---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you've learned to laugh at the…"
description: "\"When you've learned to laugh at the things that should be laughed at, and not to laugh at those that shouldn't, you've got wisdom and understanding. -A..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d2/lucy-maud-montgomery-1934_aunt_when-you-ve-learned-to-laugh-at-the-thin_767804.jpg"
---

#  When you've learned to laugh at the things that should be…

![“When you've learned to laugh at the things that should be laughed at, and not to laugh at those that shouldn't, you've got wisdom and understanding. -Aunt Jimsie” quote by Lucy Maud Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d2/lucy-maud-montgomery-1934_aunt_when-you-ve-learned-to-laugh-at-the-thin_767804.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d2/lucy-maud-montgomery-1934_aunt_when-you-ve-learned-to-laugh-at-the-thin_767804.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d2/lucy-maud-montgomery-1934_aunt_when-you-ve-learned-to-laugh-at-the-thin_767804.jpg)

> “When you've learned to laugh at the things that should be laughed at, and not to laugh at those that shouldn't, you've got wisdom and understanding. -Aunt Jimsie”

[Lucy Maud Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-maud-montgomery/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

True wisdom lies in discerning appropriate humor, laughing at the right moments and restraining it when unsuitable.

**In simple terms:** Know when to laugh and when not to.

Key Takeaway

Apply humor wisely.

Themes

wisdom humor judgment empathy

Mood

thoughtful reflective

Type

observational advice

When to use this quote

- family gatherings
- work meetings
- public speaking
- online comments

Key Concepts

social intelligence emotional regulation cultural norms

Questions to Reflect On

- When have you misread a situation's humor?
- How can you gauge appropriate laughter?

A Different Perspective

Humor can be misinterpreted across cultures, risking offense.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/)

## Related quotes

> [When you've learned to laugh at the things that should be laughed at, and not to laugh at those that shouldn't, you've got wisdom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-maud-montgomery/when-you-ve-learned-to-laugh-at-the-things-that-should-be-laughed-at-2/)

[Lucy Maud Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-maud-montgomery/)

> [“She isn't like any of the girls I ever knew, or any of the girls I was myself." "How many girls were you, Aunt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-m-montgomery/she-isn-t-like-any-of-the-girls-i-ever-knew-or-any-of-the-girls-i-was/)

[L.M. Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-m-montgomery/)

> [Everyone in this world who has ever dreamed about better things has been laughed at.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/may-robson/everyone-in-this-world-who-has-ever-dreamed-about-better-things-has/)

May Robson

> [“Where'd you learn to do all these funny things?' he laughed. 'And you know I say funny but there's sumpthin so durned sensible about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/where-d-you-learn-to-do-all-these-funny-things-he-laughed-and-you/)

[Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/)

> [“One of the things we laughed about was an old episode of The Newlywed Game. The host asked the wives, “What’s the most exotic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/one-of-the-things-we-laughed-about-was-an-old-episode-of-the-newlywed/)

[David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/)

> [I can remember being in right field in Yankee Stadium and fans armed with media guides called out my family by their names and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabe-kapler/i-can-remember-being-in-right-field-in-yankee-stadium-and-fans-armed/)

[Gabe Kapler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabe-kapler/)

> [“He who has learned how to laugh at himself shall never cease to be entertained.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-powell/he-who-has-learned-how-to-laugh-at-himself-shall-never-cease-to-be/)

[John Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-powell/)

> [Learning to not care what people think of me anymore, I've learned to laugh at it now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/learning-to-not-care-what-people-think-of-me-anymore-i-ve-learned-to/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Blessed is he who has learned to laugh at himself, for he shall never cease to be entertained](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/blessed-is-he-who-has-learned-to-laugh-at-himself-for-he-shall-never/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Mama learned to laugh with them, before they could laugh at her, and to do it so well no one could be sure what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/mama-learned-to-laugh-with-them-before-they-could-laugh-at-her-and-to/)

[Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/)

> [Feeling different, feeling alienated, feeling persecuted, feeling that the only way to deal with the world is to laugh - because if you don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-brooks/feeling-different-feeling-alienated-feeling-persecuted-feeling-that/)

[Mel Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-brooks/)

> [“None of us would still be here if we hadn't learned to laugh so no one could see us cry." Hiding”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kit-rocha/none-of-us-would-still-be-here-if-we-hadn-t-learned-to-laugh-so-no/)

[Kit Rocha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kit-rocha/)

> [I learned to laugh at myself a little more, and I realized that beautiful things can be made out of mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-durance/i-learned-to-laugh-at-myself-a-little-more-and-i-realized-that/)

[Erica Durance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-durance/)

> [Thanks to my son, I've learned to laugh at myself. Laughter has been my saving grace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-montandon/thanks-to-my-son-i-ve-learned-to-laugh-at-myself-laughter-has-been-my/)

[Patricia Montandon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-montandon/)

> [You learned to laugh, You learned to cry, Will you ever learn to say good-bye?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryaj-ablando-catayas-2/you-learned-to-laugh-you-learned-to-cry-will-you-ever-learn-to-say/)

[Ryaj Ablando-Catayas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryaj-ablando-catayas-2/)

## More by Lucy Maud Montgomery

> [“Tell me this--if you knew you would be poor as a church mouse all your life--if you knew you'd never have a line published--would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-maud-montgomery/tell-me-this-if-you-knew-you-would-be-poor-as-a-church-mouse-all-your/)

[Lucy Maud Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-maud-montgomery/)

> [Of all the uncertain things marriage is the uncertainest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-maud-montgomery/of-all-the-uncertain-things-marriage-is-the-uncertainest/)

[Lucy Maud Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-maud-montgomery/)

> [if I can't get what I want - well, I'll want what I can get.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-maud-montgomery/if-i-can-t-get-what-i-want-well-i-ll-want-what-i-can-get/)

[Lucy Maud Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-maud-montgomery/)

> [It was October again ... a glorious October, all red and gold, with mellow mornings when the valleys were filled with delicate mists as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-maud-montgomery/it-was-october-again-a-glorious-october-all-red-and-gold-with-mellow/)

[Lucy Maud Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-maud-montgomery/)

> [Without shedding of blood there is no anything. Everything, it seems to me, has to be purchased by selfsacrifice. Our race has marked every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-maud-montgomery/without-shedding-of-blood-there-is-no-anything-everything-it-seems-to/)

[Lucy Maud Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-maud-montgomery/)

> [Isn't it good just to be alive on a day like this? I pity the people who aren't born yet for missing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-maud-montgomery/isn-t-it-good-just-to-be-alive-on-a-day-like-this-i-pity-the-people/)

[Lucy Maud Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-maud-montgomery/)

> [An old house with its windows gone always makes me think of something dead with its eyes picked out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-maud-montgomery/an-old-house-with-its-windows-gone-always-makes-me-think-of-something/)

[Lucy Maud Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-maud-montgomery/)

> [What is it really like to be engaged?" asked Anne curiously. "Well, that all depends on who you're engaged to," answered Diana, with that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-maud-montgomery/what-is-it-really-like-to-be-engaged-asked-anne-curiously-well-that/)

[Lucy Maud Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-maud-montgomery/)

> [Hark, I hear a robin calling! List, the wind is from the south! And the orchard-bloom is falling Sweet as kisses on the mouth.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-maud-montgomery/hark-i-hear-a-robin-calling-list-the-wind-is-from-the-south-and-the/)

[Lucy Maud Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-maud-montgomery/)

> [As she walked along she dramatized the night. There was about it a wild, lawless charm that appealed to a certain wild, lawless strain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-maud-montgomery/as-she-walked-along-she-dramatized-the-night-there-was-about-it-a/)

[Lucy Maud Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-maud-montgomery/)

> [“In this life you've got to hope for the best, prepare for the worst and take whatever God sends.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-maud-montgomery/in-this-life-you-ve-got-to-hope-for-the-best-prepare-for-the-worst/)

[Lucy Maud Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-maud-montgomery/)

> [“You 're not eating anything,” said Marilla sharply, eying her as if it were a serious shortcoming. Anne sighed. “I can 't. I'm in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-maud-montgomery/you-re-not-eating-anything-said-marilla-sharply-eying-her-as-if-it/)

[Lucy Maud Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-maud-montgomery/)

> [There is no use in loving things if you have to be torn from them, is there? And it's so hard to keep from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-maud-montgomery/there-is-no-use-in-loving-things-if-you-have-to-be-torn-from-them-is/)

[Lucy Maud Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-maud-montgomery/)

> [That's a lovely idea, Diana,' said Anne enthusiastically. 'Living so that you beautify your name, even if it wasn't beautiful to begin with…making it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-maud-montgomery/that-s-a-lovely-idea-diana-said-anne-enthusiastically-living-so-that/)

[Lucy Maud Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-maud-montgomery/)

> [There are many worse friends than the soft, silent, furry, cat-folk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-maud-montgomery/there-are-many-worse-friends-than-the-soft-silent-furry-cat-folk/)

[Lucy Maud Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-maud-montgomery/)

[Explore all 195 Lucy Maud Montgomery quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-maud-montgomery/)

## More Aunt quotes

> [“My aunt Carol hasn’t heard her say a word in the whole six years and three months of Grace’s life—not a single syllable. Carol…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/my-aunt-carol-hasn-t-heard-her-say-a-word-in-the-whole-six-years-and/)

[Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/)

> [Your aunt and uncle will be proud, though, won't they?" said Hermione as they got off the train and joined the crowd thronging toward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/your-aunt-and-uncle-will-be-proud-though-won-t-they-said-hermione-as/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I was painfully shy, so my aunt suggested to my mum that me and my brother go to Stage 84, a performing arts school…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-cooke/i-was-painfully-shy-so-my-aunt-suggested-to-my-mum-that-me-and-my/)

[Christian Cooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-cooke/)

> [“Quin took on the air of someone who has just realized it's time for the yearly visit to the spinster great-aunt in a desperate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-fecteau/quin-took-on-the-air-of-someone-who-has-just-realized-it-s-time-for/)

[Amy Fecteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-fecteau/)

> [My aunt and uncle are clearly civilians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-kimmel/my-aunt-and-uncle-are-clearly-civilians/)

[Jimmy Kimmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-kimmel/)

> [“Aunt Helen Beck had many intentions about her death. She was about being dead the way some people are about being British - she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-mccracken/aunt-helen-beck-had-many-intentions-about-her-death-she-was-about/)

[Elizabeth McCracken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-mccracken/)

> [I'll just do a round around of the house and make sure the rest of the family are fast asleep. We don't want that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerstin-gier/i-ll-just-do-a-round-around-of-the-house-and-make-sure-the-rest-of/)

[Kerstin Gier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerstin-gier/)

> [In the summer of 1964, my sister and I went to South Ballston, Virginia, to stay with my aunt and her kids. They passed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-p-jones/in-the-summer-of-1964-my-sister-and-i-went-to-south-ballston-virginia/)

[Edward P. Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-p-jones/)

> [“I look like Barbara Bush in drag." Aunt Jettie”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-harper/i-look-like-barbara-bush-in-drag-aunt-jettie/)

[Molly Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-harper/)

> [I only wanted Uncle Vernon standing by his own car (a Hudson) on a clear day, I got him and the car. Ialso got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-friedlander/i-only-wanted-uncle-vernon-standing-by-his-own-car-a-hudson-on-a/)

[Lee Friedlander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-friedlander/)

> [Both the five-year-olds looked at me with bewilderment and a bit of fearful uncertainty. I had a sudden horrifying image of the woman I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/both-the-five-year-olds-looked-at-me-with-bewilderment-and-a-bit-of/)

[Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/)

> [My aunt got me interested in journalism - she found an old typewriter, had it worked over, put it on the dining room table,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-jenkins/my-aunt-got-me-interested-in-journalism-she-found-an-old-typewriter/)

[Dan Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-jenkins/)

> [This kind of thing always amazed Ginny--people who just walked away from institutions. People who left school when they didn't see the point. Aunt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/this-kind-of-thing-always-amazed-ginny-people-who-just-walked-away/)

[Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/)

> [“You will not be able to shelter her forever,” my aunt insists. “What will happen when you are gone someday, and all the suitable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-forest/you-will-not-be-able-to-shelter-her-forever-my-aunt-insists-what-will/)

[Laurie Forest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-forest/)

> [my sweet old etcetera aunt lucy during the recent war could and what is more did tell you just what everybody was fighting for,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-sweet-old-etcetera-aunt-lucy-during-the-recent-war-could-and-what/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

Browse all 720 Aunt quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "When you've learned to laugh at the things that should be laughed at, and not to laugh at those that shouldn't, you've got wisdom and understanding. -Aunt Jimsie",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Lucy Maud Montgomery"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-maud-montgomery/when-you-ve-learned-to-laugh-at-the-things-that-should-be-laughed-at/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Aunt"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-maud-montgomery/when-you-ve-learned-to-laugh-at-the-things-that-should-be-laughed-at/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d2/lucy-maud-montgomery-1934_aunt_when-you-ve-learned-to-laugh-at-the-thin_767804.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d2/lucy-maud-montgomery-1934_aunt_when-you-ve-learned-to-laugh-at-the-thin_767804.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d2/lucy-maud-montgomery-1934_aunt_when-you-ve-learned-to-laugh-at-the-thin_767804.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“When you've learned to laugh at the things that should be laughed at, and not to laugh at those that…” — Lucy Maud Montgomery",
                "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": "Lucy Maud Montgomery",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-maud-montgomery/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "When you've learned to laugh at...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-maud-montgomery/when-you-ve-learned-to-laugh-at-the-things-that-should-be-laughed-at/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-maud-montgomery/when-you-ve-learned-to-laugh-at-the-things-that-should-be-laughed-at/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
