The most terrible fear that anybody should have is not war, is not a disease, not cancer or heart problems or food poisoning - it's a man or a woman without a sense of humor.
Jonathan WintersRead
Well, the most terrible fear that anybody should have is not war, is not a disease, not cancer or heart problems or food poisoning - it's a man or a woman without a sense of humor.
Interpretation
The greatest fear is not physical dangers, but the lack of humor in people.
Jonathan Winters emphasizes that among all the fears one may face in life, the absence of humor in a person is the most terrible. This reflects the importance of humor as a vital aspect of human experience, suggesting that without it, life becomes far less bearable and enjoyable, making humor essential for emotional and social well-being.
In practice
This quote would be apt for a comedy event to highlight the importance of laughter.
The most terrible fear that anybody should have is not war, is not a disease, not cancer or heart problems or food poisoning - it's a man or a woman without a sense of humor.
I don't do jokes. The characters are my jokes.
If your ship doesn't come in, swim out to it.
Satire is a composition of salt and mercury; and it depends upon the different mixture and preparation of those ingredients, that it comes out a noble medicine, or a rank poison.
If you want to tell people the truth, make them laugh, otherwise they'll kill you.
I've learned to have absolutely no regrets about any jokes I've ever done.
Madam, if you were my wife, I would drink it.
Military justice is to justice what military music is to music.
A lot of comic actors derive their main force from childish behavior. Most great comics are doing such silly things; you'd say, 'That's what a child would do.
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