--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sense of humor: A thread of illuminated…" description: "\"Sense of humor: A thread of illuminated intelligence that links two opposite ideas.\" — Thomas Lansing Masson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cae/thomas-lansing-masson-42819_humor_sense-of-humor-a-thread-of-illuminated-i_1504366.jpg" --- # Sense of humor: A thread of illuminated intelligence that… ![“Sense of humor: A thread of illuminated intelligence that links two opposite ideas.” quote by Thomas Lansing Masson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cae/thomas-lansing-masson-42819_humor_sense-of-humor-a-thread-of-illuminated-i_1504366.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cae/thomas-lansing-masson-42819_humor_sense-of-humor-a-thread-of-illuminated-i_1504366.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cae/thomas-lansing-masson-42819_humor_sense-of-humor-a-thread-of-illuminated-i_1504366.jpg) > “Sense of humor: A thread of illuminated intelligence that links two opposite ideas.” [Thomas Lansing Masson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-lansing-masson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Humor connects opposite ideas, illuminating intelligence through witty contrast. **In simple terms:** Humor links ideas, showing insight. Key Takeaway Cultivate witty connections. Themes humor intelligence contrast Mood playful analytical Type essay observational When to use this quote - stand‑up comedy - debate clubs - writing sessions Key Concepts creativity critical thinking communication Questions to Reflect On - How does humor bridge contradictions? - When might humor hinder understanding? A Different Perspective Humor can obscure seriousness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Illuminated Intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illuminated-intelligence-5522416/) [Intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence/) [Links](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/links/) [Opposite Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opposite-ideas-3171601/) [Opposites](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opposites/) [Sense Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sense-humor/) [Sense of humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sense-of-humor/) [Thread](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thread/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) [Two opposites](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two-opposites/) ## Related quotes > [Just like I described in health care, yeah, somebody comes in, they got new ideas, maybe ideas that are completely opposite of my ideas.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/just-like-i-described-in-health-care-yeah-somebody-comes-in-they-got/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I think intelligence basically can be in a way defined by the possibility of having two opposite ideas living together and at the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/i-think-intelligence-basically-can-be-in-a-way-defined-by-the/) [Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/) > [If you do not read and listen to the opposite ideas, you can always remain a stupid person! Opposite ideas, however contrary they may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/if-you-do-not-read-and-listen-to-the-opposite-ideas-you-can-always/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting can be the magic thread which links the girls of the world together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juliette-gordon-low/girl-guiding-and-girl-scouting-can-be-the-magic-thread-which-links/) [Juliette Gordon Low](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juliette-gordon-low/) > [All religions teach that two opposite forces act upon us and the human endeavour consists in a series of eternal rejections and acceptances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/all-religions-teach-that-two-opposite-forces-act-upon-us-and-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [The essence of peace is to merge two opposites. Therefore your notions should not scare you if you see another, who absolutely opposes you,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nachman-of-breslov/the-essence-of-peace-is-to-merge-two-opposites-therefore-your-notions/) [Nachman of Breslov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nachman-of-breslov/) > [In two opposite opinions, if one be perfectly reasonable, the other can't be perfectly right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/in-two-opposite-opinions-if-one-be-perfectly-reasonable-the-other-can/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [..(T)here are two opposite reasons for being a democrat. You may think all men so good that they deserve a share in the government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/t-here-are-two-opposite-reasons-for-being-a-democrat-you-may-think/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [When I consider the Question, Whether there are such Persons in the World as those we call Witches? My Mind is divided between the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/when-i-consider-the-question-whether-there-are-such-persons-in-the/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [“History is one long chain of reflections. Hegel also indicated certain rules that apply for this chain of reflections. Anyone studying history in depth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jostein-gaarder/history-is-one-long-chain-of-reflections-hegel-also-indicated-certain/) [Jostein Gaarder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jostein-gaarder/) > [Love and fear are the two opposite ends of the continuum, as far as I'm concerned. When we are not in love, we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-canfield/love-and-fear-are-the-two-opposite-ends-of-the-continuum-as-far-as-i/) [Jack Canfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-canfield/) > [The reputation of generosity is to be purchased pretty cheap; it does not depend so much upon a man's general expense, as it does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-stanhope/the-reputation-of-generosity-is-to-be-purchased-pretty-cheap-it-does/) [Doug Stanhope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/) > [Indiscriminate tolerance and indiscriminate condemnation are not two opposites: they are two variants of the same evasion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/indiscriminate-tolerance-and-indiscriminate-condemnation-are-not-two/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [Men are constantly attracted and deluded by two opposite charms: the charm of competence which is engendered by mathematics and everything akin to mathematics,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-strauss/men-are-constantly-attracted-and-deluded-by-two-opposite-charms-the/) [Leo Strauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-strauss/) > [When two opposite points of view are expressed with equal intensity, the truth does not necessarily lie exactly half way between. It is possible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/when-two-opposite-points-of-view-are-expressed-with-equal-intensity/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) ## More by Thomas Lansing Masson > [A mind is as strong as its weakest think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-lansing-masson/a-mind-is-as-strong-as-its-weakest-think/) [Thomas Lansing Masson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-lansing-masson/) > [What if my trousers are shabby and worn, they cover a warm hearth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-lansing-masson/what-if-my-trousers-are-shabby-and-worn-they-cover-a-warm-hearth/) [Thomas Lansing Masson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-lansing-masson/) > [You can always get someone to love you - even if you have to do it yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-lansing-masson/you-can-always-get-someone-to-love-you-even-if-you-have-to-do-it/) [Thomas Lansing Masson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-lansing-masson/) > [Seventy million books in America's libraries, but the one you want to read is always out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-lansing-masson/seventy-million-books-in-america-s-libraries-but-the-one-you-want-to/) [Thomas Lansing Masson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-lansing-masson/) > [Think of what would happen to us... if there were no humorists; life would be one long Congressional Record.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-lansing-masson/think-of-what-would-happen-to-us-if-there-were-no-humorists-life/) [Thomas Lansing Masson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-lansing-masson/) > [There is no man so low down that the cure for his condition does not lie strictly within himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-lansing-masson/there-is-no-man-so-low-down-that-the-cure-for-his-condition-does-not/) [Thomas Lansing Masson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-lansing-masson/) > [To feel themselves in the presence of true greatness many find it necessary only to be alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-lansing-masson/to-feel-themselves-in-the-presence-of-true-greatness-many-find-it/) [Thomas Lansing Masson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-lansing-masson/) > [It must be a hard life to be the child of a psychologist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-lansing-masson/it-must-be-a-hard-life-to-be-the-child-of-a-psychologist/) [Thomas Lansing Masson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-lansing-masson/) > [A senior always feels like the university is going to the kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-lansing-masson/a-senior-always-feels-like-the-university-is-going-to-the-kids/) [Thomas Lansing Masson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-lansing-masson/) [Explore all 10 Thomas Lansing Masson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-lansing-masson/) ## More Comedy quotes > ['Mad TV' is one of my most favorite shows of all time and is a huge part of my obsession with sketch comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-dawson/mad-tv-is-one-of-my-most-favorite-shows-of-all-time-and-is-a-huge/) [Shane Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-dawson/) > [You can laugh at me, but I understand show business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ksenia-sobchak/you-can-laugh-at-me-but-i-understand-show-business/) [Ksenia Sobchak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ksenia-sobchak/) > [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/) [Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/) > [I wouldn't want people to laugh at me. That's why I have to give all that I can, and at least produce something that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhao-wei/i-wouldn-t-want-people-to-laugh-at-me-that-s-why-i-have-to-give-all/) [Zhao Wei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhao-wei/) > [“Our world will not die as a result of the bomb, as the papers say, it will die of laughter, of banality, of making a joke…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/our-world-will-not-die-as-a-result-of-the-bomb-as-the-papers-say-it/) [Carlos Ruiz Zafon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/) > [I've been funny my whole life. This is a gift God gave me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-morgan/i-ve-been-funny-my-whole-life-this-is-a-gift-god-gave-me/) [Tracy Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-morgan/) > [“Laugh and grow strong”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ignatius-of-loyola/laugh-and-grow-strong/) [Ignatius of Loyola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ignatius-of-loyola/) > [In the future, I would like to do more films with contemporary themes. Perhaps comedy, which is something I have done in theater but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/in-the-future-i-would-like-to-do-more-films-with-contemporary-themes/) [Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/) > [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/) [Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [There's a difference between delivering real funny and just silly funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-rel-howery/there-s-a-difference-between-delivering-real-funny-and-just-silly/) [Lil Rel Howery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-rel-howery/) > [Oh to that corkscrew, the useful tool to unlock the treasure of wit, the treasury of laughter, the front door of fellowship, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-guzaldo/oh-to-that-corkscrew-the-useful-tool-to-unlock-the-treasure-of-wit/) [Andrew Guzaldo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-guzaldo/) > [“Men circle like bees around honey, buzzing to communicate their sexual despair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carla-h-krueger/men-circle-like-bees-around-honey-buzzing-to-communicate-their-sexual/) [Carla H Krueger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carla-h-krueger/) > [I do love to laugh!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-giudice/i-do-love-to-laugh/) [Teresa Giudice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-giudice/) > [I really enjoy making people laugh; I've discovered that's a great technique. That's as powerful as stirring their sorrow, stirring their compassion, because that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/i-really-enjoy-making-people-laugh-i-ve-discovered-that-s-a-great/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) [Browse all 19,795 Comedy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Sense of humor: A thread of illuminated intelligence that links two opposite ideas.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thomas Lansing Masson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-lansing-masson/sense-of-humor-a-thread-of-illuminated-intelligence-that-links-two/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Comedy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-lansing-masson/sense-of-humor-a-thread-of-illuminated-intelligence-that-links-two/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cae/thomas-lansing-masson-42819_humor_sense-of-humor-a-thread-of-illuminated-i_1504366.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cae/thomas-lansing-masson-42819_humor_sense-of-humor-a-thread-of-illuminated-i_1504366.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cae/thomas-lansing-masson-42819_humor_sense-of-humor-a-thread-of-illuminated-i_1504366.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Sense of humor: A thread of illuminated intelligence that links two opposite ideas.” — Thomas Lansing Masson", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Thomas Lansing Masson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-lansing-masson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Sense of humor: A thread of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-lansing-masson/sense-of-humor-a-thread-of-illuminated-intelligence-that-links-two/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-lansing-masson/sense-of-humor-a-thread-of-illuminated-intelligence-that-links-two/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```