--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you find yourself looking…" description: "\"“When you find yourself looking ridiculous, reasoning isn't worth a damn.”\" — Osamu Dazai" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c03/osamu-dazai-2813_honor_when-you-find-yourself-looking-ridiculou_907678.jpg" --- # When you find yourself looking ridiculous, reasoning isn't… ![“When you find yourself looking ridiculous, reasoning isn't worth a damn.” quote by Osamu Dazai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c03/osamu-dazai-2813_honor_when-you-find-yourself-looking-ridiculou_907678.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c03/osamu-dazai-2813_honor_when-you-find-yourself-looking-ridiculou_907678.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c03/osamu-dazai-2813_honor_when-you-find-yourself-looking-ridiculou_907678.jpg) > ““When you find yourself looking ridiculous, reasoning isn't worth a damn.”” [Osamu Dazai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osamu-dazai/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When you look absurd, rational arguments lose their power. **In simple terms:** Ridiculousness undermines reasoning. Key Takeaway Avoid over‑analyzing in absurd moments. Themes humor self‑awareness logic Mood wry reflective Type aphilosophical observational When to use this quote - social embarrassment - public speaking - online debates Key Concepts existentialism cognitive bias Questions to Reflect On - When have you let embarrassment silence you? - How can humor restore perspective? A Different Perspective Reasoning can still be useful if you stay calm. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Honor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honor/) [Reasoning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reasoning/) [Ridicule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ridicule/) [Shame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shame/) ## Related quotes > [The reasoning isn't crazy. It's technically correct. If you're being true to the idea that government must not take positions on religious questions, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-balkin/the-reasoning-isn-t-crazy-it-s-technically-correct-if-you-re-being/) Jack Balkin > [The number of people that can reason well is much smaller than those that can reason badly. If reasoning were like hauling rocks, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/galileo-galilei/the-number-of-people-that-can-reason-well-is-much-smaller-than-those/) [Galileo Galilei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/galileo-galilei/) > [Anyone who takes himself too seriously always runs the risk of looking ridiculous; anyone who can consistently laugh at himself does not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaclav-havel/anyone-who-takes-himself-too-seriously-always-runs-the-risk-of/) [Vaclav Havel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaclav-havel/) > [Rock is ironic in that, up to a certain point, you can get better and better at it if you don't mind possibly looking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/rock-is-ironic-in-that-up-to-a-certain-point-you-can-get-better-and/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [If you love someone tell them. Forget about the rules of the fear of looking ridiculous. What is truly ridiculous is passing up on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-love-someone-tell-them-forget-about-the-rules-of-the-fear-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [As an actor, you don't have much choice about your appearance. It's a good excuse for looking ridiculous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kit-harington/as-an-actor-you-don-t-have-much-choice-about-your-appearance-it-s-a/) [Kit Harington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kit-harington/) > [It is a curious thought, but it is only when u see people looking ridiculous that u realize just how much u love them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-a-curious-thought-but-it-is-only-when-u-see-people-looking/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [ Every episode \[in a TV series\] is a challenge, and what's challenging in most episodes is the monster. You're always a heartbeat from the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-moffat/every-episode-in-a-tv-series-is-a-challenge-and-what-s-challenging-in/) [Steven Moffat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-moffat/) > [It is a curious thought, but it is only when you see people looking ridiculous that you realize just how much you love them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/it-is-a-curious-thought-but-it-is-only-when-you-see-people-looking/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > [How comes it to pass, then, that we appear such cowards in reasoning, and are so afraid to stand the test of ridicule? -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-ashley-cooper-1st-earl-of-shaftesbury/how-comes-it-to-pass-then-that-we-appear-such-cowards-in-reasoning/) Anthony Ashley Cooper, 1st Earl of Shaftesbury > [The qualities we have do not make us so ridiculous as those which we affect to have. \[Fr., On n'est jamais si ridicule par…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/the-qualities-we-have-do-not-make-us-so-ridiculous-as-those-which-we/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [To criticize a person for their race is manifestly irrational and ridiculous, but to criticize their religion, that is a right. That is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rowan-atkinson/to-criticize-a-person-for-their-race-is-manifestly-irrational-and-2/) [Rowan Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rowan-atkinson/) > [It is commonly said that ridicule is the best test of truth; for that it will not stick where it is not just. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/it-is-commonly-said-that-ridicule-is-the-best-test-of-truth-for-that/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [It rolls off my back. Ridicule doesn't mean anything - even from people you're supposed to wear knee pads around, like the scientific community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-schultz/it-rolls-off-my-back-ridicule-doesn-t-mean-anything-even-from-people/) [Dwight Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-schultz/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) ## More by Osamu Dazai > [I want to spend my time with people who don't look to be respected. But such good people won't want to spend their time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osamu-dazai/i-want-to-spend-my-time-with-people-who-don-t-look-to-be-respected/) [Osamu Dazai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osamu-dazai/) > [“Disqualified as a human being. I had now ceased utterly to be a human being.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osamu-dazai/disqualified-as-a-human-being-i-had-now-ceased-utterly-to-be-a-human/) [Osamu Dazai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osamu-dazai/) > [I was afraid to board a streetcar because of the conductor; I was afraid to enter the Kabuki Theater for fear of the usherettes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osamu-dazai/i-was-afraid-to-board-a-streetcar-because-of-the-conductor-i-was/) [Osamu Dazai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osamu-dazai/) > [“Tomorrow will probably be another day like today. Happiness will never come my way. I know that. But it's probably best to go to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osamu-dazai/tomorrow-will-probably-be-another-day-like-today-happiness-will-never/) [Osamu Dazai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osamu-dazai/) > [“When I pretended to be precocious, people started the rumor that I was precocious. When I acted like an idler, rumor had it I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osamu-dazai/when-i-pretended-to-be-precocious-people-started-the-rumor-that-i-was/) [Osamu Dazai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osamu-dazai/) > [One day, I went to a soba restaurant outside town, and while I was waiting for the zarusoba I opened an old graph magazine.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osamu-dazai/one-day-i-went-to-a-soba-restaurant-outside-town-and-while-i-was/) [Osamu Dazai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osamu-dazai/) > [“I feel so unhappy.” I am sure that this one phrase whispered to me would arouse my sympathy more than the longest, most painstaking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osamu-dazai/i-feel-so-unhappy-i-am-sure-that-this-one-phrase-whispered-to-me/) [Osamu Dazai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osamu-dazai/) > [I soon came to understand that drink, tobacco and prostitutes were all great means if dissipating (even for a few moments) my dread for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osamu-dazai/i-soon-came-to-understand-that-drink-tobacco-and-prostitutes-were-all/) [Osamu Dazai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osamu-dazai/) > [“Of late a gloomy rain has been falling almost incessantly. Whatever I do depresses me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osamu-dazai/of-late-a-gloomy-rain-has-been-falling-almost-incessantly-whatever-i/) [Osamu Dazai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osamu-dazai/) > [“All I feel are the assaults of apprehension and terror at the thought that I am the only one who is entirely unlike the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osamu-dazai/all-i-feel-are-the-assaults-of-apprehension-and-terror-at-the-thought/) [Osamu Dazai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osamu-dazai/) > [Last year nothing happened The year before nothing happened And the year before that nothing happened.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osamu-dazai/last-year-nothing-happened-the-year-before-nothing-happened-and-the/) [Osamu Dazai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osamu-dazai/) > [“Disqualified as a human being.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osamu-dazai/disqualified-as-a-human-being/) [Osamu Dazai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osamu-dazai/) > [“Logic, inevitably, is the love of logic. It is not the love for living human beings.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osamu-dazai/logic-inevitably-is-the-love-of-logic-it-is-not-the-love-for-living/) [Osamu Dazai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osamu-dazai/) > [I like roses best. But they bloom in all four seasons. I wonder if people who like roses best have to die four times…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osamu-dazai/i-like-roses-best-but-they-bloom-in-all-four-seasons-i-wonder-if/) [Osamu Dazai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osamu-dazai/) > [But happiness is being able to hope, however faintly, for happiness. So, at least, we must believe if we are to live in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osamu-dazai/but-happiness-is-being-able-to-hope-however-faintly-for-happiness-so/) [Osamu Dazai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osamu-dazai/) [Explore all 135 Osamu Dazai quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osamu-dazai/) ## More Honor quotes > [Women still, when they have breast cancer, go to work; they still lead their lives. They have to. I just did what I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-potter/women-still-when-they-have-breast-cancer-go-to-work-they-still-lead/) [Monica Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-potter/) > [If you had made the acquiring of ignorance the study of your life, you could not have graduated with higher honor than you could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/if-you-had-made-the-acquiring-of-ignorance-the-study-of-your-life-you/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [From the bitter cold winter at Valley Forge, to the mountains of Afghanistan and the deserts of Iraq, our soldiers have courageously answered when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solomon-ortiz/from-the-bitter-cold-winter-at-valley-forge-to-the-mountains-of/) [Solomon Ortiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solomon-ortiz/) > [It is sure that those are most desirous of honour or glory who cry out loudest of its abuse and the vanity of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baruch-spinoza/it-is-sure-that-those-are-most-desirous-of-honour-or-glory-who-cry/) [Baruch Spinoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baruch-spinoza/) > [This is what I say about the scorn of the media elite: I wear their scorn as a badge of honor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-quayle/this-is-what-i-say-about-the-scorn-of-the-media-elite-i-wear-their/) [Dan Quayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-quayle/) > [Just being in a video game is an honor, and being on the cover, I can't really describe it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-judge/just-being-in-a-video-game-is-an-honor-and-being-on-the-cover-i-can-t/) [Aaron Judge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-judge/) > [Spade! Thou art a tool of honor in my hands. I press thee, through a yielding soil, with pride.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wordsworth/spade-thou-art-a-tool-of-honor-in-my-hands-i-press-thee-through-a/) [William Wordsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wordsworth/) > [Although I write in English, and despite the fact that I'm from America, I consider myself an Armenian writer. The words I use are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-saroyan/although-i-write-in-english-and-despite-the-fact-that-i-m-from/) [William Saroyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-saroyan/) > [Making money doesn't oblige people to forfeit their honor or their conscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-de-rothschild/making-money-doesn-t-oblige-people-to-forfeit-their-honor-or-their/) [Guy de Rothschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-de-rothschild/) > [The dog is guided by kindly instinct to the man or woman whose heart is open to his advances. The cat often leaves the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-repplier/the-dog-is-guided-by-kindly-instinct-to-the-man-or-woman-whose-heart/) [Agnes Repplier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-repplier/) > [“He put his forehead against hers. “Alannah, my heart is yours.” He said softly. “And yet, I must hand it over to someone else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-c-morin/he-put-his-forehead-against-hers-alannah-my-heart-is-yours-he-said/) [B.C. Morin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-c-morin/) > [Use every man according to his desert and who should 'scape whipping? Use them after your own honor and dignity, the less they deserve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/use-every-man-according-to-his-desert-and-who-should-scape-whipping/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [There is honor between bitches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/there-is-honor-between-bitches/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [A man should be upright, not kept upright.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/a-man-should-be-upright-not-kept-upright/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [I know my idea of beauty isn't what most people's is, and the fact that I'm getting the opportunity to show my beauty and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-osbourne/i-know-my-idea-of-beauty-isn-t-what-most-people-s-is-and-the-fact/) [Kelly Osbourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-osbourne/) [Browse all 5,016 Honor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honor/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“When you find yourself looking ridiculous, reasoning isn't worth a damn.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Osamu Dazai" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osamu-dazai/when-you-find-yourself-looking-ridiculous-reasoning-isn-t-worth-a-damn/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Honor" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osamu-dazai/when-you-find-yourself-looking-ridiculous-reasoning-isn-t-worth-a-damn/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c03/osamu-dazai-2813_honor_when-you-find-yourself-looking-ridiculou_907678.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c03/osamu-dazai-2813_honor_when-you-find-yourself-looking-ridiculou_907678.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c03/osamu-dazai-2813_honor_when-you-find-yourself-looking-ridiculou_907678.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When you find yourself looking ridiculous, reasoning isn't worth a damn.” — Osamu Dazai", "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": "Osamu Dazai", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osamu-dazai/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“When you find yourself looking ridiculous,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osamu-dazai/when-you-find-yourself-looking-ridiculous-reasoning-isn-t-worth-a-damn/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osamu-dazai/when-you-find-yourself-looking-ridiculous-reasoning-isn-t-worth-a-damn/#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 } } ] } ```