--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Wouldn't a laugh serve us better than to…" description: "\"Wouldn't a laugh serve us better than to battle it out with our mortal souls?\" — Maureen Howard" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/668/maureen-howard-28838_battle_wouldn-t-a-laugh-serve-us-better-than-to_561836.png" --- # Wouldn't a laugh serve us better than to battle it out… ![“Wouldn't a laugh serve us better than to battle it out with our mortal souls?” quote by Maureen Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/668/maureen-howard-28838_battle_wouldn-t-a-laugh-serve-us-better-than-to_561836.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/668/maureen-howard-28838_battle_wouldn-t-a-laugh-serve-us-better-than-to_561836.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/668/maureen-howard-28838_battle_wouldn-t-a-laugh-serve-us-better-than-to_561836.png) > “Wouldn't a laugh serve us better than to battle it out with our mortal souls?” [Maureen Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-howard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote suggests laughter is a healthier coping mechanism than confronting deep existential struggles. **In simple terms:** Laughter is better than battling inner demons. Key Takeaway Choose humor over despair. Themes humor coping existential Mood lighthearted reflective Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - personal crises - mental health - stress relief Key Concepts psychology wellbeing Questions to Reflect On - Can humor replace serious self‑reflection? - When does laughter become avoidance? A Different Perspective Humor may not address underlying issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Battle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/battle/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Laugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laugh/) [Laughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laughter/) [Mortals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mortals/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) ## Related quotes > [The battle of being mortal is the battle to maintain the integrity of one’s life,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atul-gawande/the-battle-of-being-mortal-is-the-battle-to-maintain-the-integrity-of/) [Atul Gawande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atul-gawande/) > [I'd like to think I'm a little more memorable or specific now. People laugh at me in a way they wouldn't laugh at another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-finnegan/i-d-like-to-think-i-m-a-little-more-memorable-or-specific-now-people/) [Christian Finnegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-finnegan/) > [The Riddler says you make the world better one battle at a time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-morris/the-riddler-says-you-make-the-world-better-one-battle-at-a-time/) [Janet Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-morris/) > [People are the same wherever you go. And if they weren't, they wouldn't laugh at the same s\*\*t.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-rock/people-are-the-same-wherever-you-go-and-if-they-weren-t-they-wouldn-t/) [Chris Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-rock/) > [The great Chinese classics have always said that it's better not to fight; that the clever man achieves his ends without violence; that a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keegan/the-great-chinese-classics-have-always-said-that-it-s-better-not-to/) [John Keegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keegan/) > [Forced to find inspiration when I never had to, so I go against myself its a better battle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-budden/forced-to-find-inspiration-when-i-never-had-to-so-i-go-against-myself/) [Joe Budden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-budden/) > [If a woman's fertility was in question, we wouldn't laugh, but if it is male, we have a right old laugh about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-whitehouse/if-a-woman-s-fertility-was-in-question-we-wouldn-t-laugh-but-if-it-is/) [Paul Whitehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-whitehouse/) > [“The Gods know what it is to be eternal, and they love to toy with mortals who use absolutes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-angelini/the-gods-know-what-it-is-to-be-eternal-and-they-love-to-toy-with/) [Josephine Angelini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-angelini/) > [Talk health. 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Just tender feelings walking around exposed in their delicate shells...Easy to crush.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-marr/mortals-are-such-fragile-things-just-tender-feelings-walking-around/) [Melissa Marr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-marr/) > [The writings of latter-day prophets clearly teach that the sorrows and sufferings endured by Adam and Eve upon their leaving the Garden of Eden…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-k-judd/the-writings-of-latter-day-prophets-clearly-teach-that-the-sorrows/) Daniel K Judd > [Those whose life is long still strive for gain, and for all mortals all things take second place to money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/those-whose-life-is-long-still-strive-for-gain-and-for-all-mortals/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) ## More by Maureen Howard > [When I go home my mother and I play a cannibal game; we eat each other over the years, tender morsel by morsel until…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-howard/when-i-go-home-my-mother-and-i-play-a-cannibal-game-we-eat-each-other/) [Maureen Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-howard/) > [The Golden Arches of McDonald's rise, glorious across the landscape, contempo-monolithic, simple in concept as Stonehenge if we could but see it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-howard/the-golden-arches-of-mcdonald-s-rise-glorious-across-the-landscape/) [Maureen Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-howard/) > [ Even when I was a grown woman, he \[Father\] would leave me on the edge of hysteria in all our arguments: though I married… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-howard/even-when-i-was-a-grown-woman-he-father-would-leave-me-on-the-edge-of/) [Maureen Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-howard/) > [I've finally learned not to want things I cannot have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-howard/i-ve-finally-learned-not-to-want-things-i-cannot-have/) [Maureen Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-howard/) > [Notable American Women is an enchanting and moving novel. 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Their acceptance of help, ours of their need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-howard/acceptance-is-the-word-we-must-substitute-for-dependence-in-dealing/) [Maureen Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-howard/) > [The part we play is not as we want it, but as we are made-with the genitals God gave us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-howard/the-part-we-play-is-not-as-we-want-it-but-as-we-are-made-with-the/) [Maureen Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-howard/) > [None of the adults I knew ever touched in public, much less kneaded each others flesh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-howard/none-of-the-adults-i-knew-ever-touched-in-public-much-less-kneaded/) [Maureen Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-howard/) > [It was unavoidable, my writing. I feel I had no choice in the matter, no more than I had about an unfortunate bone structure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-howard/it-was-unavoidable-my-writing-i-feel-i-had-no-choice-in-the-matter-no/) [Maureen Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-howard/) > [If he hadn't been my father I would have loved the spectacle he created-one performance following quickly upon another-like a versatile old vaudevil-lian with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-howard/if-he-hadn-t-been-my-father-i-would-have-loved-the-spectacle-he/) [Maureen Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-howard/) [Explore all 19 Maureen Howard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-howard/) ## More Battle quotes > [In the battle for police reform, accountability and justice, Americans don't have to re-invent the wheel. We just have to revoke the thing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-johnson/in-the-battle-for-police-reform-accountability-and-justice-americans/) [Jason Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-johnson/) > [This is, for an accomplished Latino, an accomplished African American, an accomplished anyone who disproves stereotypes, it's a constant battle in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sotomayor/this-is-for-an-accomplished-latino-an-accomplished-african-american/) [Sonia Sotomayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sotomayor/) > [“Which people take the time to care for their souls, these days? I reckon not many. But...hear this: I think that maybe in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-fletcher/which-people-take-the-time-to-care-for-their-souls-these-days-i/) [Susan Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-fletcher/) > [Only great and general battles can produce great results](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/only-great-and-general-battles-can-produce-great-results/) [Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/) > [Life is a battle of wits, and many people have to fight it unarmed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-esar/life-is-a-battle-of-wits-and-many-people-have-to-fight-it-unarmed/) [Evan Esar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-esar/) > [Pain held no terror for him. Pain was, if not friend, then family, something he had grown up with in his crèche, learning to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-bacigalupi/pain-held-no-terror-for-him-pain-was-if-not-friend-then-family/) [Paolo Bacigalupi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-bacigalupi/) > [There's little in taking or giving, There's little in water or wine: This living, this living, this living, Was never a project of mine.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-parker/there-s-little-in-taking-or-giving-there-s-little-in-water-or-wine/) [Dorothy Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-parker/) > [When I step into the batters box. The fans, the noise, the cheers, they all disappear. For that moment, the world is just a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wollstonecraft-shelley/when-i-step-into-the-batters-box-the-fans-the-noise-the-cheers-they/) [Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wollstonecraft-shelley/) > [I knew Jimmy Dean. He tested for 'Battle Cry'. Paul Newman tested for 'Battle Cry'. I did nine tests to finally get that role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tab-hunter/i-knew-jimmy-dean-he-tested-for-battle-cry-paul-newman-tested-for/) [Tab Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tab-hunter/) > [“When we let go of our battles and open our heart to things as they are, then we come to rest in the present…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/when-we-let-go-of-our-battles-and-open-our-heart-to-things-as-they/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [Love is a battle," said Marie-Claude, still smiling. "And I plan to go on fighting. To the end." Love is a battle?" said Franz.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/love-is-a-battle-said-marie-claude-still-smiling-and-i-plan-to-go-on/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [It's almost ironic sitting here watching stories about Norm's courageous 'battle' with cancer. He actually did a bit on stage about how stupid that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-macdonald/it-s-almost-ironic-sitting-here-watching-stories-about-norm-s/) [Neil Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-macdonald/) > [“Other folk thought the Rage was simple bloodlust, a berserk savagery that neither knew nor cared what its target was, and so it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-weber/other-folk-thought-the-rage-was-simple-bloodlust-a-berserk-savagery/) [David Weber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-weber/) > [The rationale which accompanies that imposition of male authority euphemistically referred to as 'the battle of the sexes' bears a certain resemblance to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-millett/the-rationale-which-accompanies-that-imposition-of-male-authority/) [Kate Millett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-millett/) > [For many people it's Facebook, or sports on TV, whatever it is. I have my own demons that I battle. But whatever they are,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-walter/for-many-people-it-s-facebook-or-sports-on-tv-whatever-it-is-i-have/) [Jess Walter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-walter/) [Browse all 4,526 Battle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/battle/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Wouldn't a laugh serve us better than to battle it out with our mortal souls?", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Maureen Howard" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-howard/wouldn-t-a-laugh-serve-us-better-than-to-battle-it-out-with-our/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Battle" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-howard/wouldn-t-a-laugh-serve-us-better-than-to-battle-it-out-with-our/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/668/maureen-howard-28838_battle_wouldn-t-a-laugh-serve-us-better-than-to_561836.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/668/maureen-howard-28838_battle_wouldn-t-a-laugh-serve-us-better-than-to_561836.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/668/maureen-howard-28838_battle_wouldn-t-a-laugh-serve-us-better-than-to_561836.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Wouldn't a laugh serve us better than to battle it out with our mortal souls?” — Maureen Howard", "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": "Maureen Howard", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-howard/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Wouldn't a laugh serve us better...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-howard/wouldn-t-a-laugh-serve-us-better-than-to-battle-it-out-with-our/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-howard/wouldn-t-a-laugh-serve-us-better-than-to-battle-it-out-with-our/#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 } } ] } ```