--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Imagination was given to man to…" description: "\"Imagination was given to man to compensate him for what he isn't. A sense of humor was provided to console him for what he is.\" — Horace Walpole" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be1/horace-walpole-3357_humor_imagination-was-given-to-man-to-compensa_1025071.jpg" --- # Imagination was given to man to compensate him for what he… ![“Imagination was given to man to compensate him for what he isn't. A sense of humor was provided to console him for what he is.” quote by Horace Walpole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be1/horace-walpole-3357_humor_imagination-was-given-to-man-to-compensa_1025071.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be1/horace-walpole-3357_humor_imagination-was-given-to-man-to-compensa_1025071.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be1/horace-walpole-3357_humor_imagination-was-given-to-man-to-compensa_1025071.jpg) > “Imagination was given to man to compensate him for what he isn't. A sense of humor was provided to console him for what he is.” [Horace Walpole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-walpole/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Imagination fills gaps of lack, humor eases acceptance of self. **In simple terms:** Imagination compensates for lack; humor comforts our reality. Key Takeaway Cultivate imagination and humor. Themes imagination humor self-acceptance Mood lighthearted encouraging Type motivational psychological When to use this quote - creative workshops - stress‑relief activities - personal coaching Key Concepts creative thinking psychological resilience well‑being Questions to Reflect On - What gaps does your imagination fill? - How does humor help you accept yourself? A Different Perspective Humor may mask deeper issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Humor Provided](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor-provided-2308986/) [Imagination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imagination/) [Imagination Given](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imagination-given-836825/) [Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man/) [Man Compensate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-compensate-836826/) [Sense of humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sense-of-humor/) ## Related quotes > [“Imagination was given to man to compensate him for what he is not. A sense of humour was provided to console him for what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-walpole/imagination-was-given-to-man-to-compensate-him-for-what-he-is-not-a/) [Horace Walpole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-walpole/) > [Imagination was given to man to compensate him for what he is not; a sense of humor to console him for what he is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/imagination-was-given-to-man-to-compensate-him-for-what-he-is-not-a-2/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [“Imagination, given time, does rule the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-kirk/imagination-given-time-does-rule-the-world/) [Russell Kirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-kirk/) > [When we read a book, our most essential trait - imagination - is given the opportunity to soar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/when-we-read-a-book-our-most-essential-trait-imagination-is-given-the/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [Imagination has given us the steam engine, the telephone, the talking-machine, and the automobile, for these things had to be dreamed of before they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-frank-baum/imagination-has-given-us-the-steam-engine-the-telephone-the-talking-2/) [L. Frank Baum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-frank-baum/) > [Nature, to be commanded, must be obeyed. The imagination must be given not wings but weights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/nature-to-be-commanded-must-be-obeyed-the-imagination-must-be-given/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) > [I learned this through Iron Man - it really doesn't matter what I think about who he is because everybody has such a huge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-pasdar/i-learned-this-through-iron-man-it-really-doesn-t-matter-what-i-think/) [Adrian Pasdar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-pasdar/) > [I have a daughter. I have my imagination. I have friends. I, in no way, am going to louse that up with some idiot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viv-albertine/i-have-a-daughter-i-have-my-imagination-i-have-friends-i-in-no-way-am/) [Viv Albertine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viv-albertine/) > [Nor would anybody suspect. If was one thing all people took for granted, was conviction that if you feed honest figures into a computer,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/nor-would-anybody-suspect-if-was-one-thing-all-people-took-for/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [I think God has a sense of humor, and the way my lessons come from God is very funny. I have to laugh at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yvette-nicole-brown/i-think-god-has-a-sense-of-humor-and-the-way-my-lessons-come-from-god/) [Yvette Nicole Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yvette-nicole-brown/) > [Hang onto your sense of humor. I picture my obituary : The sexiest man alive is now dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-harmon/hang-onto-your-sense-of-humor-i-picture-my-obituary-the-sexiest-man/) [Mark Harmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-harmon/) > [What really holds their marriage together are mutual respect of an awesome depth, a shared sense of humor, faith that they were brought together…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/what-really-holds-their-marriage-together-are-mutual-respect-of-an/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [“I almost congratulate myself that I can at least laugh at my own foibles and enjoy the joke, just as I cannot help, cynically…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-e-baker/i-almost-congratulate-myself-that-i-can-at-least-laugh-at-my-own/) [Wallace E. Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-e-baker/) > [I love being my silly ole self! Lifes a lot better when you have a good sense of humor and you smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-love-being-my-silly-ole-self-lifes-a-lot-better-when-you-have-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In my opinion, sexiness comes down to three things: chemistry, sense of humor, and treatment of waitstaff at restaurants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhoda-janzen/in-my-opinion-sexiness-comes-down-to-three-things-chemistry-sense-of/) [Rhoda Janzen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhoda-janzen/) ## More by Horace Walpole > [ René of Anjou \[(1409-80)\] painted a picture of his mistress's corpse as he found it eaten by worms on having it \[her tomb\] openedon… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-walpole/ren-of-anjou-1409-80-painted-a-picture-of-his-mistress-s-corpse-as-he/) [Horace Walpole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-walpole/) > [Our supreme governors, the mob.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-walpole/our-supreme-governors-the-mob/) [Horace Walpole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-walpole/) > [A poet who makes use of a worse word instead of a better, because the former fits the rhyme or the measure, though it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-walpole/a-poet-who-makes-use-of-a-worse-word-instead-of-a-better-because-the/) [Horace Walpole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-walpole/) > [Foolish writers and readers are created for each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-walpole/foolish-writers-and-readers-are-created-for-each-other/) [Horace Walpole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-walpole/) > [I do not dislike the French from the vulgar antipathy between neighboring nations, but for their insolent and unfounded air of superiority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-walpole/i-do-not-dislike-the-french-from-the-vulgar-antipathy-between/) [Horace Walpole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-walpole/) > [Life is a farce, and should not end with a mourning scene.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-walpole/life-is-a-farce-and-should-not-end-with-a-mourning-scene/) [Horace Walpole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-walpole/) > [Lord Bath used to say of women, who are apt to say that they will follow their own judgment, that they could not follow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-walpole/lord-bath-used-to-say-of-women-who-are-apt-to-say-that-they-will/) [Horace Walpole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-walpole/) > [An ancient prophecy ... pronounced, That the castle and lordship of Otranto should pass from the present family, whenever the real owner should be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-walpole/an-ancient-prophecy-pronounced-that-the-castle-and-lordship-of/) [Horace Walpole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-walpole/) > [Plot, rules, nor even poetry, are not half so great beauties in tragedy or comedy as a just imitation of nature, of character, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-walpole/plot-rules-nor-even-poetry-are-not-half-so-great-beauties-in-tragedy/) [Horace Walpole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-walpole/) > [“But alas! my Lord, what is blood! what is nobility! We are all reptiles, miserable, sinful creatures. It is piety alone that can distinguish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-walpole/but-alas-my-lord-what-is-blood-what-is-nobility-we-are-all-reptiles/) [Horace Walpole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-walpole/) > [I do not admire politicians; but when they are excellent in their way, one cannot help allowing them their due.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-walpole/i-do-not-admire-politicians-but-when-they-are-excellent-in-their-way/) [Horace Walpole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-walpole/) > [Alexander at the head of the world never tasted the true pleasure that boys of his own age have enjoyed at the head of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-walpole/alexander-at-the-head-of-the-world-never-tasted-the-true-pleasure/) [Horace Walpole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-walpole/) > [The whole secret of life is to be interested in one thing profoundly and in a thousand things well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-walpole/the-whole-secret-of-life-is-to-be-interested-in-one-thing-profoundly/) [Horace Walpole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-walpole/) > [The best philosophy is to do one's duties, take the world as it comes, submit respectfully to one's lot; bless the goodness that has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-walpole/the-best-philosophy-is-to-do-one-s-duties-take-the-world-as-it-comes/) [Horace Walpole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-walpole/) > [Oh that I were seated as high as my ambition, I'd place my naked foot on the necks of monarchs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-walpole/oh-that-i-were-seated-as-high-as-my-ambition-i-d-place-my-naked-foot/) [Horace Walpole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-walpole/) [Explore all 132 Horace Walpole quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-walpole/) ## More Humor 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/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [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/) > [In my opinion, sexiness comes down to three things: chemistry, sense of humor, and treatment of waitstaff at restaurants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhoda-janzen/in-my-opinion-sexiness-comes-down-to-three-things-chemistry-sense-of/) [Rhoda Janzen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhoda-janzen/) > [“...I haven't guessed where your shirt is from yet Bane, but I don't think it'll matter once it's underwater!' Tristan looked at Bane questioningly.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-k-munt/i-haven-t-guessed-where-your-shirt-is-from-yet-bane-but-i-don-t-think/) [S.K. 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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/) > [ “\[S\]ometimes, when you are a food person, the possible irrelevance of what you are doing doesn’t cross your mind until it’s too late. (Once,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/s-ometimes-when-you-are-a-food-person-the-possible-irrelevance-of/) [Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/) > [If you were to send a werewolf to the moon, would he be a werewolf permanently?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-schaal/if-you-were-to-send-a-werewolf-to-the-moon-would-he-be-a-werewolf/) [Kristen Schaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-schaal/) > [“I only have two words to say More or Less”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timbur/i-only-have-two-words-to-say-more-or-less/) [TimBur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timbur/) > [“ “Do Southerners laugh at different things than Northerners do? 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Lifes a lot better when you have a good sense of humor and you smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-love-being-my-silly-ole-self-lifes-a-lot-better-when-you-have-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“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/) [Browse all 33,155 Humor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Imagination was given to man to compensate him for what he isn't. 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