--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: They smiled in their pains and laughed to…" description: "\"They smiled in their pains and laughed to scorn those who inflicted torments on them, resigned up their souls with great alacrity, expecting to receive..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec0/josephus-35447_alacrity_they-smiled-in-their-pains-and-laughed-t_2769708.jpg" --- # They smiled in their pains and laughed to scorn those who… ![“They smiled in their pains and laughed to scorn those who inflicted torments on them, resigned up their souls with great alacrity, expecting to receive them again.” quote by Josephus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec0/josephus-35447_alacrity_they-smiled-in-their-pains-and-laughed-t_2769708.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec0/josephus-35447_alacrity_they-smiled-in-their-pains-and-laughed-t_2769708.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec0/josephus-35447_alacrity_they-smiled-in-their-pains-and-laughed-t_2769708.jpg) > “They smiled in their pains and laughed to scorn those who inflicted torments on them, resigned up their souls with great alacrity, expecting to receive them again.” [Josephus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephus/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People endure suffering with humor and resilience, ready to face it again. **In simple terms:** Humor helps endure pain. Key Takeaway Embrace resilience and humor. Themes suffering humor resilience acceptance Mood courageous grim Type historical philosophical When to use this quote - war trauma - personal hardship - community support Key Concepts stoicism psychology Questions to Reflect On - How does laughter aid coping? - When is humor inappropriate? A Different Perspective Humor may mask deeper trauma. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alacrity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alacrity/) [Healing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/healing/) [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Past life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past-life/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) [Torment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/torment/) ## Related quotes > [“The protection of our Constitution, and, moreover, of written law itself, has been laughed to scorn by traitors in black dresses who have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-befumo/the-protection-of-our-constitution-and-moreover-of-written-law-itself/) [Joseph Befumo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-befumo/) > [The mind, conscious of rectitude, laughed to scorn the falsehood of report.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/the-mind-conscious-of-rectitude-laughed-to-scorn-the-falsehood-of/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou shalt drink of thy sister's cup deep and large: thou shalt be laughed to scorn and had in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bible/thus-saith-the-lord-god-thou-shalt-drink-of-thy-sister-s-cup-deep-and/) [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bible/) > [The poems in Helena Mesa’s virtuosic first book, Horse Dance Underwater, run with such speed, verve, and alacrity they leave you breathless, exhilarated, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-collier/the-poems-in-helena-mesa-s-virtuosic-first-book-horse-dance/) Michael Collier > [A beaver does not, as legend would have it, know which direction the tree will fall when he cuts it, but counts on alacrity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-zwinger/a-beaver-does-not-as-legend-would-have-it-know-which-direction-the/) [Ann Zwinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-zwinger/) > [By multiplying the means of gratification, by promoting the introduction and circulation of the precious metals, those darling objects of human avarice and enterprise,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/by-multiplying-the-means-of-gratification-by-promoting-the/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [If a bell failed to ring, if a stove smoked, if a wheel on a machine stuck, you knew at once where to look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/if-a-bell-failed-to-ring-if-a-stove-smoked-if-a-wheel-on-a-machine/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [If, sir, men were all virtuous, I should with great alacrity teach them all to fly. But what would be the security of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/if-sir-men-were-all-virtuous-i-should-with-great-alacrity-teach-them/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [There are, indeed, few merrier spectacles than that of many windmills bickering together in a fresh breeze over a woody country; their halting alacrity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-louis-stevenson/there-are-indeed-few-merrier-spectacles-than-that-of-many-windmills/) [Robert Louis Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-louis-stevenson/) > [Government never furthered any enterprise but by the alacrity with which it got out of its way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/government-never-furthered-any-enterprise-but-by-the-alacrity-with/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Novelty is indeed necessary to preserve eagerness and alacrity; but art and nature have stores inexhaustible by human intellects, and every moment produces something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/novelty-is-indeed-necessary-to-preserve-eagerness-and-alacrity-but/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“When the fuel is dried up in a vehicle, it stops driving automatically. You are a vehicle in the spiritual and the physical world,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/when-the-fuel-is-dried-up-in-a-vehicle-it-stops-driving-automatically/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [It should be done with the same degree of alacrity and nonchalance that you would display in authorizing a highly intelligent trained bear to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-s-greenberg-2/it-should-be-done-with-the-same-degree-of-alacrity-and-nonchalance/) Daniel S Greenberg > [He who thinks with difficulty believes with alacrity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/he-who-thinks-with-difficulty-believes-with-alacrity/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [ ... Don \[Hewitt, 60 Minutes exec producer\] told me, "You have set broadcast journalism back 20 years." Naturally, I was both proud and elated… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-von-hoffman/don-hewitt-60-minutes-exec-producer-told-me-you-have-set-broadcast/) [Nicholas von Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-von-hoffman/) ## More by Josephus > [ At this time there was a wise man who was called Jesus. And his conduct was good, and \[he\] was known to be virtuous.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephus/at-this-time-there-was-a-wise-man-who-was-called-jesus-and-his/) [Josephus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephus/) > [Everyone ought to worship God according to his own inclinations, and not to be constrained by force.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephus/everyone-ought-to-worship-god-according-to-his-own-inclinations-and/) [Josephus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephus/) > [Antipater, now undisputed heir, had called down on his head the utter loathing of the nation, for everyone knew that all the slanders directed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephus/antipater-now-undisputed-heir-had-called-down-on-his-head-the-utter/) [Josephus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephus/) > [If the soul be pure, then shall she obtain favor and rejoice in the latter day; but if she hath been defiled, then shall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephus/if-the-soul-be-pure-then-shall-she-obtain-favor-and-rejoice-in-the/) [Josephus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephus/) > [Measures are an innovation that changed a world of innocent and noble simplicity into one forever filled with dishonesty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephus/measures-are-an-innovation-that-changed-a-world-of-innocent-and-noble/) [Josephus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephus/) > [The virtuous shall have the power to revive and live again. All pure and holy spirits live on in heavenly places, and in course…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephus/the-virtuous-shall-have-the-power-to-revive-and-live-again-all-pure/) [Josephus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephus/) > [At this time there was a wise man who was called Jesus. And his conduct was good, and he was known to be virtuous.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephus/at-this-time-there-was-a-wise-man-who-was-called-jesus-and-his-2/) [Josephus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephus/) > [“Brave and loyal followers! Long ago we resolved to serve neither the Romans nor anyone other than God Himself, who alone is the true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephus/brave-and-loyal-followers-long-ago-we-resolved-to-serve-neither-the/) [Josephus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephus/) > [The law, moreover enjoins us to bring up all our offspring, and forbids women to cause abortion of what is begotten, or to destroy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephus/the-law-moreover-enjoins-us-to-bring-up-all-our-offspring-and-forbids/) [Josephus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephus/) > [And when the book of Daniel was showed to him (Alexander the Great) wherein Daniel declared that one of the Greeks should destroy the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephus/and-when-the-book-of-daniel-was-showed-to-him-alexander-the-great/) [Josephus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephus/) > [When all men were of one language, some of them built a high tower, as if they would thereby ascend up to heaven, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephus/when-all-men-were-of-one-language-some-of-them-built-a-high-tower-as/) [Josephus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephus/) [Explore all 12 Josephus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephus/) ## More Alacrity quotes > [Novelty is indeed necessary to preserve eagerness and alacrity; but art and nature have stores inexhaustible by human intellects, and every moment produces something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/novelty-is-indeed-necessary-to-preserve-eagerness-and-alacrity-but/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The poems in Helena Mesa’s virtuosic first book, Horse Dance Underwater, run with such speed, verve, and alacrity they leave you breathless, exhilarated, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-collier/the-poems-in-helena-mesa-s-virtuosic-first-book-horse-dance/) Michael Collier > [He who thinks with difficulty believes with alacrity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/he-who-thinks-with-difficulty-believes-with-alacrity/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [It should be done with the same degree of alacrity and nonchalance that you would display in authorizing a highly intelligent trained bear to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-s-greenberg-2/it-should-be-done-with-the-same-degree-of-alacrity-and-nonchalance/) Daniel S Greenberg > [“When the fuel is dried up in a vehicle, it stops driving automatically. You are a vehicle in the spiritual and the physical world,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/when-the-fuel-is-dried-up-in-a-vehicle-it-stops-driving-automatically/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [ ... Don \[Hewitt, 60 Minutes exec producer\] told me, "You have set broadcast journalism back 20 years." Naturally, I was both proud and elated… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-von-hoffman/don-hewitt-60-minutes-exec-producer-told-me-you-have-set-broadcast/) [Nicholas von Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-von-hoffman/) > [Government never furthered any enterprise but by the alacrity with which it got out of its way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/government-never-furthered-any-enterprise-but-by-the-alacrity-with/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [There are, indeed, few merrier spectacles than that of many windmills bickering together in a fresh breeze over a woody country; their halting alacrity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-louis-stevenson/there-are-indeed-few-merrier-spectacles-than-that-of-many-windmills/) [Robert Louis Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-louis-stevenson/) > [If, sir, men were all virtuous, I should with great alacrity teach them all to fly. But what would be the security of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/if-sir-men-were-all-virtuous-i-should-with-great-alacrity-teach-them/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [If a bell failed to ring, if a stove smoked, if a wheel on a machine stuck, you knew at once where to look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/if-a-bell-failed-to-ring-if-a-stove-smoked-if-a-wheel-on-a-machine/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [By multiplying the means of gratification, by promoting the introduction and circulation of the precious metals, those darling objects of human avarice and enterprise,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/by-multiplying-the-means-of-gratification-by-promoting-the/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [A beaver does not, as legend would have it, know which direction the tree will fall when he cuts it, but counts on alacrity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-zwinger/a-beaver-does-not-as-legend-would-have-it-know-which-direction-the/) [Ann Zwinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-zwinger/) > [I don't mind how many letters I receive from one who interests me as much as you do. The receptive part of correspondence I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/i-don-t-mind-how-many-letters-i-receive-from-one-who-interests-me-as/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [Atheists put on false courage and alacrity in the midst of their darkness and apprehensions, like children who, when they fear to go in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/atheists-put-on-false-courage-and-alacrity-in-the-midst-of-their/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Mrs Thatcher tells us she has given the French President a piece of her mind... not a gift I would receive with alacrity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-healey/mrs-thatcher-tells-us-she-has-given-the-french-president-a-piece-of/) [Denis Healey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-healey/) [Browse all 23 Alacrity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alacrity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "They smiled in their pains and laughed to scorn those who inflicted torments on them, resigned up their souls with great alacrity, expecting to receive them again.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Josephus" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephus/they-smiled-in-their-pains-and-laughed-to-scorn-those-who-inflicted/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Alacrity" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephus/they-smiled-in-their-pains-and-laughed-to-scorn-those-who-inflicted/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec0/josephus-35447_alacrity_they-smiled-in-their-pains-and-laughed-t_2769708.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec0/josephus-35447_alacrity_they-smiled-in-their-pains-and-laughed-t_2769708.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec0/josephus-35447_alacrity_they-smiled-in-their-pains-and-laughed-t_2769708.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“They smiled in their pains and laughed to scorn those who inflicted torments on them, resigned up their…” — Josephus", "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": "Josephus", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephus/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "They smiled in their pains and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephus/they-smiled-in-their-pains-and-laughed-to-scorn-those-who-inflicted/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephus/they-smiled-in-their-pains-and-laughed-to-scorn-those-who-inflicted/#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 } } ] } ```