Apollo Quote by Robert G. Ingersoll
““Strike, with hand of fire, O weird musician, thy harp strung with Apollo's golden hair; fill the vast cathedral aisles with symphonies sweet and dim, deft toucher of the organ keys; blow, bugler, blow, until thy silver notes do touch and kiss the moonlit waves, and charm the lovers wandering 'mid the vine-clad hills. But know, your sweetest strains are discords all, compared with childhood's happy laugh—the laugh that fills the eyes with light and every heart with joy. O rippling river of laughter, thou art the blessed boundary line between the beasts and men; and every wayward wave of thine doth drown some fretful fiend of care. O Laughter, rose-lipped daughter of Joy, there are dimples enough in thy cheeks to catch and hold and glorify all the tears of grief.””
About This Quote
Source Poem: Unknown, 19th‑century rhetorical piece
The speaker praises music and laughter, contrasting their transcendent power with ordinary joy, and sees laughter as a healing force that soothes grief.
In simple terms: Music and laughter heal, surpassing ordinary joy.
Key Takeaway
Embrace laughter to ease sorrow.
Themes
joy
healing
music
contrast
grief
Mood
reflective
hopeful
poetic
Type
inspirational
philosophical
When to use this quote
- celebrations
- personal loss
- mental health coping
- creative expression
Key Concepts
transcendence
emotional release
artistic metaphor
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you turn laughter into lasting resilience?
- When does music become a substitute for action?
A Different Perspective
Laughter may not solve practical problems, only provide temporary relief.
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