Amusement Quote by Marie de Rabutin-Chantal, marquise de Sevigne
“Were it not for the amusement of our books, we should be moped to death for want of occupation. It rains incessantly. ... we tickle ourselves in order to laugh; to so low an ebb are we reduced.”
About This Quote
The passage humorously laments boredom, suggesting that without books for people would be idle, and describes laughter as a self‑induced coping mechanism.
In simple terms: Books prevent boredom; laughter is self‑comfort.
Key Takeaway
Value reading and humor for coping.
Themes
boredom
literature
humor
Mood
wry
reflective
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- leisure time
- reading habits
- stress relief
Key Concepts
cultural critique
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- What fills your idle moments?
- How do you use humor to cope?
A Different Perspective
May overstate literature’s role.
![“[T]hese last few days where I've moped around damn near depressed for real, because of people who do not exist. Not really. I can buy them Christmas presents, but there is no way to send them. Sometimes I feel like I should be able to walk into the next room and there they will be, but they won't…” quote by Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c19/laurell-k-hamilton-199_able_t-hese-last-few-days-where-i-ve-moped-ar_73321.jpg)
