--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: God is a comedian playing to an audience…" description: "\"“God is a comedian playing to an audience that is too afraid to laugh.”\" — Voltaire" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82e/voltaire-173_comedian_god-is-a-comedian-playing-to-an-audience_2234119.png" --- # God is a comedian playing to an audience that is too… ![“God is a comedian playing to an audience that is too afraid to laugh.” quote by Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82e/voltaire-173_comedian_god-is-a-comedian-playing-to-an-audience_2234119.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82e/voltaire-173_comedian_god-is-a-comedian-playing-to-an-audience_2234119.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82e/voltaire-173_comedian_god-is-a-comedian-playing-to-an-audience_2234119.png) > ““God is a comedian playing to an audience that is too afraid to laugh.”” [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Suggests life is absurd, and fear prevents laughter at its comedy. **In simple terms:** Life's absurdity is masked by fear. Key Takeaway Embrace humor despite fear. Themes existentialism absurdity fear humor Mood reflective lighthearted Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal reflection - therapy - creative writing - stand‑up comedy - public speaking Key Concepts philosophy satire psychology Questions to Reflect On - What fears stop you from laughing? - How can humor aid coping? A Different Perspective Humor may not resolve underlying anxieties. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Afraid Laugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afraid-laugh-305691/) [Comedian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedian/) [Comedian Playing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedian-playing-815317/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [God Comedian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-comedian-475382/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Laugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laugh/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voltaire/) ## Related quotes > [God is a comedian, playing to an audience too afraid to laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/god-is-a-comedian-playing-to-an-audience-too-afraid-to-laugh/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“God is a comedian playing to an audience that is afraid to laugh. VOLTAIRE”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/god-is-a-comedian-playing-to-an-audience-that-is-afraid-to-laugh/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“God is a comedian playing to an audience too afraid to laugh.” -Voltaire”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-roquet/god-is-a-comedian-playing-to-an-audience-too-afraid-to-laugh-voltaire/) [Angela Roquet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-roquet/) > [No matter what town we went to, if there was a comedian playing, I'd go watch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-waltrip/no-matter-what-town-we-went-to-if-there-was-a-comedian-playing-i-d-go/) [Michael Waltrip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-waltrip/) > [“God is a comic playing to an audience that's afraid to laugh – Voltaire (1694-1778)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-a-james/god-is-a-comic-playing-to-an-audience-that-s-afraid-to-laugh-voltaire/) [Craig A. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-a-james/) > [As a young comedian playing the working men's clubs in the 70s, I'd been in awe of Dustin Gee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/les-dennis/as-a-young-comedian-playing-the-working-men-s-clubs-in-the-70s-i-d/) [Les Dennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/les-dennis/) > [Down deep in His heart God is a comedian who loves to make us laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-miller/down-deep-in-his-heart-god-is-a-comedian-who-loves-to-make-us-laugh/) [Arthur Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-miller/) > [Now, now my good man, this is no time to be making enemies." 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It is very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/i-am-convinced-that-everything-has-come-down-to-us-from-the-banks-of-2/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [“Think for yourself and let others enjoy the privilege of doing so too.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/think-for-yourself-and-let-others-enjoy-the-privilege-of-doing-so-too/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [“It is man´s faith to live either on agonies of fear and turmoil or in the prostration of boredom.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/it-is-man-s-faith-to-live-either-on-agonies-of-fear-and-turmoil-or-in/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) ## More by Voltaire > [In every province, the chief occupations, in order of importance, are lovemaking, malicious gossip, and talking nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/in-every-province-the-chief-occupations-in-order-of-importance-are/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [Fanaticism, to which men are so much inclined, has always served not only to render them more brutalized but more wicked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/fanaticism-to-which-men-are-so-much-inclined-has-always-served-not/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [History is the study of the world's crime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/history-is-the-study-of-the-world-s-crime/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [We’re neither pure, nor wise, nor good; we do the best we know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/we-re-neither-pure-nor-wise-nor-good-we-do-the-best-we-know/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [It is with books as with men: a very small number play a great part, the rest are lost in the multitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/it-is-with-books-as-with-men-a-very-small-number-play-a-great-part/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [Meslier was the most singular phenomenon ever seen among all the meteors fatal to the Christian religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/meslier-was-the-most-singular-phenomenon-ever-seen-among-all-the/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [Every sensible man, every honorable man, must hold the Christian sect in horror." "Christianity is the most ridiculous, the most absurd and bloody religion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/every-sensible-man-every-honorable-man-must-hold-the-christian-sect/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [Being unable to make people more reasonable, I preferred to be happy away from them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/being-unable-to-make-people-more-reasonable-i-preferred-to-be-happy/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [When his highness sends a ship to Egypt, does he trouble his head whether the mice on board are at their ease or not?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/when-his-highness-sends-a-ship-to-egypt-does-he-trouble-his-head/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [Madness is to think of too many things in succession too fast, or of one thing too exclusively.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/madness-is-to-think-of-too-many-things-in-succession-too-fast-or-of/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [God gave us the gift of life; it is up to us to give ourselves the gift of living well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/god-gave-us-the-gift-of-life-it-is-up-to-us-to-give-ourselves-the/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [It is not inequality which is the real misfortune, it is dependence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/it-is-not-inequality-which-is-the-real-misfortune-it-is-dependence/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [Providence has given us hope and sleep as a compensation for the many cares of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/providence-has-given-us-hope-and-sleep-as-a-compensation-for-the-many/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [Men use thought only to justify their wrong doings, and employ speech only to conceal their thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/men-use-thought-only-to-justify-their-wrong-doings-and-employ-speech/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [Work spares us from three evils: boredom, vice, and need](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/work-spares-us-from-three-evils-boredom-vice-and-need/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) [Explore all 934 Voltaire quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) ## More Comedian quotes > [I would say most comedians have a very cynical worldview of the way the world can work. 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We need to make people laugh more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-davies/the-only-difference-between-a-comedian-and-someone-else-we-need-to/) [Greg Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-davies/) > [When a soldier of the night's watch dies they say, "And now his watch is over." That's what they say when a comedian dies.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-williams/when-a-soldier-of-the-night-s-watch-dies-they-say-and-now-his-watch/) [Brad Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-williams/) > [My mom is two people to me. She's my mom number one, and then she's this lady most comedians know as being a legendary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauly-shore/my-mom-is-two-people-to-me-she-s-my-mom-number-one-and-then-she-s/) [Pauly Shore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauly-shore/) > [If I had a choice, I would rather watch a comedian not involve themselves in politics at all but be hilarious than someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-richardson/if-i-had-a-choice-i-would-rather-watch-a-comedian-not-involve/) [Jon Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-richardson/) > [I wouldn't mind gigging around the same era as Jesus, after he gives his speech about the meek and how blessed they are and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-jefferies/i-wouldn-t-mind-gigging-around-the-same-era-as-jesus-after-he-gives/) [Jim Jefferies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-jefferies/) > [If someone doesn't like a comedian that's fine; a lot of people probably don't like my standup, and that's fine. 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You know, you don't hear too much of that anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-ross/it-s-very-rare-that-an-older-comedian-sort-of-slips-into-an-old/) [Jeff Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-ross/) > [I was a kid, and I would watch standup comics do the 'Tonight Show,' and if Johnny Carson liked you, he'd wave you over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-koy/i-was-a-kid-and-i-would-watch-standup-comics-do-the-tonight-show-and/) [Jo Koy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-koy/) > [Gary Greenberg is a thoughtful comedian and a cranky philosopher and a humble pest of a reporter, equal parts Woody Allen, Kierkegaard, and Columbo.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gideon-lewis-kraus/gary-greenberg-is-a-thoughtful-comedian-and-a-cranky-philosopher-and/) [Gideon Lewis-Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gideon-lewis-kraus/) > [For me, comedians are like the epitome for everything great, and they terrify me. I just want to be them. 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The difference is, my special will air on Comedy Central, not Telemundo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-iglesias/i-m-a-comedian-who-happens-to-be-latino-what-s-the-difference-the/) [Gabriel Iglesias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-iglesias/) [Browse all 1,775 Comedian quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedian/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“God is a comedian playing to an audience that is too afraid to laugh.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Voltaire" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/god-is-a-comedian-playing-to-an-audience-that-is-too-afraid-to-laugh/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Comedian" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/god-is-a-comedian-playing-to-an-audience-that-is-too-afraid-to-laugh/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82e/voltaire-173_comedian_god-is-a-comedian-playing-to-an-audience_2234119.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82e/voltaire-173_comedian_god-is-a-comedian-playing-to-an-audience_2234119.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82e/voltaire-173_comedian_god-is-a-comedian-playing-to-an-audience_2234119.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“God is a comedian playing to an audience that is too afraid to laugh.” — Voltaire", "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": "Voltaire", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“God is a comedian playing to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/god-is-a-comedian-playing-to-an-audience-that-is-too-afraid-to-laugh/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/god-is-a-comedian-playing-to-an-audience-that-is-too-afraid-to-laugh/#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 } } ] } ```