--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Laugh if you will... They laughed at all…" description: "\"“Laugh if you will... They laughed at all great ideas and inventions. They laughed at nitrous oxide.”\" — John Sladek" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ce/john-sladek-50173_comedy_laugh-if-you-will-they-laughed-at-all-gr_2287559.jpg" --- # Laugh if you will... They laughed at all great ideas and… ![“Laugh if you will... They laughed at all great ideas and inventions. They laughed at nitrous oxide.” quote by John Sladek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ce/john-sladek-50173_comedy_laugh-if-you-will-they-laughed-at-all-gr_2287559.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ce/john-sladek-50173_comedy_laugh-if-you-will-they-laughed-at-all-gr_2287559.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ce/john-sladek-50173_comedy_laugh-if-you-will-they-laughed-at-all-gr_2287559.jpg) > ““Laugh if you will... They laughed at all great ideas and inventions. They laughed at nitrous oxide.”” [John Sladek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sladek/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Great ideas are often mocked before acceptance; ridicule can precede breakthrough. **In simple terms:** Ideas are mocked first. Key Takeaway Expect initial ridicule. Themes innovation skepticism history Mood wry optimistic Type historical inspirational When to use this quote - scientific discovery - entrepreneurship - artistic invention Key Concepts social conformity creative risk Questions to Reflect On - Why do people resist new ideas? - How to stay resilient against ridicule? A Different Perspective Mockery can discourage innovators. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Great ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-ideas/) [Innovation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/innovation/) [Laugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laugh/) ## Related quotes > [Very few have the talent to make others laugh without being laughed at.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-s-narayana/very-few-have-the-talent-to-make-others-laugh-without-being-laughed-at/) [M. S. Narayana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-s-narayana/) > [“It was good to laugh. I wanted to laugh and laugh and laugh until I laughed myself into becoming someone else.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-alire-s-enz/it-was-good-to-laugh-i-wanted-to-laugh-and-laugh-and-laugh-until-i/) [Benjamin Alire Sáenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-alire-s-enz/) > [we can't be creative if we refuse to be confused. 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