--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To move wild laughter in the throat of…" description: "\"To move wild laughter in the throat of death? It cannot be; it is impossible: Mirth cannot move a soul in agony.\" — William Shakespeare" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7dc/william-shakespeare-4_agony_to-move-wild-laughter-in-the-throat-of-d_1345085.jpg" --- # To move wild laughter in the throat of death? It cannot… ![“To move wild laughter in the throat of death? It cannot be; it is impossible: Mirth cannot move a soul in agony.” quote by William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7dc/william-shakespeare-4_agony_to-move-wild-laughter-in-the-throat-of-d_1345085.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7dc/william-shakespeare-4_agony_to-move-wild-laughter-in-the-throat-of-d_1345085.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7dc/william-shakespeare-4_agony_to-move-wild-laughter-in-the-throat-of-d_1345085.jpg) > “To move wild laughter in the throat of death? It cannot be; it is impossible: Mirth cannot move a soul in agony.” [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Mirth cannot alleviate deep suffering; joy cannot lift a soul in agony. **In simple terms:** Laughter cannot heal profound pain. Key Takeaway Seek deeper healing beyond humor. Themes suffering joy limitations Mood somber thoughtful Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - grief counseling - palliative care - spiritual practice Key Concepts human condition emotional resilience existential truth Questions to Reflect On - What sources of comfort work when joy fails? - How can we support those in deep anguish? A Different Perspective Humor can provide temporary relief; it isn’t a cure. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Agony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agony/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Laughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laughter/) [Mirth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mirth/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) ## Related quotes > [Mirth cannot move a soul in agony.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/mirth-cannot-move-a-soul-in-agony/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [While I am compassed round With mirth, my soul lies hid in shades of grief, Whence, like the bird of night, with half-shut eyes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/while-i-am-compassed-round-with-mirth-my-soul-lies-hid-in-shades-of/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [“Wild with laughter, Twelfth Night is nevertheless almost always on the edge of violence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-bloom/wild-with-laughter-twelfth-night-is-nevertheless-almost-always-on-the/) [Harold Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-bloom/) > [No sadder sound salutes you than the clear, Wild laughter of the loon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celia-thaxter/no-sadder-sound-salutes-you-than-the-clear-wild-laughter-of-the-loon/) [Celia Thaxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celia-thaxter/) > [Free from gross passion or of mirth or anger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/free-from-gross-passion-or-of-mirth-or-anger/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I have of late--but wherefore I know not--lost all my mirth, forgone all custom of exercise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-have-of-late-but-wherefore-i-know-not-lost-all-my-mirth-forgone-all/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [To be in love, where scorn is bought with groans; coy looks, with heart-sore sighs; one fading moment's mirth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/to-be-in-love-where-scorn-is-bought-with-groans-coy-looks-with-heart/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Frame your mind to mirth and merriment which bars a thousand harms and lengthens life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/frame-your-mind-to-mirth-and-merriment-which-bars-a-thousand-harms/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [He hath a heart as sound as a bell, and his tongue is the clapper; for what his heart thinks his tongue speaks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/he-hath-a-heart-as-sound-as-a-bell-and-his-tongue-is-the-clapper-for/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [With mirth and laughter let old wrinkles come. And let my liver rather heat with wine, than my heart cool with mortifying groans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/with-mirth-and-laughter-let-old-wrinkles-come-and-let-my-liver-rather/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [To be in love- where scorn is bought with groans, Coy looks with heart-sore sighs, one fading moment's mirth With twenty watchful, weary, tedious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/to-be-in-love-where-scorn-is-bought-with-groans-coy-looks-with-heart-2/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [What win I, if I gain the thing I seek? A dream, a breath, a froth of fleeting joy. Who buys a minute's mirth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/what-win-i-if-i-gain-the-thing-i-seek-a-dream-a-breath-a-froth-of/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Prepare for mirth, for mirth becomes a feast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/prepare-for-mirth-for-mirth-becomes-a-feast/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Free from gross passion or of mirth of anger constant spirit, not swerving with the blood, garnish'd and deck'd in modest compliment, not working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/free-from-gross-passion-or-of-mirth-of-anger-constant-spirit-not/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [He's all my exercise, my mirth, my matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/he-s-all-my-exercise-my-mirth-my-matter/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) ## More by William Shakespeare > [Let us kill all lawyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/let-us-kill-all-lawyers/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/a-horse-a-horse-my-kingdom-for-a-horse/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [O tiger's heart wrapped in a woman's hide!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/o-tiger-s-heart-wrapped-in-a-woman-s-hide/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Divers philosophers hold that the lips is parcel of the mouth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/divers-philosophers-hold-that-the-lips-is-parcel-of-the-mouth/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Short time seems long in sorrow's sharp sustaining.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/short-time-seems-long-in-sorrow-s-sharp-sustaining/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“Love is a smoke made with the fume of sighs; Being purg'd, a fire sparkling in lovers' eyes; Being vex'd, a sea nourish'd with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/love-is-a-smoke-made-with-the-fume-of-sighs-being-purg-d-a-fire/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I, measuring his affections by my own, Which then most sought where most might not be found, Being one too many by my weary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-measuring-his-affections-by-my-own-which-then-most-sought-where/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Ask God for temp'rance. That's th' appliance only Which your disease requires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/ask-god-for-temp-rance-that-s-th-appliance-only-which-your-disease/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“Thou hast no figures nor no fantasies Which busy care draws in the brains of men; Therefore thou sleep’st so sound. Julius Caesar (2.1.248-251)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/thou-hast-no-figures-nor-no-fantasies-which-busy-care-draws-in-the/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Truth needs no color; beauty, no pencil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/truth-needs-no-color-beauty-no-pencil/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Have you not heard it said full oft, A woman's nay doth stand for naught?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/have-you-not-heard-it-said-full-oft-a-woman-s-nay-doth-stand-for/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Omittance is no quittance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/omittance-is-no-quittance/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“Yes, madam: yet I cannot choose but laugh, To think it should leave crying and say 'Ay.' And yet, I warrant, it had upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/yes-madam-yet-i-cannot-choose-but-laugh-to-think-it-should-leave/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I take thee at thy word: Call me but love, and I'll be new baptized; Henceforth I never will be Romeo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-take-thee-at-thy-word-call-me-but-love-and-i-ll-be-new-baptized/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) [Explore all 5,604 William Shakespeare quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) ## More Agony quotes > [Many Republicans have always reminded me of professional WWF wrestlers. They come into the ring all pumped up and acting like they're invincible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/many-republicans-have-always-reminded-me-of-professional-wwf/) [Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/) > [“aaron would not come out aaron entered into agony.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-goldman/aaron-would-not-come-out-aaron-entered-into-agony/) [William Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-goldman/) > [ “\[W\]e must learn to accommodate ourselves to the discovery that some of those cunningly-fashioned instruments called human souls have only a very limited range… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/w-e-must-learn-to-accommodate-ourselves-to-the-discovery-that-some-of/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [As we look upon that agony and those tearful prayers, let us not only look with thankfulness; but let that kneeling Saviour teach us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-maclaren/as-we-look-upon-that-agony-and-those-tearful-prayers-let-us-not-only/) [Alexander MacLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-maclaren/) > [Love masters agony; the soul that seemed Forsaken feels her present God again And in her Father's arms Contented dies away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keble/love-masters-agony-the-soul-that-seemed-forsaken-feels-her-present/) [John Keble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keble/) > [I have seen war. I have seen war on land and sea. I have seen blood running from the wounded. I have seen men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/i-have-seen-war-i-have-seen-war-on-land-and-sea-i-have-seen-blood/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [“Anger was a reliable defense, but one that allowed no chance of final victory. Anger was a medicine but never a cure, briefly numbing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/anger-was-a-reliable-defense-but-one-that-allowed-no-chance-of-final/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [The cure is in the house, not brought by other hands from distant places, but by its own, in agony and blood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/the-cure-is-in-the-house-not-brought-by-other-hands-from-distant/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [Sometimes, a lie is told in kindness. I don't believe it ever works kindly. The quick pain of truth can pass away, but the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/sometimes-a-lie-is-told-in-kindness-i-don-t-believe-it-ever-works/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [The young man shivered. He rolled the stock themes of fantasy over in his mind: cars and stockbrokers and commuters, housewives and police, agony…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/the-young-man-shivered-he-rolled-the-stock-themes-of-fantasy-over-in/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [Being ill like this combines shock - this time I will die - with a pain and agony that are unfamiliar, that wrench me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-brodkey/being-ill-like-this-combines-shock-this-time-i-will-die-with-a-pain/) [Harold Brodkey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-brodkey/) > [One often learns more from ten days of agony than ten years of contentment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merle-shain/one-often-learns-more-from-ten-days-of-agony-than-ten-years-of/) [Merle Shain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merle-shain/) > [There’s been a problem, a problem eating away at me from the inside out. I’ve become weak, I’ve shown human compassion, and it has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kane/there-s-been-a-problem-a-problem-eating-away-at-me-from-the-inside/) [Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kane/) > [Pay special attention to their agony so I might take some pleasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/pay-special-attention-to-their-agony-so-i-might-take-some-pleasure/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [Die, enemies of Ra!" Sekhemet yelled. "Perish in agony!" "She's almost as annoying as you," I told Horus. "Impossible," Horus said. "No one bests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/die-enemies-of-ra-sekhemet-yelled-perish-in-agony-she-s-almost-as/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) [Browse all 813 Agony quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agony/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "To move wild laughter in the throat of death? 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