There is more stupidity than hydrogen in the universe, and it has a longer shelf life.
Frank ZappaRead
The object of a comedy is not to correct morals or ridicule the vices of society; no, a comedy should depict the discrepancies between life and purpose, should be the fruit of bitter indignation aroused by the degradation of human dignity, should be sarcasm, and not an epigram, convulsive laughter and not an amused grin, should be written with bile and not diluted salt, in a word, it should embrace life in its highest significance.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Comedy serves to highlight the discrepancies between life and purpose, rather than merely correcting morals or mocking society.
This quote by Vissarion Belinsky emphasizes that true comedy should aim to reveal and critique the contradictions in human existence and societal values. Rather than being a mere tool for ethical correction or light-hearted laughter, it should evoke a sense of profound indignation and deep reflection about the human condition, embracing both the absurdity and dignity of life.
Themes
ComedyLifePurposeSatireHuman Dignity
In practice
Example use cases
During a comedy night, the host referenced Belinsky's view to remind comedians to focus on life’s deeper meanings.
Similar quotes
I am not only witty in myself, but the cause that wit is in other men.
William ShakespeareRead
If you can't laugh at yourself, then how can you laugh at anybody else? I think people see the human side of you when you do that.
Payne StewartRead
Nothing ever happened on this globe, for good, at which some people did not have their fill of laughter in the onset; and knowing that such as these would be blind anyway, he thought it quite as well that they should wrinkle up their eyes in grins, as have a malady in the less attractive forms.
Charles DickensRead
My preference is for people who can do sketch comedy or situational comedy, where it's not a joke, but it's telling a story.
Carol BurnettRead
You look at the world and see how scary it can be sometimes and still try to deal with the fear. Comedy can deal with the fear and still not paralyze you or tell you that it's going away. You say, OK, you got certain choices here, you can laugh at them and then once you've laughed at them and you have expunged the demon, now you can deal with them. That's what I do when I do my act.
Robin WilliamsRead