Comedy Quote by Samuel Butler
“A sense of humour keen enough to show a man his own absurdities as well as those of other people will keep a man from the commission of all sins, or nearly all, save those that are worth committing.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Hudibras by Samuel Butler, 1663
Humor that reveals both personal and others’ absurdities deters most wrongdoing, except perhaps the occasional justified transgression.
In simple terms: Humor exposing absurdities prevents most sins.
Use humor to expose folly.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- personal growth
- leadership
- conflict resolution
- social critique
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can humor be used responsibly to critique?
- What limits exist for humor in moral guidance?
Humor may be misunderstood or ignored, reducing its effect.