--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: laughter, that distinctively human…" description: "\"laughter, that distinctively human emotion, laughter which springs from trust in the other, from willingness to put oneself momentarily in the other's ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4a/margaret-mead-982_aristocracy_laughter-that-distinctively-human-emotio_602507.jpg" --- # laughter, that distinctively human emotion, laughter which… ![“laughter, that distinctively human emotion, laughter which springs from trust in the other, from willingness to put oneself momentarily in the other's place, even at one's own expense, is the special emotional basis of democratic procedures, just as pride is the emotion of an aristocracy, shame of…” quote by Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4a/margaret-mead-982_aristocracy_laughter-that-distinctively-human-emotio_602507.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4a/margaret-mead-982_aristocracy_laughter-that-distinctively-human-emotio_602507.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4a/margaret-mead-982_aristocracy_laughter-that-distinctively-human-emotio_602507.jpg) > “laughter, that distinctively human emotion, laughter which springs from trust in the other, from willingness to put oneself momentarily in the other's place, even at one's own expense, is the special emotional basis of democratic procedures, just as pride is the emotion of an aristocracy, shame of a crowd that rules, and fear of a police state.” [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Laughter shows trust and empathy, enabling democratic participation, while other emotions underpin different social orders. **In simple terms:** Laughter builds trust for democracy. Key Takeaway Foster empathy and shared humor. Themes democracy trust empathy social order emotion Mood reflective optimistic Type philosophical political observational When to use this quote - community meetings - team building - public debates - conflict resolution Key Concepts social cohesion collective identity political psychology Questions to Reflect On - How does humor affect political dialogue? - Can empathy replace institutional safeguards? A Different Perspective Laughter alone cannot resolve structural inequalities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aristocracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aristocracy/) [Bases](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bases/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Crowds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crowds/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Democratic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democratic/) [Emotion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotion/) [Emotion Aristocracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotion-aristocracy-4909210/) [Emotion Laughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotion-laughter-4909208/) [Emotional](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotional/) [Expenses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expenses/) [Human Emotion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-emotion-541710/) [Human emotions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-emotions/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Laughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laughter/) [Laughter Distinctively](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laughter-distinctively-4909209/) [Oneself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oneself/) [Police](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/police/) [Police state](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/police-state/) [Pride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pride/) [Procedures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/procedures/) [Shame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shame/) [Special](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/special/) [Spring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spring/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) [Trust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trust/) [Willingness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/willingness/) ## Related quotes > [The strongest human emotion is fear. It's the essence of any good thriller that, for a little while, you believe in the boogeyman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carpenter/the-strongest-human-emotion-is-fear-it-s-the-essence-of-any-good/) [John Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carpenter/) > [The herd instinct seems to be the strongest human emotion, one that the race is constantly breeding off as the mavericks are liquidated. Happiness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-train/the-herd-instinct-seems-to-be-the-strongest-human-emotion-one-that/) [John Train](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-train/) > [Jealousy. Depression. Love. They pretty much demonstrate the whole range of human emotion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-stanton/jealousy-depression-love-they-pretty-much-demonstrate-the-whole-range/) [Brandon Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-stanton/) > [A purely disembodied human emotion is a nonentity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/a-purely-disembodied-human-emotion-is-a-nonentity/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [I think, for one, we have to really accept that anger is a normal human emotion that can be a positive force for change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/koren-zailckas/i-think-for-one-we-have-to-really-accept-that-anger-is-a-normal-human/) [Koren Zailckas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/koren-zailckas/) > [The strongest human emotion is probably love. I think it's universal. I think that across language and country and time and everything else, probably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hoppus/the-strongest-human-emotion-is-probably-love-i-think-it-s-universal-i/) [Mark Hoppus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hoppus/) > [The Strat covers the complete spectrum of human emotion .. the tremolo enables you to do anything - you can hit any note known…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-beck/the-strat-covers-the-complete-spectrum-of-human-emotion-the-tremolo/) [Jeff Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-beck/) > [The confessions can touch on every human emotion. They can be laugh-out-loud funny, for sure, they can be heart-breaking, they can be sexual or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-warren/the-confessions-can-touch-on-every-human-emotion-they-can-be-laugh/) [Frank Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-warren/) > [I try to connect to human emotion. I'm always looking for something primal, something really base that is beyond language, that people understand beyond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-smith/i-try-to-connect-to-human-emotion-i-m-always-looking-for-something/) [Will Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-smith/) > [To awaken human emotion is the highest level of art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isadora-duncan/to-awaken-human-emotion-is-the-highest-level-of-art/) [Isadora Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isadora-duncan/) > [What I do for a living is re-create human emotion, and that's a pretty weird thing to do from nine till five.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-donohoe/what-i-do-for-a-living-is-re-create-human-emotion-and-that-s-a-pretty/) [Amanda Donohoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-donohoe/) > [I always think a good sports movie is emblematic in the same way that a great Greek tragedy really has a certain kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carla-gugino/i-always-think-a-good-sports-movie-is-emblematic-in-the-same-way-that/) [Carla Gugino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carla-gugino/) > [Love is the only human emotion that cannot be controlled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/love-is-the-only-human-emotion-that-cannot-be-controlled/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [I'm not an autobiographical writer, but I am a writer who deals with human emotion on all levels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-not-an-autobiographical-writer-but-i-am-a-writer-who-deals-with/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To me, words are like stickpins. I can throw a word at you and it will bounce right off your body. But if I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/to-me-words-are-like-stickpins-i-can-throw-a-word-at-you-and-it-will/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) ## More by Margaret Mead > [The prophet who fails to present a bearable alternative and yet preaches doom is part of the trap that he postulates. Not only does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/the-prophet-who-fails-to-present-a-bearable-alternative-and-yet/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [The contempt for law and the contempt for the human consequences of lawbreaking go from the bottom to the top of American society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/the-contempt-for-law-and-the-contempt-for-the-human-consequences-of/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [If one cannot state a matter clearly enough so that even an intelligent twelve-year-old can understand it, one should remain within the cloistered walls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/if-one-cannot-state-a-matter-clearly-enough-so-that-even-an/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [I learned the value of hard work by working hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/i-learned-the-value-of-hard-work-by-working-hard/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [Children must be taught how to think, not what to think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/children-must-be-taught-how-to-think-not-what-to-think/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [Women are scolded both for being mothers and for not being mothers, for wanting to eat their cake and have it too, and for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/women-are-scolded-both-for-being-mothers-and-for-not-being-mothers/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [we came to realize that a civilization which rode roughshod over the way of life of other peoples was incorporating evil in its own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/we-came-to-realize-that-a-civilization-which-rode-roughshod-over-the/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [WE MUST DEVISE A SYSTEM IN WHICH PEACE IS MORE REWARDING THAN WAR.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/we-must-devise-a-system-in-which-peace-is-more-rewarding-than-war/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [Through a grandmother's voice and hands the end of life is known at the beginning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/through-a-grandmother-s-voice-and-hands-the-end-of-life-is-known-at/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [today's children are the first generation to grow up in a world that has the power to destroy itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/today-s-children-are-the-first-generation-to-grow-up-in-a-world-that/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [We are now at a point where we must educate our children in what no one knew yesterday, and prepare our schools for what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/we-are-now-at-a-point-where-we-must-educate-our-children-in-what-no/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [Humanity . . . lies in man's capacity to question the known and imagine the unknown.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/humanity-lies-in-man-s-capacity-to-question-the-known-and-imagine-the/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [Fathers are biological necessities, but social accidents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/fathers-are-biological-necessities-but-social-accidents/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [“One of the most dangerous things that can happen to a child is to kill or torture an animal and not be held responsible.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/one-of-the-most-dangerous-things-that-can-happen-to-a-child-is-to/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [We end up with the contradictory picture of a society that appears to throw its doors wide open to women, but translates her every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/we-end-up-with-the-contradictory-picture-of-a-society-that-appears-to/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) [Explore all 314 Margaret Mead quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) ## More Aristocracy quotes > [When I was trying to come up with a stage name, I thought 'Lord' was super rad, but really masculine - ever since I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorde/when-i-was-trying-to-come-up-with-a-stage-name-i-thought-lord-was/) [Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorde/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [Motherland is our property and we have right to handle our properties as pleased. The jokes about death for the sake of the motherland…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/motherland-is-our-property-and-we-have-right-to-handle-our-properties/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [There is... an artificial aristocracy founded on wealth and birth, without either virtue or talents... The artificial aristocracy is a mischievous ingredient in government,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/there-is-an-artificial-aristocracy-founded-on-wealth-and-birth/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Your best friends are your principles, if you havent them, dont look for another friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/your-best-friends-are-your-principles-if-you-havent-them-dont-look/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [A strong saying is not afraid of criticism, because it includes all the answers to criticism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/a-strong-saying-is-not-afraid-of-criticism-because-it-includes-all/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [“I believe in aristocracy, though -- if that is the right word, and if a democrat may use it. Not an aristocracy of power,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster-2/i-believe-in-aristocracy-though-if-that-is-the-right-word-and-if-a/) [E.M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster-2/) > [24.9 percent of American children live in poverty, while the proportions in Germany, France and Italy are 8.6, 7.4 and 10.5 percent. And once…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-hutton/24-9-percent-of-american-children-live-in-poverty-while-the/) [Will Hutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-hutton/) > [Tomorrow every Duchess in London will be waiting to kiss me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramsay-macdonald/tomorrow-every-duchess-in-london-will-be-waiting-to-kiss-me/) [Ramsay MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramsay-macdonald/) > [“Why do these big old country houses always have family portraits in the dining room? Do you really want to eat with someone's gloomy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-jane-howard/why-do-these-big-old-country-houses-always-have-family-portraits-in/) [Elizabeth Jane Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-jane-howard/) > [“I believe in aristocracy, though—if that is the right word, and if a democrat may use it. Not an aristocracy of power … but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-n-aron/i-believe-in-aristocracy-though-if-that-is-the-right-word-and-if-a-2/) [Elaine N. Aron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-n-aron/) > [Books are the treasured wealth of the world and the fit inheritance of generations and nations. Books, the oldest and the best, stand naturally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/books-are-the-treasured-wealth-of-the-world-and-the-fit-inheritance/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [We stand a better chance with aristocracy, whether hereditary or elective, than with monarchy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-stiles/we-stand-a-better-chance-with-aristocracy-whether-hereditary-or/) [Ezra Stiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-stiles/) > [ The law for religious freedom... \[has\]put down the aristocracy of the clergy and restored to the citizen the freedom of the mind. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-law-for-religious-freedom-has-put-down-the-aristocracy-of-the/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Common sense, in so far as it exists, is all for the bourgeoisie. Nonsense is the privilege of the aristocracy. The worries of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-jean-nathan/common-sense-in-so-far-as-it-exists-is-all-for-the-bourgeoisie/) [George Jean Nathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-jean-nathan/) [Browse all 426 Aristocracy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aristocracy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "laughter, that distinctively human emotion, laughter which springs from trust in the other, from willingness to put oneself momentarily in the other's place, even at one's own expense, is the special emotional basis of democratic procedures, just as pride is the emotion of an aristocracy, shame of a crowd that rules, and fear of a police state.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Margaret Mead" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/laughter-that-distinctively-human-emotion-laughter-which-springs-from/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Aristocracy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/laughter-that-distinctively-human-emotion-laughter-which-springs-from/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4a/margaret-mead-982_aristocracy_laughter-that-distinctively-human-emotio_602507.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4a/margaret-mead-982_aristocracy_laughter-that-distinctively-human-emotio_602507.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4a/margaret-mead-982_aristocracy_laughter-that-distinctively-human-emotio_602507.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“laughter, that distinctively human emotion, laughter which springs from trust in the other, from willingness…” — Margaret Mead", "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": "Margaret Mead", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "laughter, that distinctively human emotion, laughter...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/laughter-that-distinctively-human-emotion-laughter-which-springs-from/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/laughter-that-distinctively-human-emotion-laughter-which-springs-from/#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 } } ] } ```