--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you begin the day with a laugh, you…" description: "\"If you begin the day with a laugh, you may, nevertheless, end it with a sob and a sigh.\" — Herman Melville" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/640/herman-melville-162_ends_if-you-begin-the-day-with-a-laugh-you-ma_1313650.jpg" --- # If you begin the day with a laugh, you may, nevertheless… ![“If you begin the day with a laugh, you may, nevertheless, end it with a sob and a sigh.” quote by Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/640/herman-melville-162_ends_if-you-begin-the-day-with-a-laugh-you-ma_1313650.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/640/herman-melville-162_ends_if-you-begin-the-day-with-a-laugh-you-ma_1313650.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/640/herman-melville-162_ends_if-you-begin-the-day-with-a-laugh-you-ma_1313650.jpg) > “If you begin the day with a laugh, you may, nevertheless, end it with a sob and a sigh.” [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Life’s moods swing from joy to sorrow, reminding us that optimism and melancholy coexist. **In simple terms:** Joy can turn to sadness. Key Takeaway Accept both emotions. Themes dualities resilience emotional balance Mood reflective melancholic Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - morning routine - creative work - personal reflection - stressful events Key Concepts human experience impermanence Questions to Reflect On - How do you honor both laughter and sorrow? - What practices help you transition between moods? A Different Perspective Optimism alone won’t prevent later disappointment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Laugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laugh/) [Laughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laughter/) [Pessimism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pessimism/) ## Related quotes > [“All Jacob could hear was the odd sob or sigh, the vocabulary of sorrow.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-f-wilson/all-jacob-could-hear-was-the-odd-sob-or-sigh-the-vocabulary-of-sorrow/) [Dean F. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-f-wilson/) > [If you can laugh at the end of a hard day, you have succeeded it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-can-laugh-at-the-end-of-a-hard-day-you-have-succeeded-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The hardest thing in comedy is to have the biggest laugh at the end, and it’s the most satisfying thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-seinfeld/the-hardest-thing-in-comedy-is-to-have-the-biggest-laugh-at-the-end/) [Jerry Seinfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-seinfeld/) > [We're always looking for the kind people that make us laugh,but in the end we always fall for those that make us cry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/we-re-always-looking-for-the-kind-people-that-make-us-laugh-but-in/) [Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/) > [A joke is a way to say, 'I'm going to do something funny now. If I don't get a laugh at the end, I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/a-joke-is-a-way-to-say-i-m-going-to-do-something-funny-now-if-i-don-t/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [“Even if you fail or do something stupid, if you can laugh in the end, that's all that matters.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kei-kanai/even-if-you-fail-or-do-something-stupid-if-you-can-laugh-in-the-end/) Kei Kanai > [“Laugh up to the end and through it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hosho-mccreesh/laugh-up-to-the-end-and-through-it/) [Hosho McCreesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hosho-mccreesh/) > [I get just as much of a thrill out of constructing a good sentence that gets a laugh at the end as I do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-clary/i-get-just-as-much-of-a-thrill-out-of-constructing-a-good-sentence/) [Julian Clary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-clary/) > [If we couldn't laugh at ourselves, that would be the end of everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niels-bohr/if-we-couldn-t-laugh-at-ourselves-that-would-be-the-end-of-everything/) [Niels Bohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niels-bohr/) > [Kim, Kourtney, Khloe and Rob, we all have pretty tough skin. If someone feels like they need to take a shot, well okay. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-jenner/kim-kourtney-khloe-and-rob-we-all-have-pretty-tough-skin-if-someone/) [Kris Jenner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-jenner/) > [“A day without laugh is a day without life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/a-day-without-laugh-is-a-day-without-life/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [The party is always my favorite part of a press day. You get to laugh, unwind and just have fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hill/the-party-is-always-my-favorite-part-of-a-press-day-you-get-to-laugh/) [Taylor Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hill/) > [Every Day I laugh It's Because of you Every Day I Smile It's Because Of You Every Day I Don't Cry It's Because Of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desssmith/every-day-i-laugh-it-s-because-of-you-every-day-i-smile-it-s-because/) Desssmith > [“Yes, give us books about the psychotic behavior and peripheral weirdness we see all around every day -- and we will laugh in its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-dorsey/yes-give-us-books-about-the-psychotic-behavior-and-peripheral/) [Tim Dorsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-dorsey/) > [God weeps with us so that we may one day laugh with him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-rgen-moltmann/god-weeps-with-us-so-that-we-may-one-day-laugh-with-him/) [Jürgen Moltmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-rgen-moltmann/) ## More by Herman Melville > [“and man, though idiotic, and knowing not what he does, yet full of the sweet things of love and gratitude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/and-man-though-idiotic-and-knowing-not-what-he-does-yet-full-of-the/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“But were the coming narrative to reveal in any instance, the complete abasement of poor Starbuck's fortitude, scarce might I have the heart to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/but-were-the-coming-narrative-to-reveal-in-any-instance-the-complete/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“(On Ralph Waldo Emerson)I love all men who dive. Any fish can swim near the surface, but it takes a great whale to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/on-ralph-waldo-emerson-i-love-all-men-who-dive-any-fish-can-swim-near/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“So seemed it to me, as I stood at her helm, and for long hours silently guided the way of this fire-ship on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/so-seemed-it-to-me-as-i-stood-at-her-helm-and-for-long-hours-silently/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“the only real owner of anything is its commander;”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/the-only-real-owner-of-anything-is-its-commander/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“Consider the subtleness of the sea; how its most dreaded creatures glide under water, unapparent for the most part, and treacherously hidden beneath the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/consider-the-subtleness-of-the-sea-how-its-most-dreaded-creatures/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“Is it that by its indefiniteness it shadows forth the heartless voids and immensities of the universe, and thus stabs us from behind with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/is-it-that-by-its-indefiniteness-it-shadows-forth-the-heartless-voids/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“Now, as I before hinted, I have no objection to any person's religion, be it what it may, so long as that person does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/now-as-i-before-hinted-i-have-no-objection-to-any-person-s-religion/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [Let America first praise mediocrity even, in her children, before she praises... the best excellence in the children of any other land.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/let-america-first-praise-mediocrity-even-in-her-children-before-she/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [Only the man who says no is free](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/only-the-man-who-says-no-is-free/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [Beneath those stars is a universe of gliding monsters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/beneath-those-stars-is-a-universe-of-gliding-monsters/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“Yet this is life. For hardly have we mortals by long toilings extracted from this world's vast bulk its small but valuable sperm; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/yet-this-is-life-for-hardly-have-we-mortals-by-long-toilings/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [I never fancied broiling fowls; - though once broiled, judiciously buttered, and judgmatically salted and peppered, there is no one who will speak more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/i-never-fancied-broiling-fowls-though-once-broiled-judiciously/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [War should be carried on like a monsoon; one changeless determination of every particle towards the one unalterable aim.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/war-should-be-carried-on-like-a-monsoon-one-changeless-determination/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [Genius is full of trash.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/genius-is-full-of-trash/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) [Explore all 1,009 Herman Melville quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) ## 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": "If you begin the day with a laugh, you may, nevertheless, end it with a sob and a sigh.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Herman Melville" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/if-you-begin-the-day-with-a-laugh-you-may-nevertheless-end-it-with-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Comedy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/if-you-begin-the-day-with-a-laugh-you-may-nevertheless-end-it-with-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/640/herman-melville-162_ends_if-you-begin-the-day-with-a-laugh-you-ma_1313650.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/640/herman-melville-162_ends_if-you-begin-the-day-with-a-laugh-you-ma_1313650.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/640/herman-melville-162_ends_if-you-begin-the-day-with-a-laugh-you-ma_1313650.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If you begin the day with a laugh, you may, nevertheless, end it with a sob and a sigh.” — Herman Melville", "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": "Herman Melville", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If you begin the day with...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/if-you-begin-the-day-with-a-laugh-you-may-nevertheless-end-it-with-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/if-you-begin-the-day-with-a-laugh-you-may-nevertheless-end-it-with-a/#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 } } ] } ```