--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is laughter that goes so far as to…" description: "\"There is laughter that goes so far as to lose all touch with its motive, and to exist only, grossly, in itself. This is laughter at its best. A man to ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e79/max-beerbohm-4658_abbey_there-is-laughter-that-goes-so-far-as-to_1426197.jpg" --- # There is laughter that goes so far as to lose all touch… ![“There is laughter that goes so far as to lose all touch with its motive, and to exist only, grossly, in itself. This is laughter at its best. A man to whom such laughter has often been granted may happen to die in a work-house. No matter. I will not admit that he has failed in life. Another man…” quote by Max Beerbohm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e79/max-beerbohm-4658_abbey_there-is-laughter-that-goes-so-far-as-to_1426197.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e79/max-beerbohm-4658_abbey_there-is-laughter-that-goes-so-far-as-to_1426197.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e79/max-beerbohm-4658_abbey_there-is-laughter-that-goes-so-far-as-to_1426197.jpg) > “There is laughter that goes so far as to lose all touch with its motive, and to exist only, grossly, in itself. This is laughter at its best. A man to whom such laughter has often been granted may happen to die in a work-house. No matter. I will not admit that he has failed in life. Another man, who has never laughed thus, may be buried in Westminster Abbey, leaving more than a million pounds overhead. What then? I regard him as a failure.” [Max Beerbohm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-beerbohm/) ## 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 critiques hollow laughter detached from purpose, suggesting true value lies in authentic, purposeful joy rather than empty mirth. **In simple terms:** Empty laughter lacks meaning; genuine joy is purposeful. Key Takeaway Seek laughter that reflects purpose. Themes authenticity purpose humor success failure Mood reflective critical thoughtful Type philosophical observational satirical When to use this quote - creative work - personal relationships - mental health - cultural criticism Key Concepts existentialism social critique psychology Questions to Reflect On - What does authentic laughter feel like? - How can we differentiate meaningful joy from empty amusement? A Different Perspective Laughter without meaning can mask deeper emptiness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Laughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laughter/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Motive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motive/) [Westminster abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/westminster-abbey/) ## Related quotes > [As I passed along the side walls of Westminster Abbey, I hardly saw any thing but marble monuments of great admirals, but which were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-philipp-moritz/as-i-passed-along-the-side-walls-of-westminster-abbey-i-hardly-saw/) [Karl Philipp Moritz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-philipp-moritz/) > [He who is faithful over a few things is a lord of cities. 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Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-n-wilson/) > [On a very gloomy dismal day, just such a one as it ought to be, I went to see Westminster Abbey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-philipp-moritz/on-a-very-gloomy-dismal-day-just-such-a-one-as-it-ought-to-be-i-went/) [Karl Philipp Moritz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-philipp-moritz/) > [Westminster Abbey, the Tower, a steeple, one church, and then another, presented themselves to our view; and we could now plainly distinguish the high…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-philipp-moritz/westminster-abbey-the-tower-a-steeple-one-church-and-then-another/) [Karl Philipp Moritz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-philipp-moritz/) > [In the firm expectation that when London shall be a habitation of bitterns, when St. Paul and Westminster Abbey shall stand shapeless and nameless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/in-the-firm-expectation-that-when-london-shall-be-a-habitation-of/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [I mean, you can't walk down the aisle in Westminster Abbey in a strapless dress, it just won't happen - it has to suit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-oldfield/i-mean-you-can-t-walk-down-the-aisle-in-westminster-abbey-in-a/) [Bruce Oldfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-oldfield/) > [Commemorative stone in the floor of the Chapel of St. George in Westminster Abbey, London, dedicated in 1947: TO THE MEMORY OF ROBERT Baden-Powell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-baden-powell/commemorative-stone-in-the-floor-of-the-chapel-of-st-george-in/) [Robert Baden-Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-baden-powell/) > [Darwin was one of our finest specimens. 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It goes back down and spreads to your hips.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-allen/it-is-bad-to-suppress-laughter-it-goes-back-down-and-spreads-to-your/) [Fred Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-allen/) ## More by Max Beerbohm > [Only mediocrity can be trusted to be always at its best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-beerbohm/only-mediocrity-can-be-trusted-to-be-always-at-its-best/) [Max Beerbohm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-beerbohm/) > [People are either born hosts or born guests.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-beerbohm/people-are-either-born-hosts-or-born-guests/) [Max Beerbohm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-beerbohm/) > [By its very looseness, by its way of evoking rather than defining, suggesting rather than saying, English is a magnificent vehicle for emotional poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-beerbohm/by-its-very-looseness-by-its-way-of-evoking-rather-than-defining/) [Max Beerbohm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-beerbohm/) > [There is much to be said for failure. It is more interesting than success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-beerbohm/there-is-much-to-be-said-for-failure-it-is-more-interesting-than/) [Max Beerbohm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-beerbohm/) > [I believe the twenty-four hour day has come to stay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-beerbohm/i-believe-the-twenty-four-hour-day-has-come-to-stay/) [Max Beerbohm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-beerbohm/) > [“As she sat here in the bay-window of her room, she was not reviewing the splendid pageant of her past. She was a young…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-beerbohm/as-she-sat-here-in-the-bay-window-of-her-room-she-was-not-reviewing/) [Max Beerbohm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-beerbohm/) > [As a teacher, as a propagandist, Mr. Shaw is no good at all, even in his own generation. 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