--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Ponder, your comedies are woeful chaff…" description: "\"Ponder, your comedies are woeful chaff: Write tragedies, when you would make us laugh.\" — Horace Walpole" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ab/horace-walpole-3357_comedy_ponder-your-comedies-are-woeful-chaff-wr_1840082.jpg" --- # Ponder, your comedies are woeful chaff: Write tragedies… ![“Ponder, your comedies are woeful chaff: Write tragedies, when you would make us laugh.” quote by Horace Walpole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ab/horace-walpole-3357_comedy_ponder-your-comedies-are-woeful-chaff-wr_1840082.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ab/horace-walpole-3357_comedy_ponder-your-comedies-are-woeful-chaff-wr_1840082.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ab/horace-walpole-3357_comedy_ponder-your-comedies-are-woeful-chaff-wr_1840082.jpg) > “Ponder, your comedies are woeful chaff: Write tragedies, when you would make us laugh.” [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. Advocates for tragedy over comedy, suggesting deeper truth lies in sorrowful art. **In simple terms:** Write tragedies, not comedies, for deeper impact. Key Takeaway Embrace serious expression for truth. Themes art truth emotion Mood thoughtful serious Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - theatre - writing workshops - personal catharsis Key Concepts literature philosophy creative expression Questions to Reflect On - What truths can sorrow reveal that humor cannot? - When is humor more appropriate? A Different Perspective Tragedy can alienate audiences; balance may be needed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Comedies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedies/) [Comedies Woeful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedies-woeful-2342921/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Laughing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laughing/) [Make Laugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-laugh/) [Ponder Comedies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ponder-comedies-2342922/) [Pondering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pondering/) [Tragedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tragedy/) [Write Tragedies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write-tragedies-1165939/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I write tragedies and things when I'm alone. Chekhovian dramas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-barratt/i-write-tragedies-and-things-when-i-m-alone-chekhovian-dramas/) [Julian Barratt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-barratt/) > [“He showed, in a few words, that it is not sufficient to throw together a few incidents that are to be met with in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/he-showed-in-a-few-words-that-it-is-not-sufficient-to-throw-together/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [My favorite kinds of comedies are ones that hopefully make you laugh a lot, but ultimately make you care about something in the end,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-h-moore/my-favorite-kinds-of-comedies-are-ones-that-hopefully-make-you-laugh/) [Jason H. 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The work is so immense that you don't have time to sit and ponder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viswanathan-anand/each-match-i-approach-like-a-new-one-the-work-is-so-immense-that-you/) [Viswanathan Anand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viswanathan-anand/) > [To live is to experience things, not sit around pondering the meaning of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/to-live-is-to-experience-things-not-sit-around-pondering-the-meaning/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [One can hardly appreciate how academia has perverted its highest tasks and "ideals" without pondering long and hard the implications of Jacques Barzun's House…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/one-can-hardly-appreciate-how-academia-has-perverted-its-highest/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [We live on a hunk of rock and metal that circles a humdrum star that is one of 400 billion other stars that make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/we-live-on-a-hunk-of-rock-and-metal-that-circles-a-humdrum-star-that/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [If you ponder the scriptures and begin to do what you covenanted with God to do, I can promise you that you will feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-b-eyring/if-you-ponder-the-scriptures-and-begin-to-do-what-you-covenanted-with/) [Henry B. Eyring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-b-eyring/) ## 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 Comedies quotes > [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/) > [I like 'The Usual Suspects'. Great film. I also like 'Scarface', films like that. Lots of gangster films. I really like watching all kinds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barkhad-abdi/i-like-the-usual-suspects-great-film-i-also-like-scarface-films-like/) [Barkhad Abdi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barkhad-abdi/) > [When I first did theatre, I was always doing comedies; it was always my first love. But it wasn't what I was picked for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-wilde/when-i-first-did-theatre-i-was-always-doing-comedies-it-was-always-my/) [Olivia Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-wilde/) > [I love comedy; I'm super passionate about it, and thank God it's super in right now to have female empowered comedies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dreama-walker/i-love-comedy-i-m-super-passionate-about-it-and-thank-god-it-s-super/) [Dreama Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dreama-walker/) > [One of my favorite comedies is 'Shaun of the Dead.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kumail-nanjiani/one-of-my-favorite-comedies-is-shaun-of-the-dead/) [Kumail Nanjiani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kumail-nanjiani/) > [I'd played a lot of best friends, and/or bad guys, which seems to be my lot in life. In romantic comedies there's always a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-corddry/i-d-played-a-lot-of-best-friends-and-or-bad-guys-which-seems-to-be-my/) [Rob Corddry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-corddry/) > [In comedy, if you're going to commission something commission two series, don't commission one because so many comedies are finding their feet and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-whitehouse/in-comedy-if-you-re-going-to-commission-something-commission-two/) [Paul Whitehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-whitehouse/) > [ Comedy is lively, comedy is joy, and that's what keeps us \[people\] going, we've got to look forward to little, little happiness's. Little, little… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-brooks/comedy-is-lively-comedy-is-joy-and-that-s-what-keeps-us-people-going/) [Mel Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-brooks/) > [I've been watching 'The Cosby Show' and 'Roseanne' a lot right now, and those work so well because they're not, like, jokey comedies; they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbi-jacobson/i-ve-been-watching-the-cosby-show-and-roseanne-a-lot-right-now-and/) [Abbi Jacobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbi-jacobson/) > [If you look at romantic comedies as pieces of commerce, the audience is looking for wish fulfillment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hanks/if-you-look-at-romantic-comedies-as-pieces-of-commerce-the-audience/) [Tom Hanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hanks/) > [It's the contemporary woman that movies don't know what to do with, other than bathe her in a bridal glow in romantic comedies where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-wolcott/it-s-the-contemporary-woman-that-movies-don-t-know-what-to-do-with/) [James Wolcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-wolcott/) > [You know, I became a director out of necessity. 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