--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There are certain queer times and…" description: "\"“There are certain queer times and occasions in this strange mixed affair we call life when a man takes this whole universe for avast practical joke, t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b82/herman-melville-162_hard-things_there-are-certain-queer-times-and-occasi_1594431.jpg" --- # There are certain queer times and occasions in this… ![“There are certain queer times and occasions in this strange mixed affair we call life when a man takes this whole universe for avast practical joke, though the wit thereof he but dimly discerns, and more than suspects that the joke is at nobody's expense but his own. However, nothing dispirits…” quote by Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b82/herman-melville-162_hard-things_there-are-certain-queer-times-and-occasi_1594431.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b82/herman-melville-162_hard-things_there-are-certain-queer-times-and-occasi_1594431.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b82/herman-melville-162_hard-things_there-are-certain-queer-times-and-occasi_1594431.jpg) > ““There are certain queer times and occasions in this strange mixed affair we call life when a man takes this whole universe for avast practical joke, though the wit thereof he but dimly discerns, and more than suspects that the joke is at nobody's expense but his own. However, nothing dispirits, and nothing seems worth while disputing. He bolts down all events, all creeds, and beliefs, and persuasions, all hard things visible and invisible, never mind how knobby; as an ostrich of potent digestion gobbles down bullets and gun flints. And as for small difficulties and worryings, prospects of sudden disaster, peril of life and limb; all these, and death itself, seem to him only sly, good-natured hits, and jolly punches in the side bestowed by the unseen and unaccountable old joker. That odd sort of wayward mood I am am speaking of, comes over a man only in some time of extreme tribulation; it comes in the very midst of his earnestness, so that what just before might have seemed to him a thing most momentous, now seems but a part of the general joke.”” [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. In dire hardship, some view life’s trials as a cosmic joke, finding humor in adversity. **In simple terms:** People sometimes see suffering as a joke played by fate. Key Takeaway Find humor to cope with extreme stress. Themes existential humor adversity philosophy Mood reflective darkly humorous Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - personal crisis - health challenges - loss - stressful events Key Concepts absurdism resilience detachment Questions to Reflect On - What jokes help you endure hardship? - When does humor become avoidance? A Different Perspective Humor may mask deeper pain or denial. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Hard things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-things/) [Joke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joke/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Practical joke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practical-joke/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [I was kind of like the cheeky kid in school. Nothing too malicious...Nothing too nasty...I never really got into too many fights, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-monaghan/i-was-kind-of-like-the-cheeky-kid-in-school-nothing-too-malicious/) [Dominic Monaghan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-monaghan/) > [“All practical jokes, friendly, harmless or malevolent, involve deception, but not all deceptions are practical jokes. The two men digging up the street, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden-2/all-practical-jokes-friendly-harmless-or-malevolent-involve-deception/) [W.H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden-2/) > [Elvis was, at least the times I was around him, Elvis was a practical joker. He was always, had some little mischievous something going.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-deshannon/elvis-was-at-least-the-times-i-was-around-him-elvis-was-a-practical/) [Jackie DeShannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-deshannon/) > [ I'd worked with Marlon \[Brando\] a couple of times, and he was a practical joker. He was far more interested in getting jokes out… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-depp/i-d-worked-with-marlon-brando-a-couple-of-times-and-he-was-a/) [Johnny Depp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-depp/) > [I was a practical joker as a teenager and I still am today - you can ask any of my staff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-lujan-grisham/i-was-a-practical-joker-as-a-teenager-and-i-still-am-today-you-can/) [Michelle Lujan Grisham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-lujan-grisham/) > [“The practical joker despises his victims, but at the same time he envies them because their desires, however childish and mistaken, are real to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden-2/the-practical-joker-despises-his-victims-but-at-the-same-time-he/) [W.H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden-2/) > [I'm a traveling practical joker. That's my line of work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-mochrie/i-m-a-traveling-practical-joker-that-s-my-line-of-work/) [Colin Mochrie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-mochrie/) > [We met in high school, all in the same grade, and started doing improv and sketch together. That was almost 20 years ago at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sal-vulcano/we-met-in-high-school-all-in-the-same-grade-and-started-doing-improv/) [Sal Vulcano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sal-vulcano/) > [I love 'The Impractical Jokers.' I watch them all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-mcafee/i-love-the-impractical-jokers-i-watch-them-all-the-time/) [Pat McAfee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-mcafee/) > [My father, the practical joker, did not care for practical jokes on himself; he did not encourage the practice in me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lincoln-steffens/my-father-the-practical-joker-did-not-care-for-practical-jokes-on/) [Lincoln Steffens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lincoln-steffens/) > [Well 'Impractical Jokers' isn't really a prank show, because the joke is on us. We make ourselves look like idiots in front of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-gatto/well-impractical-jokers-isn-t-really-a-prank-show-because-the-joke-is/) [Joe Gatto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-gatto/) > [“He was not a practical joker nor was he a fool but he was determinedly original and had a vague and modest idea of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cheever/he-was-not-a-practical-joker-nor-was-he-a-fool-but-he-was/) [John Cheever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cheever/) > [“Growing up in a family of gamblers, daredevils and practical jokers, I've learned a lot about timing and its first cousin, dumb luck, concepts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toby-speed/growing-up-in-a-family-of-gamblers-daredevils-and-practical-jokers-i/) Toby Speed > [On one show before a live audience, I had to look out the door and call for Will Smith to come in. The audience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-avery/on-one-show-before-a-live-audience-i-had-to-look-out-the-door-and/) [James Avery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-avery/) > [“There are certain queer times and occasions in this strange mixed affair we call life when a man takes this whole universe for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/there-are-certain-queer-times-and-occasions-in-this-strange-mixed/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) ## 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. 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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 Hard things quotes > [It's a hard thing to describe. 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I think it's multifaceted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sienna-miller/i-think-love-is-a-really-hard-thing-to-define-i-think-it-s/) [Sienna Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sienna-miller/) > [“sometimes you don't look very hard for things you don't believe will or can happen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dashner/sometimes-you-don-t-look-very-hard-for-things-you-don-t-believe-will/) [James Dashner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dashner/) > [Being on set is a hard thing. A lot of people are like, 'Oh, you get to make a movie, and it's all fun.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-scott/being-on-set-is-a-hard-thing-a-lot-of-people-are-like-oh-you-get-to/) [Jill Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-scott/) > [You have to always continue to strive no matter how hard things get, no matter how troubled you feel. No matter how tough things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ll-cool-j/you-have-to-always-continue-to-strive-no-matter-how-hard-things-get/) [LL Cool J](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ll-cool-j/) > [One of the HARDEST things in life is LETTING GO of what you were USED TO and MOVING ON with something YOU'RE NOT](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mega/one-of-the-hardest-things-in-life-is-letting-go-of-what-you-were-used/) Mega > [I myself am frustrated in just where sports are at. It's a hard thing when you're out there working every day, and you know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allyson-felix/i-myself-am-frustrated-in-just-where-sports-are-at-it-s-a-hard-thing/) [Allyson Felix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allyson-felix/) > [Always end the day with a positive thought. 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But if you can trust…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-romney/you-can-never-predict-what-kind-of-tough-decisions-are-going-to-come/) [Ann Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-romney/) [Browse all 396 Hard things quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-things/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“There are certain queer times and occasions in this strange mixed affair we call life when a man takes this whole universe for avast practical joke, though the wit thereof he but dimly discerns, and more than suspects that the joke is at nobody's expense but his own. However, nothing dispirits, and nothing seems worth while disputing. He bolts down all events, all creeds, and beliefs, and persuasions, all hard things visible and invisible, never mind how knobby; as an ostrich of potent digestion gobbles down bullets and gun flints. And as for small difficulties and worryings, prospects of sudden disaster, peril of life and limb; all these, and death itself, seem to him only sly, good-natured hits, and jolly punches in the side bestowed by the unseen and unaccountable old joker. 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