--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The same thing happened to me that…" description: "\"“The same thing happened to me that, according to legend, happened to Parmeniscus, who in the Trophonean cave lost the ability to laugh but acquired it..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/380/s-ren-kierkegaard-1686_laugh_the-same-thing-happened-to-me-that-accor_2297673.jpg" --- # The same thing happened to me that, according to legend… ![“The same thing happened to me that, according to legend, happened to Parmeniscus, who in the Trophonean cave lost the ability to laugh but acquired it again on the island of Delos upon seeing a shapeless block that was said to be the image of the goddess Leto. When I was very young, I forgot in…” quote by Søren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/380/s-ren-kierkegaard-1686_laugh_the-same-thing-happened-to-me-that-accor_2297673.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/380/s-ren-kierkegaard-1686_laugh_the-same-thing-happened-to-me-that-accor_2297673.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/380/s-ren-kierkegaard-1686_laugh_the-same-thing-happened-to-me-that-accor_2297673.jpg) > ““The same thing happened to me that, according to legend, happened to Parmeniscus, who in the Trophonean cave lost the ability to laugh but acquired it again on the island of Delos upon seeing a shapeless block that was said to be the image of the goddess Leto. When I was very young, I forgot in the Trophonean cave how to laugh; when I became an adult, when I opened my eyes and saw actuality, then I started to laugh and have never stopped laughing since that time. I saw that the meaning of life was to make a living, its goal to be- come a councilor, that the rich delight oflove was to acquire a well-to-do girl, that the blessedness of friendship was to help each other in financial difficulties, that wisdom was whatever the majority assumed it to be, that enthusiasm was to give a speech, that courage was to risk being fined ten dollars, that cordiality was to say "May it do you good" after a meal, that piety was to go to communion once a year. This I saw, and I laughed.”” [Søren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-ren-kierkegaard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker recounts a mythic loss and regain of laughter, then lists life’s purposes—career, love, friendship, wisdom, enthusiasm, courage, cordiality, piety—concluding that recognizing these gives reason to laugh. **In simple terms:** A mythic story about regaining laughter leads to a list of life’s goals, ending in joy. Key Takeaway Identify life’s purposes and find joy. Themes existential philosophical humor Mood reflective playful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal growth - relationship building - career planning - spiritual practice Key Concepts meaning of life human experience Questions to Reflect On - Which of these purposes resonate with you? - Can joy be found in everyday duties? A Different Perspective The list may be overly prescriptive and culturally specific. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Laugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laugh/) [Meaning of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meaning-of-life/) ## Related quotes > [I don't mind being laughed at: that's something I really don't mind, and I think that's kept me sane. My ability to laugh at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-wilde/i-don-t-mind-being-laughed-at-that-s-something-i-really-don-t-mind/) [Kim Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-wilde/) > [“You... don't have the spine!" he hissed with morbid, sadistic amusement. Unfortunately for him, it was mercy that I lacked, not a spine. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-allison-moulton/you-don-t-have-the-spine-he-hissed-with-morbid-sadistic-amusement/) [Courtney Allison Moulton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-allison-moulton/) > [“Another growl, this one sounding like "you!" 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So I give myself endless opportunities to do so.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-althouse/to-me-the-best-humor-is-indeed-the-ability-to-laugh-at-one-s-self-so/) [Tom Althouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-althouse/) > [“I believe that the ability to laugh at oneself is fundamental to the resiliency of the human spirit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-conner-browne/i-believe-that-the-ability-to-laugh-at-oneself-is-fundamental-to-the/) [Jill Conner Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-conner-browne/) ## More by Søren Kierkegaard > [“At vove er at miste fodfæstet et kort øjeblik - ikke at vove er at miste sig selv.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-ren-kierkegaard/at-vove-er-at-miste-fodf-stet-et-kort-jeblik-ikke-at-vove-er-at-miste/) [Søren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-ren-kierkegaard/) > [“Who tricked me into this whole thing and leaves me standing here? Who am I? How did I get into the world? 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What makes us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-miller/laughter-is-one-of-the-great-beacons-in-life-because-we-don-t-refract/) [Dennis Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-miller/) > [Edgy is fine - I'm not a prude by any stretch of the imagination - but what's wrong with a good ol' belly laugh?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-burnett/edgy-is-fine-i-m-not-a-prude-by-any-stretch-of-the-imagination-but/) [Carol Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-burnett/) > [There isn't a sound better than your own child's laugh...There isn't a sight better than your own child's smile...and Nothing is better than being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/there-isn-t-a-sound-better-than-your-own-child-s-laugh-there-isn-t-a/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [You didn't want to laugh, did you? 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When I was very young, I forgot in the Trophonean cave how to laugh; when I became an adult, when I opened my eyes and saw actuality, then I started to laugh and have never stopped laughing since that time. I saw that the meaning of life was to make a living, its goal to be- come a councilor, that the rich delight oflove was to acquire a well-to-do girl, that the blessedness of friendship was to help each other in financial difficulties, that wisdom was whatever the majority assumed it to be, that enthusiasm was to give a speech, that courage was to risk being fined ten dollars, that cordiality was to say \"May it do you good\" after a meal, that piety was to go to communion once a year. 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