--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have to laugh because despite the…" description: "\"I have to laugh because despite the destruction, we cannot let 'them' steal our pleasure. That is always the theme of my performances: I'm here to thri..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7c/lydia-lunch-13008_always_i-have-to-laugh-because-despite-the-dest_2729548.jpg" --- # I have to laugh because despite the destruction, we cannot… ![“I have to laugh because despite the destruction, we cannot let 'them' steal our pleasure. That is always the theme of my performances: I'm here to thrive, not just to survive.” quote by Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7c/lydia-lunch-13008_always_i-have-to-laugh-because-despite-the-dest_2729548.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7c/lydia-lunch-13008_always_i-have-to-laugh-because-despite-the-dest_2729548.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7c/lydia-lunch-13008_always_i-have-to-laugh-because-despite-the-dest_2729548.jpg) > “I have to laugh because despite the destruction, we cannot let 'them' steal our pleasure. That is always the theme of my performances: I'm here to thrive, not just to survive.” [Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Even amid destruction, we must protect our joy and thrive beyond mere survival. **In simple terms:** Keep joy alive despite chaos. Key Takeaway Prioritize pleasure over fear. Themes resilience joy performance art Mood defiant energetic Type inspirational personal When to use this quote - live performances - personal crises - artistic creation Key Concepts personal empowerment creative expression Questions to Reflect On - What brings you joy in difficult times? - How do you balance survival and thriving? A Different Perspective Joy can be fragile and easily suppressed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Destruction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destruction/) [Laugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laugh/) [Performances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/performances/) [Pleasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleasure/) ## Related quotes > [“... and she was awed to see that vibrant life still struggled to thrive despite such destruction.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-lowry/and-she-was-awed-to-see-that-vibrant-life-still-struggled-to-thrive/) [Lois Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-lowry/) > [When you copy content, you are engaging in a criminal activity. Repeat after me, and take heed: 'I am a good bot, but my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximillian-degenerez/when-you-copy-content-you-are-engaging-in-a-criminal-activity-repeat/) [Maximillian Degenerez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximillian-degenerez/) > [I had to steal to survive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/i-had-to-steal-to-survive/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [Baseball must be a great game to survive the fools who run it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-terry/baseball-must-be-a-great-game-to-survive-the-fools-who-run-it/) [Bill Terry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-terry/) > [I spent four years in the United States Army between 1985 and 1989, and I certainly learned how to survive out in the woods.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-coleman/i-spent-four-years-in-the-united-states-army-between-1985-and-1989/) [Chad Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-coleman/) > [We need to have a modicum of faith in people's common sense, creativity and will to survive and prosper even in the face of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-higgs/we-need-to-have-a-modicum-of-faith-in-people-s-common-sense/) [Robert Higgs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-higgs/) > [I went into acting because I had to make a good living. I had a child now and I had to support him any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-soul/i-went-into-acting-because-i-had-to-make-a-good-living-i-had-a-child/) [David Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-soul/) > [I truly believe that you have to bring more content to the table to survive in radio than saying, 'There was AC/DC, and here's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-trunk/i-truly-believe-that-you-have-to-bring-more-content-to-the-table-to/) [Eddie Trunk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-trunk/) > [There have been moments where I'm like, 'I don't know how I'm going to survive and pay next month's rent.' And the next month…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-micucci/there-have-been-moments-where-i-m-like-i-don-t-know-how-i-m-going-to/) [Kate Micucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-micucci/) > [Usually when you're auditioning for something, you are taking whatever is coming at you and saying 'yes' because you have to to survive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-ralph/usually-when-you-re-auditioning-for-something-you-are-taking-whatever/) [Jason Ralph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-ralph/) > [I wouldn't go so far to say that destiny preserves me. I managed to survive and to succeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-sharon/i-wouldn-t-go-so-far-to-say-that-destiny-preserves-me-i-managed-to/) [Ariel Sharon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-sharon/) > [I always say God doesn't need me, but I need Him in my life to survive in this world and over temptation. That's Who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-pujols/i-always-say-god-doesn-t-need-me-but-i-need-him-in-my-life-to-survive/) [Albert Pujols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-pujols/) > [People are proud to be from Baltimore. In any industry you work in, you need support to survive. And this city has that support…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-waters/people-are-proud-to-be-from-baltimore-in-any-industry-you-work-in-you/) [Derek Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-waters/) > [It is in the genes of cities to bounce back from disasters - whether natural or man made. The denizens of suburbia have no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikas-swarup/it-is-in-the-genes-of-cities-to-bounce-back-from-disasters-whether/) [Vikas Swarup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikas-swarup/) > [The main thing that endears the United Nations to member governments, and so enables it to survive, is its proven capacity to fail, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-cruise-o-brien/the-main-thing-that-endears-the-united-nations-to-member-governments/) [Conor Cruise O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-cruise-o-brien/) ## More by Lydia Lunch > [If what I write is literature, I guess you'd better emphasize the 'litter.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/if-what-i-write-is-literature-i-guess-you-d-better-emphasize-the/) [Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/) > [I decided to lock myself in. A forced segregation. Sabbatical. A retreat into myself. My selves. Play hide and go seek in the looking-glass.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/i-decided-to-lock-myself-in-a-forced-segregation-sabbatical-a-retreat/) [Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/) > [I'm nihilistic, antagonistic, violent, horrible - but not obliterated, yet. I just refuse to be beaten down. I think it's stubborness that keeps me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/i-m-nihilistic-antagonistic-violent-horrible-but-not-obliterated-yet/) [Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/) > [I would be humiliated if I found out that anything I did actually became a commercial success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/i-would-be-humiliated-if-i-found-out-that-anything-i-did-actually/) [Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/) > [I am a humanist not a feminist. There's a big difference.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/i-am-a-humanist-not-a-feminist-there-s-a-big-difference/) [Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/) > [“I knew that my trauma, no matter what it was, was not unique. I knew that pain was the universal driving force of so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/i-knew-that-my-trauma-no-matter-what-it-was-was-not-unique-i-knew/) [Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/) > [Part of the charm of what I do is the fact that it's completely unrelated to everything that came before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/part-of-the-charm-of-what-i-do-is-the-fact-that-it-s-completely/) [Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/) > [Honesty works against you in the entertainment field. I try to be a journalist and a documentarian, but that doesn't mean that people are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/honesty-works-against-you-in-the-entertainment-field-i-try-to-be-a/) [Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/) > [The female format is a beautiful one in which to function. Foolhardy as it may be. I change my image all the time, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/the-female-format-is-a-beautiful-one-in-which-to-function-foolhardy/) [Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/) > [Women are denied masturbation even more severely than men and that's another method of control-they're not taught to please themselves… Most women-it takes them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/women-are-denied-masturbation-even-more-severely-than-men-and-that-s/) [Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/) > [The problem with music was always that the sound system often obliterated the words, and words, not music, have always been what I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/the-problem-with-music-was-always-that-the-sound-system-often/) [Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/) > [Living in Barcelona, I have my own little ghetto utopia. There are 3,000 ghost towns in Spain, and I've used the images of them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/living-in-barcelona-i-have-my-own-little-ghetto-utopia-there-are-3/) [Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/) > [Part of the charm of what I do is the fact that its completely unrelated to everything that came before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/part-of-the-charm-of-what-i-do-is-the-fact-that-its-completely/) [Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/) > [The need to document my insanity is an affliction I have not yet cured myself of...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/the-need-to-document-my-insanity-is-an-affliction-i-have-not-yet/) [Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/) > [Just because my bank account hasn't swelled astronomically I don't consider myself any less of a success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/just-because-my-bank-account-hasn-t-swelled-astronomically-i-don-t/) [Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/) [Explore all 52 Lydia Lunch quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/) ## More Always quotes > [I think performing has pretty much always been a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-briones/i-think-performing-has-pretty-much-always-been-a-part-of-me/) [Isa Briones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-briones/) > [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/) [William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I have really good lateral movement. I've always had quick lateral movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-have-really-good-lateral-movement-i-ve-always-had-quick-lateral/) [Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/) [Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/) > [It's not writing in the traditional sense, but I've always said that the writing process continues on the set and even into the editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-weide/it-s-not-writing-in-the-traditional-sense-but-i-ve-always-said-that/) [Robert B. Weide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-weide/) > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [I've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/) [Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [Bayern is always a team that can win the Champions League title in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/bayern-is-always-a-team-that-can-win-the-champions-league-title-in/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) Browse all 36,048 Always quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I have to laugh because despite the destruction, we cannot let 'them' steal our pleasure. 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