--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Laughter is the only tenable attitude in…" description: "\"Laughter is the only tenable attitude in a universe which is a joke played on itself.\" — Peter J. Carroll" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d4/peter-j-carroll-13919_attitude_laughter-is-the-only-tenable-attitude-in_2936965.jpg" --- # Laughter is the only tenable attitude in a universe which… ![“Laughter is the only tenable attitude in a universe which is a joke played on itself.” quote by Peter J. Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d4/peter-j-carroll-13919_attitude_laughter-is-the-only-tenable-attitude-in_2936965.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d4/peter-j-carroll-13919_attitude_laughter-is-the-only-tenable-attitude-in_2936965.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d4/peter-j-carroll-13919_attitude_laughter-is-the-only-tenable-attitude-in_2936965.jpg) > “Laughter is the only tenable attitude in a universe which is a joke played on itself.” [Peter J. Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-j-carroll/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Adopting humor helps cope with life's absurdities and reduces existential dread. **In simple terms:** Humor eases existential absurdity. Key Takeaway Use laughter to face absurd situations. Themes existentialism humor coping resilience Mood lighthearted reflective Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - daily stress - health crises - social gatherings - creative work Key Concepts absurdism psychology philosophy Questions to Reflect On - How does humor change your perception of hardship? - When does laughter become avoidance? A Different Perspective Humor may mask deeper issues if overused. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Joke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joke/) [Jokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jokes/) [Laughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laughter/) [Universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universe/) ## Related quotes > [If you have to do something, write me a funny AIDS play. Sure you can. It's the biggest joke played on us since sex…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-patrick/if-you-have-to-do-something-write-me-a-funny-aids-play-sure-you-can/) [Robert Patrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-patrick/) > [“I would like to see all this as a big joke that is being played upon us, but I have seen what was wrought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-sionil-jos/i-would-like-to-see-all-this-as-a-big-joke-that-is-being-played-upon/) [F. Sionil José](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-sionil-jos/) > [“I am, I believe, a young man on whom a grand joke is being played, fated to live one century, perhaps a second, perhaps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kraus/i-am-i-believe-a-young-man-on-whom-a-grand-joke-is-being-played-fated/) [Daniel Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kraus/) > [“she’d thought it was a matter of taste, but she’d come to understand that it was a joke he played on the upstanding merchers.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/she-d-thought-it-was-a-matter-of-taste-but-she-d-come-to-understand/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [The old idea that the joke was not good enough for the company has been superseded by the new aristocratic idea that the company…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/the-old-idea-that-the-joke-was-not-good-enough-for-the-company-has/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [If God gives you (or makes you) a joke, what are you meant to do in response? (Receive it. Laugh.) If God gives you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-d-wilson/if-god-gives-you-or-makes-you-a-joke-what-are-you-meant-to-do-in/) [N.D. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-d-wilson/) > [People try to put ownership on things: 'That's mine, that's my joke.' No such thing. Like if you tripped or stumbled and people go,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-chong/people-try-to-put-ownership-on-things-that-s-mine-that-s-my-joke-no/) [Tommy Chong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-chong/) > [It's harder when people are playing along, because it's just not as funny. They're trying to be funny, and it sort of cancels out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-carell/it-s-harder-when-people-are-playing-along-because-it-s-just-not-as/) [Steve Carell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-carell/) > [I have a really analytical approach to art. And the whole idea that you can't analyze what makes a joke funny...I do not agree…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-rees/i-have-a-really-analytical-approach-to-art-and-the-whole-idea-that/) [David Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-rees/) > [High school wasn't a trial by fire or some ordeal that had to be survived. It was all a big joke. You just had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/high-school-wasn-t-a-trial-by-fire-or-some-ordeal-that-had-to-be/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) > [“A joke is a question of mind over manner.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-marais/a-joke-is-a-question-of-mind-over-manner/) [Anthony Marais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-marais/) > [The joke is the purest, most essential form of storytelling. Every word has to count.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-auster/the-joke-is-the-purest-most-essential-form-of-storytelling-every-word/) [Paul Auster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-auster/) > [Tell me that I misunderstood a joke, but don't tell me that my choice of cravat is wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-niven/tell-me-that-i-misunderstood-a-joke-but-don-t-tell-me-that-my-choice/) [David Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-niven/) > [I don't do plays without jokes anymore. I've retired from those plays. I think it's bad manners to invite people to sit in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-nighy/i-don-t-do-plays-without-jokes-anymore-i-ve-retired-from-those-plays/) [Bill Nighy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-nighy/) > [I'm always looking at new ways to tell a joke so that it doesn't get stale while working on new jokes every night or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-burr/i-m-always-looking-at-new-ways-to-tell-a-joke-so-that-it-doesn-t-get/) [Bill Burr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-burr/) ## More by Peter J. Carroll > [All Philosophy is Biography](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-j-carroll/all-philosophy-is-biography/) [Peter J. Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-j-carroll/) > [ “\[A\] competent magician should have the ability to stand still at a bus stop with closed eyes and have the entire universe disappear apart… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-j-carroll/a-competent-magician-should-have-the-ability-to-stand-still-at-a-bus/) [Peter J. Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-j-carroll/) > [“Conspiracy theory, like causality, works fantastically well as an explanatory model but only if you use it backwards. The fact that we cannot predict…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-j-carroll/conspiracy-theory-like-causality-works-fantastically-well-as-an/) [Peter J. Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-j-carroll/) > [Indeed, linear extrapolations make no large-scale sense in a universe that has spatial and temporal curvature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-j-carroll/indeed-linear-extrapolations-make-no-large-scale-sense-in-a-universe/) [Peter J. Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-j-carroll/) > [In a stagnant environment the body-mind creates its own adversity – disease and fantasy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-j-carroll/in-a-stagnant-environment-the-body-mind-creates-its-own-adversity/) [Peter J. Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-j-carroll/) > [That which is denied gains power, and seeks strange and unexpected forms of manifestation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-j-carroll/that-which-is-denied-gains-power-and-seeks-strange-and-unexpected/) [Peter J. Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-j-carroll/) > [The only clear view is from atop the mountain of your dead selves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-j-carroll/the-only-clear-view-is-from-atop-the-mountain-of-your-dead-selves/) [Peter J. Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-j-carroll/) > [The conscious mind is a maelstrom of fleeting thoughts, images, sensations, feelings, conflicting desires, and doubts; barely able to confine its attention to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-j-carroll/the-conscious-mind-is-a-maelstrom-of-fleeting-thoughts-images/) [Peter J. Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-j-carroll/) > [Only through absolute loyalty to each other can the few control the many.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-j-carroll/only-through-absolute-loyalty-to-each-other-can-the-few-control-the/) [Peter J. Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-j-carroll/) > [Science has brought us power and ideas but not the wisdom or responsibility to handle them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-j-carroll/science-has-brought-us-power-and-ideas-but-not-the-wisdom-or/) [Peter J. Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-j-carroll/) > [Careful observation will confirm that virtually all spontaneous parapsychological events occur through some form of sleight of mind. It is invariably something hovering just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-j-carroll/careful-observation-will-confirm-that-virtually-all-spontaneous/) [Peter J. Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-j-carroll/) > [So many people seem to spend their lives trying to appear normal, predictable and consistent to themselves and those that surround them. They just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-j-carroll/so-many-people-seem-to-spend-their-lives-trying-to-appear-normal/) [Peter J. Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-j-carroll/) > [“Drugs have a long history of use in magic in various cultures, and usually in the context of either ecstatic communal rituals or in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-j-carroll/drugs-have-a-long-history-of-use-in-magic-in-various-cultures-and/) [Peter J. Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-j-carroll/) > [No left wing parties have any respect for liberal economic values; and most centre and right wing parties merely promote a paternalistic stateism. Does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-j-carroll/no-left-wing-parties-have-any-respect-for-liberal-economic-values-and/) [Peter J. Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-j-carroll/) > [It has taken us two million years to elevate politics from the level of a monkey squabble, to a level comprehensible to a six…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-j-carroll/it-has-taken-us-two-million-years-to-elevate-politics-from-the-level/) [Peter J. Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-j-carroll/) [Explore all 48 Peter J. Carroll quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-j-carroll/) ## More Attitude quotes > [“WE CAN'T ALWAYS CONTROL OUR CIRCUMSTANCES BUT WE CAN CONTROL OUR ATTITUDE. WE MUST BE MORE CONCERNED WITH WHAT WE DO WITH WHAT HAPPENS…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/we-can-t-always-control-our-circumstances-but-we-can-control-our/) [MARVIN J. ASHTON](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) > [It's not the method, it's the mindset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gilbert/it-s-not-the-method-it-s-the-mindset/) [Andy Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gilbert/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [Changes before your eyes, things you can do and things you can't. My attitude is always let it keep rolling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-malick/changes-before-your-eyes-things-you-can-do-and-things-you-can-t-my/) [Terrence Malick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-malick/) > [Vow to be valiant. Resolve to be radiant. Determine to be dynamic. Strive to be sincere. Aspire to be attuned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/vow-to-be-valiant-resolve-to-be-radiant-determine-to-be-dynamic/) [William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/) > [Don't judge me because I'm stupid. Don't judge me because I'm, mean. Don't judge me because I'm weird. Don't judge me for mistakes. Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-harden-me/don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-stupid-don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-mean-don/) Isaiah Harden (Me > [Your feelings (mood) dictate your thought, your thought determines your attitude (reactions) and your attitude describes your lifestyle, so: be careful how you feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheye-hassan/your-feelings-mood-dictate-your-thought-your-thought-determines-your/) Sheye Hassan > [Success will come when the societal attitude changes and not a single woman in America asks herself the question 'What did I do?'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/success-will-come-when-the-societal-attitude-changes-and-not-a-single/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [“Good Seeds! Gratitude is the Greatest Attitude that has no Substitute.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-kelvin-clive/good-seeds-gratitude-is-the-greatest-attitude-that-has-no-substitute/) [Bernard Kelvin Clive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-kelvin-clive/) > [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/) [Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/) > [One genuine reason to feel jealous of my parents:-) I will never ever have a kid as awesome as their's...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-genuine-reason-to-feel-jealous-of-my-parents-i-will-never-ever/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm optimistic Hong Kong will achieve universal suffrage - no matter the attitude of Beijing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wong/i-m-optimistic-hong-kong-will-achieve-universal-suffrage-no-matter/) [Joshua Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wong/) > [My attitude it that you don't give in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-taylor/my-attitude-it-that-you-don-t-give-in/) [Phil Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-taylor/) > [Transparency pertains to impartial behavior, implies openness, communication, and accountability. Inculcate transparency in attitude and experience a life free of controversy and blame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-anil-kr-sinha/transparency-pertains-to-impartial-behavior-implies-openness/) [Dr Anil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-anil-kr-sinha/) > [And if the mind thinks with a believing attitude one can do amazing things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/and-if-the-mind-thinks-with-a-believing-attitude-one-can-do-amazing/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) [Browse all 9,543 Attitude quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Laughter is the only tenable attitude in a universe which is a joke played on itself.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Peter J. 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