--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We are a nation that has always gone in…" description: "\"We are a nation that has always gone in for the loud laugh, the wow, the yak, the belly laugh, and the dozen other labels for the roll- em-in-the-aisle..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d4/james-thurber-1534_actors_we-are-a-nation-that-has-always-gone-in_1511382.png" --- # We are a nation that has always gone in for the loud… ![“We are a nation that has always gone in for the loud laugh, the wow, the yak, the belly laugh, and the dozen other labels for the roll- em-in-the-aisles gagerissimo. This is the kind of laugh that delights actors, directors, and producers, but dismays writers of comedy because it is the laugh that…” quote by James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d4/james-thurber-1534_actors_we-are-a-nation-that-has-always-gone-in_1511382.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d4/james-thurber-1534_actors_we-are-a-nation-that-has-always-gone-in_1511382.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d4/james-thurber-1534_actors_we-are-a-nation-that-has-always-gone-in_1511382.png) > “We are a nation that has always gone in for the loud laugh, the wow, the yak, the belly laugh, and the dozen other labels for the roll- em-in-the-aisles gagerissimo. This is the kind of laugh that delights actors, directors, and producers, but dismays writers of comedy because it is the laugh that often dies in the lobby. The appreciative smile, the chuckle, the soundless mirth, so important to the success of comedy, cannot be understood unless one sits among the audience and feels the warmth created by the quality of laughter that the audience takes home with it.” [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. The most authentic laughter is subtle and shared, not the loud, performative kind that fades quickly. **In simple terms:** Quiet, genuine laughter matters. Key Takeaway Value subtle humor. Themes authenticity audience comedy communication Mood reflective warm Type analytical inspirational When to use this quote - Stand‑up shows - film screenings - theater rehearsals Key Concepts Sociology performance studies Questions to Reflect On - What moments have you felt genuine laughter? - How can creators foster authentic audience response? A Different Perspective Loud jokes can alienate thoughtful audiences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Appreciative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appreciative/) [Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) [Belly laughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belly-laughs/) [Chuckles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chuckles/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Delight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delight/) [Directors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directors/) [Dismay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dismay/) [Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Labels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/labels/) [Laughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laughter/) [Mirth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mirth/) [Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations/) [Quality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quality/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [Warmth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/warmth/) [Yaks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yaks/) ## Related quotes > [The appreciative smile, the chuckle, the soundless mirth, so important to the success of comedy, cannot be understood unless one sits among the audience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/the-appreciative-smile-the-chuckle-the-soundless-mirth-so-important/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [I've always been a fan of comedy, and I understood from a young age that what makes most comedy work is the immediacy of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-keck/i-ve-always-been-a-fan-of-comedy-and-i-understood-from-a-young-age/) [Kevin Keck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-keck/) > [Only in the theatre was it possible to see the performers and to be warmed by their personal charm, to respond to their efforts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robertson-davies/only-in-the-theatre-was-it-possible-to-see-the-performers-and-to-be/) [Robertson Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robertson-davies/) > [I'm glad there's been so much laughter in the audience tonight." "But they're not laughing with you. They're laughing at you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-wogan/i-m-glad-there-s-been-so-much-laughter-in-the-audience-tonight-but/) [Terry Wogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-wogan/) > [If the laughter of the audience was malicious we wouldn't show it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-norden/if-the-laughter-of-the-audience-was-malicious-we-wouldn-t-show-it/) [Denis Norden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-norden/) > [The first condition for comedy is that if you laugh at your own jokes, others won't laugh. You have to say something funny very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saswata-chatterjee/the-first-condition-for-comedy-is-that-if-you-laugh-at-your-own-jokes/) [Saswata Chatterjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saswata-chatterjee/) > [I can find the worst thing in the world funny. My humour is dark. If I'm talking about the worst situations in my life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/slowthai/i-can-find-the-worst-thing-in-the-world-funny-my-humour-is-dark-if-i/) [Slowthai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/slowthai/) > [ The ultimate objective \[of comedy\] is to get a laugh, so if you can get a laugh off the fact that you did not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-regan/the-ultimate-objective-of-comedy-is-to-get-a-laugh-so-if-you-can-get/) [Brian Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-regan/) > [Not living in fear is a great gift, because certainly these days we do it so much. And do you know what I like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/not-living-in-fear-is-a-great-gift-because-certainly-these-days-we-do/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [I love comedy because I can laugh at myself. I don't take myself too seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-alan-basche/i-love-comedy-because-i-can-laugh-at-myself-i-don-t-take-myself-too/) [David Alan Basche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-alan-basche/) > [“Do you know what I like about comedy? You can’t laugh and be afraid at the same time—of anything. If you're laughing, I defy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/do-you-know-what-i-like-about-comedy-you-can-t-laugh-and-be-afraid-at/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [I love doing comedy - I get a laugh out of it, it's not so serious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carmen-electra/i-love-doing-comedy-i-get-a-laugh-out-of-it-it-s-not-so-serious/) [Carmen Electra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carmen-electra/) > [I love comedy because I can laugh at myself. I dont take myself too seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-alan-basche/i-love-comedy-because-i-can-laugh-at-myself-i-dont-take-myself-too/) [David Alan Basche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-alan-basche/) > [In fact, I get angry when people laugh at me. I go to the airport and the ground hostess starts laughing at me when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-lever/in-fact-i-get-angry-when-people-laugh-at-me-i-go-to-the-airport-and/) [Johnny Lever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-lever/) > [Mild autism can give you a genius like Einstein. If you have severe autism, you could remain nonverbal. You don't want people to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/mild-autism-can-give-you-a-genius-like-einstein-if-you-have-severe/) [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) ## 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 Actors quotes > [Women still, when they have breast cancer, go to work; they still lead their lives. They have to. I just did what I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-potter/women-still-when-they-have-breast-cancer-go-to-work-they-still-lead/) [Monica Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-potter/) > [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [A lesser complaint: hair extensions. There are moments on 'All My Children' when half the women actors, young and old, seem to be afflicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/a-lesser-complaint-hair-extensions-there-are-moments-on-all-my/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [I'm very used to working with first time actors - you can just look back at 'E.T.' with Drew Barrymore, and Christian Bale from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-m-very-used-to-working-with-first-time-actors-you-can-just-look/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [Forget the credit, they (male actors) take all the money as well. We don't get paid even one-third of what male actors get. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kangana-ranaut/forget-the-credit-they-male-actors-take-all-the-money-as-well-we-don/) [Kangana Ranaut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kangana-ranaut/) > [I love film people and actors and I am in the right world because I am one of those people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ewan-mcgregor/i-love-film-people-and-actors-and-i-am-in-the-right-world-because-i/) [Ewan McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ewan-mcgregor/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) > [When we watch a film as actors, you have to understand that we always see much more than what's on screen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kunal-khemu/when-we-watch-a-film-as-actors-you-have-to-understand-that-we-always/) [Kunal Khemu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kunal-khemu/) > [As actors, you become an expert at starting over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupita-nyong-o/as-actors-you-become-an-expert-at-starting-over/) [Lupita Nyong'o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lupita-nyong-o/) > [The whole concept of stage fright is fascinating. Actors get stage fright, but they wouldn't be on the stage in the first place if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/the-whole-concept-of-stage-fright-is-fascinating-actors-get-stage/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [No actor wants to choose - they just want all of the options available to them all the time; we tend to be pretty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-jacobs/no-actor-wants-to-choose-they-just-want-all-of-the-options-available/) [Gillian Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-jacobs/) > [A rapper is about being completely true to yourself. Being an actor is about changing who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-smith/a-rapper-is-about-being-completely-true-to-yourself-being-an-actor-is/) [Will Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-smith/) > [I've been a professional actor for almost 40 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-perlman/i-ve-been-a-professional-actor-for-almost-40-years/) [Ron Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-perlman/) > [American actors are coy. We all have pricks and cunts, or are you different from the rest of us?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-greenaway/american-actors-are-coy-we-all-have-pricks-and-cunts-or-are-you/) [Peter Greenaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-greenaway/) [Browse all 11,394 Actors quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We are a nation that has always gone in for the loud laugh, the wow, the yak, the belly laugh, and the dozen other labels for the roll- em-in-the-aisles gagerissimo. This is the kind of laugh that delights actors, directors, and producers, but dismays writers of comedy because it is the laugh that often dies in the lobby. 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