--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is more civilized to make fun of life…" description: "\"“It is more civilized to make fun of life than to bewail it.”\" — Seneca" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/773/seneca-956_civilized_it-is-more-civilized-to-make-fun-of-life_3204225.jpg" --- # It is more civilized to make fun of life than to bewail it. ![“It is more civilized to make fun of life than to bewail it.” quote by Seneca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/773/seneca-956_civilized_it-is-more-civilized-to-make-fun-of-life_3204225.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/773/seneca-956_civilized_it-is-more-civilized-to-make-fun-of-life_3204225.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/773/seneca-956_civilized_it-is-more-civilized-to-make-fun-of-life_3204225.jpg) > ““It is more civilized to make fun of life than to bewail it.”” [Seneca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Choosing humor over lamentation is a more refined, resilient way to face life's hardships. **In simple terms:** Laugh at life rather than mourn it. Key Takeaway Adopt a light‑hearted perspective in adversity. Themes philosophy stoicism resilience humor attitude Mood thoughtful calm Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal setbacks - health challenges - stressful work environments - social conflicts Key Concepts stoic joy cognitive reframing emotional regulation Questions to Reflect On - When is humor helpful versus harmful? - How can we balance seriousness with levity? A Different Perspective Humor can be inappropriate in serious suffering. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Civilized](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilized/) [Civilized Make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilized-make-3411125/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Fun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fun/) [Fun life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fun-life/) [Hardship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hardship/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life Bewail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-bewail-5960813/) [Make Fun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-fun/) [Stoic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stoic/) [Stoicismism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stoicismism-178199/) ## Related quotes > [“Civilized are not those who never make mistakes – civilized are those who learn from their mistakes instead of trying to justify them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/civilized-are-not-those-who-never-make-mistakes-civilized-are-those/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [“Bondage is when the mind longs for something, grieves about something, rejects something, holds on to something, is pleased about something or displeased about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashtavakra/bondage-is-when-the-mind-longs-for-something-grieves-about-something/) [Ashtavakra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashtavakra/) > [Have Fun in Life, Never make Fun out of Life; Have Fun with all, Never make Fun of anyone..!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ammu/have-fun-in-life-never-make-fun-out-of-life-have-fun-with-all-never/) [Ammu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ammu/) > [“Here is your great soul—the man who has given himself over to Fate; on the other hand, that man is a weakling and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca/here-is-your-great-soul-the-man-who-has-given-himself-over-to-fate-on/) [Seneca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca/) > [“Reflect that nothing merits admiration except the spirit, the impressiveness of which prevents it from being impressed by anything.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca/reflect-that-nothing-merits-admiration-except-the-spirit-the/) [Seneca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca/) > [Never let your emotions ruined your life instead learn to struggle it and let it pass by it's own way. Someday, you'll realized how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jehan-fostanes-nayga/never-let-your-emotions-ruined-your-life-instead-learn-to-struggle-it/) [Jehan Fostanes Nayga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jehan-fostanes-nayga/) > [My photographs are a celebration of life, fun and the beautiful. They are a world that doesn't exist. A fantasy. Freedom is real. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-mcginley/my-photographs-are-a-celebration-of-life-fun-and-the-beautiful-they/) [Ryan McGinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-mcginley/) > [I live a much better life without having to worry about people chasing me. I spent five years in prison from 21 to 26,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-abagnale/i-live-a-much-better-life-without-having-to-worry-about-people/) [Frank Abagnale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-abagnale/) > [Death is what makes life fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-collins/death-is-what-makes-life-fun/) [Billy Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-collins/) > [Try your best to acheive your goals. have fun with your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabe/try-your-best-to-acheive-your-goals-have-fun-with-your-life/) [Gabe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabe/) > [I'm not bankrupt of fun, life, my dignity, my character, my essence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-eubank-sr/i-m-not-bankrupt-of-fun-life-my-dignity-my-character-my-essence/) [Chris Eubank Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-eubank-sr/) > [You've got to have fun. You only have one life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-chung/you-ve-got-to-have-fun-you-only-have-one-life/) [Patrick Chung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-chung/) > [“Sucking the fun out of life has always been an important component of politics.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke-2/sucking-the-fun-out-of-life-has-always-been-an-important-component-of/) [P.J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke-2/) > [I'm a great believer in life to saying yes and not saying no, and hopefully making people smile and just having fun in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-m-a-great-believer-in-life-to-saying-yes-and-not-saying-no-and/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [You've got to have fun in life. Otherwise, wow - imagine life without fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prince-harry/you-ve-got-to-have-fun-in-life-otherwise-wow-imagine-life-without-fun/) [Prince Harry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prince-harry/) ## More by Seneca > [“You should, I need hardly say, live in such a way that there is nothing which you could not as easily tell your enemy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca/you-should-i-need-hardly-say-live-in-such-a-way-that-there-is-nothing/) [Seneca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca/) > [“The difficulty comes from our lack of confidence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca/the-difficulty-comes-from-our-lack-of-confidence/) [Seneca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca/) > [Fate leads the willing and drags along the unwilling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca/fate-leads-the-willing-and-drags-along-the-unwilling/) [Seneca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca/) > [“the wise man is self-sufficient, that he can do without friends, not that he desires to do without them. When I say "can," I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca/the-wise-man-is-self-sufficient-that-he-can-do-without-friends-not/) [Seneca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca/) > [“This, I say, is the highest duty and the highest proof of wisdom, – that deed and word should be in accord, that”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca/this-i-say-is-the-highest-duty-and-the-highest-proof-of-wisdom-that/) [Seneca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca/) > [“But both courses are to be avoided; you should not copy the bad simply because they are many, nor should you hate the many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca/but-both-courses-are-to-be-avoided-you-should-not-copy-the-bad-simply/) [Seneca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca/) > [“Virtue alone affords everlasting and peace-giving joy; even if some obstacle arise, it is but like an intervening cloud, which floats beneath the sun…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca/virtue-alone-affords-everlasting-and-peace-giving-joy-even-if-some/) [Seneca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca/) > [“I’ve come across people who say that there is a sort of inborn restlessness in the human spirit and an urge to change one’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca/i-ve-come-across-people-who-say-that-there-is-a-sort-of-inborn/) [Seneca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca/) > [“Withdraw into yourself, as far as you can. Associate with those who will make a better man of you. Welcome those whom you yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca/withdraw-into-yourself-as-far-as-you-can-associate-with-those-who/) [Seneca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca/) > [Economy is too late at the bottom of the purse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca/economy-is-too-late-at-the-bottom-of-the-purse/) [Seneca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca/) > [“On Epicurus; He says: "Contended poverty is an honourable estate." Indeed, if it is contented, it is not poverty at all. It is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca/on-epicurus-he-says-contended-poverty-is-an-honourable-estate-indeed/) [Seneca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca/) > [“...certain people have good, ordinary blood and others have an animated, lively sort of blood that comes to the face quickly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca/certain-people-have-good-ordinary-blood-and-others-have-an-animated/) [Seneca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca/) > [“we perish because we follow other men's examples: we should be cured of this if we were to disengage ourselves from the herd;”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca/we-perish-because-we-follow-other-men-s-examples-we-should-be-cured/) [Seneca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca/) > [“they Whatever can make life truly happy is absolutely good in its own right because it cannot be warped into evil From whence then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca/they-whatever-can-make-life-truly-happy-is-absolutely-good-in-its-own/) [Seneca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca/) > [“And when the soul has yielded to pleasure, its functions and actions grow weak, and any undertaking comes from a nerveless and unsteady source.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca/and-when-the-soul-has-yielded-to-pleasure-its-functions-and-actions/) [Seneca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca/) [Explore all 286 Seneca quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca/) ## More Civilized quotes > [ That country \[Carthage\] was rapidly sinking into the state of barbarism from whence it had been raised by the Phoenician colonies and Roman laws;… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/that-country-carthage-was-rapidly-sinking-into-the-state-of-barbarism/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [Be neither too early in the fashion, nor too long out of it, nor too precisely in it; what custom hath civilized is become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/be-neither-too-early-in-the-fashion-nor-too-long-out-of-it-nor-too/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [Wine is one of the most civilized things in the world and one of the most natural things of the world that has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/wine-is-one-of-the-most-civilized-things-in-the-world-and-one-of-the/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [Civilized nations are ones that simply can't endure wrongs or injustice except at home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-anderson/civilized-nations-are-ones-that-simply-can-t-endure-wrongs-or/) [Joseph Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-anderson/) > [Our guiding principle was that design is neither an intellectual nor a material affair, but simply an integral part of the stuff of life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-gropius/our-guiding-principle-was-that-design-is-neither-an-intellectual-nor/) [Walter Gropius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-gropius/) > [War is not civilized.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talib-kweli/war-is-not-civilized/) [Talib Kweli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talib-kweli/) > [For it is an absurdity to call a country civilized in which a decent and industrious man, laboriously mastering a trade which is valuble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/for-it-is-an-absurdity-to-call-a-country-civilized-in-which-a-decent/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [No people is wholly civilized where a distinction is drawn between stealing an office and stealing a purse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/no-people-is-wholly-civilized-where-a-distinction-is-drawn-between/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [Mine was, as it were, the connecting link between wild and cultivated fields; as some states are civilized, and others half-civilized, and others savage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/mine-was-as-it-were-the-connecting-link-between-wild-and-cultivated/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The military mind is indeed a menace. Old-fashioned futurity that sees only men fighting and dying in smoke and fire; hears nothing more civilized…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-o-casey/the-military-mind-is-indeed-a-menace-old-fashioned-futurity-that-sees/) [Sean O'Casey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-o-casey/) > [As long as there are prisons, police, armies, navies; we are not civilized. When the Earth joins together and uses the Earth intelligently, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacque-fresco/as-long-as-there-are-prisons-police-armies-navies-we-are-not/) [Jacque Fresco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacque-fresco/) > [We're all intrigued, in our civilized world that we live in, and curious about how we would get on, on an undiscovered island that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hiddleston/we-re-all-intrigued-in-our-civilized-world-that-we-live-in-and/) [Tom Hiddleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hiddleston/) > [When passions and appetites are stronger than the intellect, men are savages; when the intellect governs the passions, when the passions are servants, men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/when-passions-and-appetites-are-stronger-than-the-intellect-men-are/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [The malady of civilized man is his knowledge of death. 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