--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is certainly no defence or water…" description: "\"There is certainly no defence or water -proof garment against adverse fortune which is, on the whole, so effectual as an habitual sense of humor.\" — Th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/664/thomas-wentworth-higginson-177_adverse_there-is-certainly-no-defence-or-water-p_935927.jpg" --- # There is certainly no defence or water -proof garment… ![“There is certainly no defence or water -proof garment against adverse fortune which is, on the whole, so effectual as an habitual sense of humor.” quote by Thomas Wentworth Higginson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/664/thomas-wentworth-higginson-177_adverse_there-is-certainly-no-defence-or-water-p_935927.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/664/thomas-wentworth-higginson-177_adverse_there-is-certainly-no-defence-or-water-p_935927.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/664/thomas-wentworth-higginson-177_adverse_there-is-certainly-no-defence-or-water-p_935927.jpg) > “There is certainly no defence or water -proof garment against adverse fortune which is, on the whole, so effectual as an habitual sense of humor.” [Thomas Wentworth Higginson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-wentworth-higginson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Humor is the best protection against misfortune, more effective than any physical shield. **In simple terms:** Humor shields us from bad luck. Key Takeaway Cultivate a good sense of humor. Themes resilience humor adversity Mood thoughtful balanced Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - daily setbacks - stressful events - health challenges Key Concepts psychology philosophy coping mechanisms Questions to Reflect On - Can humor always mitigate hardship? - When is seriousness required? A Different Perspective Humor may not solve serious problems. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aging/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Fortune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fortune/) [Good sense of humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-sense-of-humor/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Humor and laughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor-and-laughter/) [Humor laughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor-laughter/) [Laughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laughter/) [Life humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-humor/) [Sense of humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sense-of-humor/) [Twilight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/twilight/) ## Related quotes > [If I had no sense of humor I should long ago have committed suicide.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/if-i-had-no-sense-of-humor-i-should-long-ago-have-committed-suicide/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [There is no defense against adverse fortune which is so effectual as an habitual sense of humor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-is-no-defense-against-adverse-fortune-which-is-so-effectual-as/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Through humor, you can soften some of the worst blows that life delivers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-cosby/through-humor-you-can-soften-some-of-the-worst-blows-that-life/) [Bill Cosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-cosby/) > [They would spend a lot of their time simply walking around in the woods or in the cities, or they would come over to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/they-would-spend-a-lot-of-their-time-simply-walking-around-in-the/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [An adequate share of humor and laughter represents an essential part of the diet of the healthy person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/an-adequate-share-of-humor-and-laughter-represents-an-essential-part/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [Laugh...It's the sweetest thing one can do for oneself and one's fellow human beings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/laugh-it-s-the-sweetest-thing-one-can-do-for-oneself-and-one-s-fellow/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [We keep a lot of humor and laughter in the home. A lot of times these days, people let the stress of life take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/we-keep-a-lot-of-humor-and-laughter-in-the-home-a-lot-of-times-these/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [What soap is to the body, laughter is to the soul. Laughter is the shortest distance between two people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-borge/what-soap-is-to-the-body-laughter-is-to-the-soul-laughter-is-the/) [Victor Borge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-borge/) > [Humor and laughter are not necessarily the same thing. Humor permits us to see into life from a fresh and gracious perspective. We learn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-d-chittister/humor-and-laughter-are-not-necessarily-the-same-thing-humor-permits/) [Joan D. Chittister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-d-chittister/) > [Take too much pleasure in good things, you'll feel The shock of adverse fortune makes you reel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/take-too-much-pleasure-in-good-things-you-ll-feel-the-shock-of/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [“The greatest misery in adverse fortune is once to have been happy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boethius/the-greatest-misery-in-adverse-fortune-is-once-to-have-been-happy/) [Boethius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boethius/) > [Happy it were for us all if we bore prosperity as well and as wisely as we endure adverse fortune.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-southey/happy-it-were-for-us-all-if-we-bore-prosperity-as-well-and-as-wisely/) [Robert Southey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-southey/) > [I love people who make me laugh!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-hepburn/i-love-people-who-make-me-laugh/) [Audrey Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-hepburn/) > [Human mobile devices that may come in handy and can be used anywhere include: prayer, meditation, a good attitude, compassion, kindness, humor, laughter, patience,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jody-watley/human-mobile-devices-that-may-come-in-handy-and-can-be-used-anywhere/) [Jody Watley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jody-watley/) > [Angels can fly because they take themselves lightly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/angels-can-fly-because-they-take-themselves-lightly/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) ## More by Thomas Wentworth Higginson > [Genius is lonely without the surrounding presence of a people to inspire it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-wentworth-higginson/genius-is-lonely-without-the-surrounding-presence-of-a-people-to/) [Thomas Wentworth Higginson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-wentworth-higginson/) > [In ancient Boeotia brides were carried home in vehicles whose wheels were burned at the door, in token, that they would never again be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-wentworth-higginson/in-ancient-boeotia-brides-were-carried-home-in-vehicles-whose-wheels/) [Thomas Wentworth Higginson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-wentworth-higginson/) > [But days even earlier than these, in April, have a charm, — even days that seem raw and rainy, when the sky is dull…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-wentworth-higginson/but-days-even-earlier-than-these-in-april-have-a-charm-even-days-that/) [Thomas Wentworth Higginson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-wentworth-higginson/) > [Travelers find virtue in a seeming minority in all other countries, and forget that they have left it in a minority at home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-wentworth-higginson/travelers-find-virtue-in-a-seeming-minority-in-all-other-countries/) [Thomas Wentworth Higginson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-wentworth-higginson/) > [The coarsest father gains a new impulse to labor from the moment of his baby's birth; he scarcely sees it when awake, and yet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-wentworth-higginson/the-coarsest-father-gains-a-new-impulse-to-labor-from-the-moment-of/) [Thomas Wentworth Higginson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-wentworth-higginson/) > [Do not waste a minute - not a second - in trying to demonstrate to others the merits of your performance. If your work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-wentworth-higginson/do-not-waste-a-minute-not-a-second-in-trying-to-demonstrate-to-others/) [Thomas Wentworth Higginson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-wentworth-higginson/) > [Many persons sigh for death when it seems far off, but the inclination vanishes when the boat upsets, or the locomotive runs off the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-wentworth-higginson/many-persons-sigh-for-death-when-it-seems-far-off-but-the-inclination/) [Thomas Wentworth Higginson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-wentworth-higginson/) > [The Englishman's strong point is his vigorous insularity; that of the American his power of adaptation. Each of these attitudes has its perils. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-wentworth-higginson/the-englishman-s-strong-point-is-his-vigorous-insularity-that-of-the/) [Thomas Wentworth Higginson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-wentworth-higginson/) > [In an audience of rough people a generous sentiment always brings down the house. In the tumult of war both sides applaud a heroic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-wentworth-higginson/in-an-audience-of-rough-people-a-generous-sentiment-always-brings/) [Thomas Wentworth Higginson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-wentworth-higginson/) > [All... religions show the same disparity between belief and practice, and each is safe till it tries to exclude the rest. Test each sect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-wentworth-higginson/all-religions-show-the-same-disparity-between-belief-and-practice-and-2/) [Thomas Wentworth Higginson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-wentworth-higginson/) > [There are no days in the whole round year more delicious than those which often come to us in the latter half of April...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-wentworth-higginson/there-are-no-days-in-the-whole-round-year-more-delicious-than-those/) [Thomas Wentworth Higginson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-wentworth-higginson/) > [As the spring comes on, and the densening outlines of the elm give daily a new design for a Grecian urn, — its hue,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-wentworth-higginson/as-the-spring-comes-on-and-the-densening-outlines-of-the-elm-give/) [Thomas Wentworth Higginson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-wentworth-higginson/) > [How many lessons of faith and beauty we should lose, if there were no winter in our year!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-wentworth-higginson/how-many-lessons-of-faith-and-beauty-we-should-lose-if-there-were-no/) [Thomas Wentworth Higginson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-wentworth-higginson/) > [How much that the world calls selfishness is only generosity with narrow walls,--a too exclusive solicitude to maintain a wife in luxury, or make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-wentworth-higginson/how-much-that-the-world-calls-selfishness-is-only-generosity-with/) [Thomas Wentworth Higginson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-wentworth-higginson/) > [An easy thing, O Power Divine, To thank thee for these gifts of Thine, For summer's sunshine, winter's snow, For hearts that kindle thoughts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-wentworth-higginson/an-easy-thing-o-power-divine-to-thank-thee-for-these-gifts-of-thine/) [Thomas Wentworth Higginson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-wentworth-higginson/) [Explore all 36 Thomas Wentworth Higginson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-wentworth-higginson/) ## More Adverse quotes > [A common fallacy in much of the adverse criticism to which science is subjected today is that it claims certainty, infallibility and complete emotional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/a-common-fallacy-in-much-of-the-adverse-criticism-to-which-science-is/) [Cyril Norman Hinshelwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/) > [Truth emerges from the clash of adverse ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/truth-emerges-from-the-clash-of-adverse-ideas/) [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) > [People frequently ask me if adverse criticism bothers me. I've had a lot of it, and I have been able to shrug most of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-giles/people-frequently-ask-me-if-adverse-criticism-bothers-me-i-ve-had-a/) [Warren Giles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-giles/) > [A society in which conjugal infidelity is tolerated must always be in the long run a society adverse to women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/a-society-in-which-conjugal-infidelity-is-tolerated-must-always-be-in/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Receive, dear friend, the truths I teach, So shalt thou live beyond the reach Of adverse Fortune's pow'r; Not always tempt the distant deep,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/receive-dear-friend-the-truths-i-teach-so-shalt-thou-live-beyond-the/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [I see in him (Dr. Max Gerson) one of the most eminent medical geniuses in the history of medicine...he was greatly impeded by adverse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/i-see-in-him-dr-max-gerson-one-of-the-most-eminent-medical-geniuses/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [If you will call your troubles experiences, and remember that every experience develops some latent force within you, you will grow vigorous and happy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-heywood/if-you-will-call-your-troubles-experiences-and-remember-that-every/) [John Heywood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-heywood/) > [“I didn’t like the play, but than I saw it under adverse conditions – the curtain was up. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-kaufman/i-didn-t-like-the-play-but-than-i-saw-it-under-adverse-conditions-the/) [George S. Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-kaufman/) > [Our actions today will protect children from the adverse effects of exposure to pesticides commonly used on foods. The agency also is on schedule…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-browner/our-actions-today-will-protect-children-from-the-adverse-effects-of/) [Carol Browner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-browner/) > [I have just been conversing with one man, to whom no weight of adverse experience will make it for a moment appear impossible that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/i-have-just-been-conversing-with-one-man-to-whom-no-weight-of-adverse/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [There are a lot of people in Milwaukee who have had adverse impacts from Scott Walker. He's managed to mess over everyone in Milwaukee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwen-moore/there-are-a-lot-of-people-in-milwaukee-who-have-had-adverse-impacts/) [Gwen Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwen-moore/) > [In the ending the king is a powerful piece for assisting his own pawns, or stopping the adverse pawns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-steinitz/in-the-ending-the-king-is-a-powerful-piece-for-assisting-his-own/) [Wilhelm Steinitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-steinitz/) > [Safe care saves lives and saves money. Adverse events like high levels of infection, blood clots or falls in hospital, emergency readmissions and pressure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lansley/safe-care-saves-lives-and-saves-money-adverse-events-like-high-levels/) [Andrew Lansley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lansley/) > [Equally inured by moderation either state to bear, prosperous or adverse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/equally-inured-by-moderation-either-state-to-bear-prosperous-or/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [In the area of trading, it is now an academically demonstrated fact that women tend to be a little bit more risk-adverse. They don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-lagarde/in-the-area-of-trading-it-is-now-an-academically-demonstrated-fact/) [Christine Lagarde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-lagarde/) Browse all 190 Adverse quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There is certainly no defence or water -proof garment against adverse fortune which is, on the whole, so effectual as an habitual sense of humor.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thomas Wentworth Higginson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-wentworth-higginson/there-is-certainly-no-defence-or-water-proof-garment-against-adverse/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Adverse" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-wentworth-higginson/there-is-certainly-no-defence-or-water-proof-garment-against-adverse/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/664/thomas-wentworth-higginson-177_adverse_there-is-certainly-no-defence-or-water-p_935927.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/664/thomas-wentworth-higginson-177_adverse_there-is-certainly-no-defence-or-water-p_935927.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/664/thomas-wentworth-higginson-177_adverse_there-is-certainly-no-defence-or-water-p_935927.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There is certainly no defence or water -proof garment against adverse fortune which is, on the whole, so…” — Thomas Wentworth Higginson", "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 Wentworth Higginson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-wentworth-higginson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "There is certainly no defence or...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-wentworth-higginson/there-is-certainly-no-defence-or-water-proof-garment-against-adverse/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-wentworth-higginson/there-is-certainly-no-defence-or-water-proof-garment-against-adverse/#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 } } ] } ```