--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Every time is a time for comedy in a…" description: "\"Every time is a time for comedy in a world of tension that would languish without it. But I cannot confine myself to lightness in a period of human lif..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9b/james-thurber-1534_adages_every-time-is-a-time-for-comedy-in-a-wor_559170.png" --- # Every time is a time for comedy in a world of tension that… ![“Every time is a time for comedy in a world of tension that would languish without it. But I cannot confine myself to lightness in a period of human life that demands light. We all know that, as the old adage has it, "It is later than you think." But I also say occasionally: "It is lighter than you…” quote by James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9b/james-thurber-1534_adages_every-time-is-a-time-for-comedy-in-a-wor_559170.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9b/james-thurber-1534_adages_every-time-is-a-time-for-comedy-in-a-wor_559170.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9b/james-thurber-1534_adages_every-time-is-a-time-for-comedy-in-a-wor_559170.png) > “Every time is a time for comedy in a world of tension that would languish without it. But I cannot confine myself to lightness in a period of human life that demands light. We all know that, as the old adage has it, "It is later than you think." But I also say occasionally: "It is lighter than you think." In this light let's not look back in anger, or forward in fear, but around in awareness.” [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Comedy provides relief in tense times, yet true lightness must address deep human concerns, balancing humor with awareness. **In simple terms:** Humor eases tension but must also confront serious issues. Key Takeaway Use humor wisely, stay aware. Themes humor awareness balance humanity Mood reflective thoughtful balanced Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - stressful work environments - political discourse - personal crises - creative writing Key Concepts existential insight social commentary Questions to Reflect On - How can comedy respect seriousness? - When does humor become avoidance? A Different Perspective Humor can trivialize serious matters if overused. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adages/) [Awareness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awareness/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Demand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/demand/) [Human life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-life/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light/) [Lightness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lightness/) [Tension](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tension/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [Be happy whenever you can manage it. Enjoy yourself. It's lighter than you think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cage/be-happy-whenever-you-can-manage-it-enjoy-yourself-it-s-lighter-than/) [John Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cage/) > [Think light! Try to impart a feeling of lightness to the body. Think light. This can be achieved by mentally extending yourself outwards from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-k-s-iyengar/think-light-try-to-impart-a-feeling-of-lightness-to-the-body-think/) [B.K.S. Iyengar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-k-s-iyengar/) > [“The pain you go through in life doesn’t really touch you . . . not the real you. . . . You are so much lighter than you think.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/the-pain-you-go-through-in-life-doesn-t-really-touch-you-not-the-real/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [The heaviest of burdens is simultaneously an image of life's most intense fullfillment. The heavier the burden, the closer our lives come to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/the-heaviest-of-burdens-is-simultaneously-an-image-of-life-s-most/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [“and down = Sit in the heel seat, raise your hands up to the sky, visualize a beautiful sun and think the mantra "Light".…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nils-horn/and-down-sit-in-the-heel-seat-raise-your-hands-up-to-the-sky/) Nils Horn > [“I think there is no light in the world but the world and I think there is light”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-oppen/i-think-there-is-no-light-in-the-world-but-the-world-and-i-think/) [George Oppen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-oppen/) > [“A misstep many make: they mistake darkness for meaning. They think light is easy. They think light will find a way through the crack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-gideon-wife-22/a-misstep-many-make-they-mistake-darkness-for-meaning-they-think/) Melanie Gideon Wife 22 > [The world tells lots of people the light is red. You have to trust yourself and say, 'I think the light is green, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamara-taylor/the-world-tells-lots-of-people-the-light-is-red-you-have-to-trust/) [Tamara Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamara-taylor/) > [“I kept wanting to sit and rest, to curl up in a ball and think of nothing else. No, no, no. The light. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/i-kept-wanting-to-sit-and-rest-to-curl-up-in-a-ball-and-think-of/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [We have to rethink the way we light our cities. We have to think again about light as a default solution. Why are all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rogier-van-der-heide/we-have-to-rethink-the-way-we-light-our-cities-we-have-to-think-again/) [Rogier van der Heide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rogier-van-der-heide/) > [If we are so holy and so perfect and never interact with people that may not go to church or may not be where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-franklin/if-we-are-so-holy-and-so-perfect-and-never-interact-with-people-that/) [Kirk Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-franklin/) > [No one escapes that moment of innocence when the world attacks him and installs within him the spirit of opposites... As long as everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-resnick/no-one-escapes-that-moment-of-innocence-when-the-world-attacks-him/) [Milton Resnick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-resnick/) > [I think of myself as a light comedian.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-lawson/i-think-of-myself-as-a-light-comedian/) [Denis Lawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-lawson/) > [“What if, once upon a time, there were no stars in the sky at all? What if the stars are not what we think?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akiva-goldsman/what-if-once-upon-a-time-there-were-no-stars-in-the-sky-at-all-what/) [Akiva Goldsman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akiva-goldsman/) > [When I am in the darkness, I want to think of it in the light, with you. - James Carstairs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/when-i-am-in-the-darkness-i-want-to-think-of-it-in-the-light-with-you/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) ## More by James Thurber > [ Salvador \[Dali\] was brought up in Spain, a country colored by the legends of Hannibal, El Greco, and Cervantes. I was brought up in… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/salvador-dali-was-brought-up-in-spain-a-country-colored-by-the/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [“Her own mother lived the latter years of her life in the horrible suspicion that electricity was dripping invisibly all over the house.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/her-own-mother-lived-the-latter-years-of-her-life-in-the-horrible/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [“Against the may, the could be, and the should, folly 'tis to balance doubt or hope.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/against-the-may-the-could-be-and-the-should-folly-tis-to-balance/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [Love is the strange bewilderment that overtakes one person on account of another person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/love-is-the-strange-bewilderment-that-overtakes-one-person-on-account/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [“ There was an old coddle so molly, He talked in a glot that was poly, His gaws were so gew That his laps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/there-was-an-old-coddle-so-molly-he-talked-in-a-glot-that-was-poly/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [“you might as well fall on your face as lean over too far backwards”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/you-might-as-well-fall-on-your-face-as-lean-over-too-far-backwards/) [james thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [I myself have known some profoundly thoughtful dogs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/i-myself-have-known-some-profoundly-thoughtful-dogs/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [He knows all about art, but he doesn't know what he likes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/he-knows-all-about-art-but-he-doesn-t-know-what-he-likes/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [All men should strive to learn before they die, what they are running from, and to, and why.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/all-men-should-strive-to-learn-before-they-die-what-they-are-running/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [Quick, name some towns in New Jersey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/quick-name-some-towns-in-new-jersey/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [Looks can be deceiving; it's eating that's believing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/looks-can-be-deceiving-it-s-eating-that-s-believing/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [“I don’t understand,” said the scientist, “why you lemmings all rush down to the sea and drown yourselves.” “How curious,” said the lemming. “The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/i-don-t-understand-said-the-scientist-why-you-lemmings-all-rush-down/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [Humor does not include sarcasm, invalid irony, sardonicism, innuendo, or any other form of cruelty. When these things are raised to a high point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/humor-does-not-include-sarcasm-invalid-irony-sardonicism-innuendo-or/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [Where most of us end up there is no knowing, but the hellbent get where they are going.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/where-most-of-us-end-up-there-is-no-knowing-but-the-hellbent-get/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [Comedy has to be done en clair. You can't blunt the edge of wit or the point of satire with obscurity. Try to imagine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/comedy-has-to-be-done-en-clair-you-can-t-blunt-the-edge-of-wit-or-the/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) [Explore all 229 James Thurber quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) ## More Adages quotes > [It’s not just the adage ‘write what you know,’ it’s about gathering up all of the knowledge and experience you’ve collected up to now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-kay/it-s-not-just-the-adage-write-what-you-know-it-s-about-gathering-up/) [Sarah Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-kay/) > [“For their never-ending endeavours to obtain or retain wealth, countries desperately need companies, because they—unlike most human beings—have the means of production, and human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/for-their-never-ending-endeavours-to-obtain-or-retain-wealth/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [Wise is the tongue, wet of perfect thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/black-francis/wise-is-the-tongue-wet-of-perfect-thought/) [Black Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/black-francis/) > [Another lesson about a naive fool who came to Babylon, and found out that the pie don't taste so sweet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-yoakam/another-lesson-about-a-naive-fool-who-came-to-babylon-and-found-out/) [Dwight Yoakam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-yoakam/) > [“An expensive coffin does not decrease the deceased’s chances of going to hell.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/an-expensive-coffin-does-not-decrease-the-deceased-s-chances-of-going/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [“A premature death does not only rob one of the countless instances where one would have experienced pleasure, it also saves one from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/a-premature-death-does-not-only-rob-one-of-the-countless-instances/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [If you need somebody you can trust, trust yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/if-you-need-somebody-you-can-trust-trust-yourself/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [Something happens when your subconscious goes to work... That's why 'Sleep on it' is an adage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-voight/something-happens-when-your-subconscious-goes-to-work-that-s-why/) [Jon Voight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-voight/) > [There's an adage that a lot of coaches have, that I completely disagree with, is if you make the Olympic team too early you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-coughlin/there-s-an-adage-that-a-lot-of-coaches-have-that-i-completely/) [Natalie Coughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-coughlin/) > [An ancient adage warns, "Never go to sea with two chronometers; take one or three."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-brooks/an-ancient-adage-warns-never-go-to-sea-with-two-chronometers-take-one/) [Fred Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-brooks/) > [Don't judge the picture by the frame, every man is not the same](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/don-t-judge-the-picture-by-the-frame-every-man-is-not-the-same/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) > [Failure isn't failure if a lesson from it's learned. I guess love would not be love without a risk of being burned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garth-brooks/failure-isn-t-failure-if-a-lesson-from-it-s-learned-i-guess-love/) [Garth Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garth-brooks/) > [When you have everything, you have everything to lose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-harper/when-you-have-everything-you-have-everything-to-lose/) [Ben Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-harper/) > [As the old African adage says, 'everybody skin to me ain't kin to me'. So you can't exclusively make that the criteria of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-d-jakes/as-the-old-african-adage-says-everybody-skin-to-me-ain-t-kin-to-me-so/) [T. D. Jakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-d-jakes/) > [Fool you once, you are forgiven. Fool you twice, you're just a fool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-chapin-carpenter/fool-you-once-you-are-forgiven-fool-you-twice-you-re-just-a-fool/) [Mary Chapin Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-chapin-carpenter/) [Browse all 340 Adages quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adages/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Every time is a time for comedy in a world of tension that would languish without it. But I cannot confine myself to lightness in a period of human life that demands light. 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