find an unavowed intention to humiliate and consequently to correct our neighbour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-bergson/in-laughter-we-always-find-an-unavowed-intention-to-humiliate-and/) [Henri Bergson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-bergson/) > [In short, intelligence, considered in what seems to be its original feature, is the faculty of manufacturing artificial objects, especially tools to make tools,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-bergson/in-short-intelligence-considered-in-what-seems-to-be-its-original/) [Henri Bergson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-bergson/) > [There is no greater joy than that of feeling oneself a creator. The triumph of life is expressed by creation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-bergson/there-is-no-greater-joy-than-that-of-feeling-oneself-a-creator-the/) [Henri Bergson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-bergson/) > [When we make the cerebral state the beginning of an action, and in no sense the condition of a perception, we place the perceived…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-bergson/when-we-make-the-cerebral-state-the-beginning-of-an-action-and-in-no/) [Henri Bergson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-bergson/) > [It is of man's essence to create materially and morally, to fabricate things and to fabricate himself. Homo faber is the definition I propose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-bergson/it-is-of-man-s-essence-to-create-materially-and-morally-to-fabricate/) [Henri Bergson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-bergson/) > [Instinct perfected is a faculty of using and even constructing organized instruments; intelligence perfected is the faculty of making and using unorganized instruments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-bergson/instinct-perfected-is-a-faculty-of-using-and-even-constructing/) [Henri Bergson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-bergson/) > [Intelligence is the faculty of making artificial objects, especially tools to make tools.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-bergson/intelligence-is-the-faculty-of-making-artificial-objects-especially/) [Henri Bergson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-bergson/) > [I believe I experience creativity at every moment of my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-bergson/i-believe-i-experience-creativity-at-every-moment-of-my-life/) [Henri Bergson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-bergson/) > [“Might not certain vices have the same relation to character that the rigidity of a fixed idea as to intellect? Whether as a moral…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-bergson/might-not-certain-vices-have-the-same-relation-to-character-that-the/) [Henri Bergson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-bergson/) > [The movement of the stream is distinct from the river bed, although it must adopt its winding course.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-bergson/the-movement-of-the-stream-is-distinct-from-the-river-bed-although-it/) [Henri Bergson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-bergson/) > [Is it astonishing that, like children trying to catch smoke by closing their hands, philosophers so often see the object they would grasp fly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-bergson/is-it-astonishing-that-like-children-trying-to-catch-smoke-by-closing/) [Henri Bergson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-bergson/) [Explore all 86 Henri Bergson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-bergson/) ## 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": "The only cure for vanity is laughter. And the only fault that's laughable is vanity.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Henri Bergson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-bergson/the-only-cure-for-vanity-is-laughter-and-the-only-fault-that-s/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Comedy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-bergson/the-only-cure-for-vanity-is-laughter-and-the-only-fault-that-s/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7bd/henri-bergson-7179_comedy_the-only-cure-for-vanity-is-laughter-and_484105.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7bd/henri-bergson-7179_comedy_the-only-cure-for-vanity-is-laughter-and_484105.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7bd/henri-bergson-7179_comedy_the-only-cure-for-vanity-is-laughter-and_484105.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The only cure for vanity is laughter. And the only fault that's laughable is vanity.” — Henri Bergson", "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": "Henri Bergson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-bergson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The only cure for vanity is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-bergson/the-only-cure-for-vanity-is-laughter-and-the-only-fault-that-s/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-bergson/the-only-cure-for-vanity-is-laughter-and-the-only-fault-that-s/#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 } } ] } ```