--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A maid that laughs is half taken." description: "\"A maid that laughs is half taken.\" — John Ray" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed6/john-ray-7515_half_a-maid-that-laughs-is-half-taken-2432264_2432264.png" --- # A maid that laughs is half taken. ![“A maid that laughs is half taken.” quote by John Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed6/john-ray-7515_half_a-maid-that-laughs-is-half-taken-2432264_2432264.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed6/john-ray-7515_half_a-maid-that-laughs-is-half-taken-2432264_2432264.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed6/john-ray-7515_half_a-maid-that-laughs-is-half-taken-2432264_2432264.png) > “A maid that laughs is half taken.” [John Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ray/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A person who shows joy is less likely to be exploited or deceived. **In simple terms:** Laughter reduces vulnerability. Key Takeaway Use humor to protect yourself. Themes trust humor vulnerability Mood cautious reflective Type proverb advice When to use this quote - negotiations - social gatherings - conflict resolution Key Concepts social dynamics psychology Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance humor with seriousness? - When might laughter backfire? A Different Perspective Humor can be misinterpreted and may not always deter exploitation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Half](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/half/) [Half Taken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/half-taken-296414/) [Laughing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laughing/) [Laughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laughs/) [Laughs Half](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laughs-half-296413/) [Maid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maid/) [Maid Laughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maid-laughs-296412/) [Maids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maids/) [Taken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taken/) ## Related quotes > [Half the world cries Half the world laughs Half the world tries To be the other half](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-peart/half-the-world-cries-half-the-world-laughs-half-the-world-tries-to-be/) [Neil Peart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-peart/) > [It is the same in love as in war; a fortress that parleys is half taken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-the-same-in-love-as-in-war-a-fortress-that-parleys-is-half-taken/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In love, as in war, a fortress that parleys is half taken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-of-valois/in-love-as-in-war-a-fortress-that-parleys-is-half-taken/) [Margaret Of Valois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-of-valois/) > [Hey, when I said work fast, I didn't mean your friend, I meant the maid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/hey-when-i-said-work-fast-i-didn-t-mean-your-friend-i-meant-the-maid/) [Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/) > [Faint heart never won fair maid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/faint-heart-never-won-fair-maid/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [And keep you in the rear of your affection, Out of the shot and danger of desire, The chariest maid is prodigal enough If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/and-keep-you-in-the-rear-of-your-affection-out-of-the-shot-and-danger/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“A maid’s yard, house, wardrobe, fridge, etc. sometimes also serve as her master’s dustbin or dumpsite.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/a-maid-s-yard-house-wardrobe-fridge-etc-sometimes-also-serve-as-her/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [There is one type of ideal woman very seldom described in poetry - the old maid, the woman whom sorrow or misfortune prevents from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lafcadio-hearn/there-is-one-type-of-ideal-woman-very-seldom-described-in-poetry-the/) [Lafcadio Hearn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lafcadio-hearn/) > [I love to cook and really enjoy cleaning my house. People always tease me about getting a maid. My girlfriend tells me that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-weber/i-love-to-cook-and-really-enjoy-cleaning-my-house-people-always-tease/) [Amy Weber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-weber/) > [you saw her fair, none else being by, Herself pois'd with herself in either eye; But in that crystal scales let there be weigh'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/you-saw-her-fair-none-else-being-by-herself-pois-d-with-herself-in/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [When one of my Japanese teacups is broken, I imagine that the real cause was not the careless hand of a maid but the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-pessoa/when-one-of-my-japanese-teacups-is-broken-i-imagine-that-the-real/) [Fernando Pessoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-pessoa/) > [It's worth living abroad to study up on genteel and delicate manners. The maid smiles continuously; she smiles like a duchess on a stage,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/it-s-worth-living-abroad-to-study-up-on-genteel-and-delicate-manners/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) > [My nan was a nursery maid. Most people weren't in big houses. They were maids of all work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-waters/my-nan-was-a-nursery-maid-most-people-weren-t-in-big-houses-they-were/) [Sarah Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-waters/) > [The only game I like to play is "Old Maid", providing she's not too old](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/the-only-game-i-like-to-play-is-old-maid-providing-she-s-not-too-old/) [Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/) > [ Shigure Sohma: \[got Tohru a maid costume for White Day\] I can't wait to for her to call me master while wearing this. Hatsuharu… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natsuki-takaya/shigure-sohma-got-tohru-a-maid-costume-for-white-day-i-can-t-wait-to/) [Natsuki Takaya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natsuki-takaya/) ## More by John Ray > [He that preaches war is the devil's chaplain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ray/he-that-preaches-war-is-the-devil-s-chaplain/) [John Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ray/) > [Children pick up words as pigeons peas And utter them again as God shall please.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ray/children-pick-up-words-as-pigeons-peas-and-utter-them-again-as-god/) [John Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ray/) > [Guilt is always jealous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ray/guilt-is-always-jealous/) [John Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ray/) > [He who pays the piper can call the tunes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ray/he-who-pays-the-piper-can-call-the-tunes/) [John Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ray/) > [The heart is the first part that quickens, and the last that dies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ray/the-heart-is-the-first-part-that-quickens-and-the-last-that-dies/) [John Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ray/) > [One means very effectual for the preservation of health is a quiet and cheerful mind, not afflicted with violent passions or distracted with immoderate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ray/one-means-very-effectual-for-the-preservation-of-health-is-a-quiet/) [John Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ray/) > [Love thy neighbor, but pull not down thy hedge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ray/love-thy-neighbor-but-pull-not-down-thy-hedge/) [John Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ray/) > [They love too much that die for love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ray/they-love-too-much-that-die-for-love/) [John Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ray/) > [“Love you Neighbor; yet don't pull down your Hedge.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ray/love-you-neighbor-yet-don-t-pull-down-your-hedge/) [John Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ray/) > [Fish must swim thrice--once is the water, a second time in the sauce, and a third time in wine in the stomach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ray/fish-must-swim-thrice-once-is-the-water-a-second-time-in-the-sauce/) [John Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ray/) > [To go like a cat upon a hot bakestone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ray/to-go-like-a-cat-upon-a-hot-bakestone/) [John Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ray/) > [Man does what he can, and God what he will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ray/man-does-what-he-can-and-god-what-he-will/) [John Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ray/) > [Who depends upon another man's table often dines late.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ray/who-depends-upon-another-man-s-table-often-dines-late/) [John Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ray/) > [Every man praises his own wares.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ray/every-man-praises-his-own-wares/) [John Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ray/) > [Where love fails we espy all faults.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ray/where-love-fails-we-espy-all-faults/) [John Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ray/) [Explore all 90 John Ray quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ray/) ## More Half quotes > [When you listen to someone improvise, the notes that are played are only half the story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-laws/when-you-listen-to-someone-improvise-the-notes-that-are-played-are/) [Hubert Laws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-laws/) > [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/) > [Half the misery of human life might be extinguished if men would alleviate the general curse they lie under by mutual offices of compassion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/half-the-misery-of-human-life-might-be-extinguished-if-men-would/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [I genuinely did not expect more than half our nation to choose to walk away from our long-term allies into the arms of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-reade/i-genuinely-did-not-expect-more-than-half-our-nation-to-choose-to/) [Brian Reade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-reade/) > [Being blonde, for me, means never having to say: 'I'll have the honey-striped half-head of highlights for £200,' to a bored colourist in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-johnson/being-blonde-for-me-means-never-having-to-say-i-ll-have-the-honey/) [Rachel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-johnson/) > [In the movie, the stars above the ship bear no correspondence to any constellations in a real sky. Worse yet, while the heroine bobs...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/in-the-movie-the-stars-above-the-ship-bear-no-correspondence-to-any/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [For the glory born of Goodness Never dies, And its flag is not half-masted In the skies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-harte/for-the-glory-born-of-goodness-never-dies-and-its-flag-is-not-half/) [Bret Harte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-harte/) > [But the effect of her being on those around her was incalculably diffusive: for the growing good of the world is partly dependent on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/but-the-effect-of-her-being-on-those-around-her-was-incalculably/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [I with borrow'd silver shine, What you see is none of mine. First I show you but a quarter, Like the bow that guards…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/i-with-borrow-d-silver-shine-what-you-see-is-none-of-mine-first-i/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [If you want to change something by Tuesday, theater is no good. Journalism is what does that. But, if you want to just alter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/if-you-want-to-change-something-by-tuesday-theater-is-no-good/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [I spend a lot of time loathing the sentences that I put down on the page. Once I'm past that phase, it doesn't really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-link/i-spend-a-lot-of-time-loathing-the-sentences-that-i-put-down-on-the/) [Kelly Link](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-link/) > [I usually write from the rhythm section...If a drummer got a funky beat on some things - like a half-shuffle or a shuffle or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/i-usually-write-from-the-rhythm-section-if-a-drummer-got-a-funky-beat/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [The wisdom of our actions in the first three years of peace will determine the course of world history for half a century.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-wallace/the-wisdom-of-our-actions-in-the-first-three-years-of-peace-will/) [Henry A. Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-wallace/) > [The thing about living alone is that it gives you a lot of time to think. You don't necessarily reach any conclusions, because wisdom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-tropper/the-thing-about-living-alone-is-that-it-gives-you-a-lot-of-time-to/) [Jonathan Tropper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-tropper/) > [In a couple of decades you have half of the wells that are drilled right now, and you're talking about numbers in the millions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-fox/in-a-couple-of-decades-you-have-half-of-the-wells-that-are-drilled/) [Josh Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-fox/) [Browse all 8,570 Half quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/half/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A maid that laughs is half taken.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Ray" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ray/a-maid-that-laughs-is-half-taken/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Half" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ray/a-maid-that-laughs-is-half-taken/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed6/john-ray-7515_half_a-maid-that-laughs-is-half-taken-2432264_2432264.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed6/john-ray-7515_half_a-maid-that-laughs-is-half-taken-2432264_2432264.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed6/john-ray-7515_half_a-maid-that-laughs-is-half-taken-2432264_2432264.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A maid that laughs is half taken.” — John Ray", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "John Ray", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ray/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A maid that laughs is half...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ray/a-maid-that-laughs-is-half-taken/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ray/a-maid-that-laughs-is-half-taken/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```