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Quotes About Humor

Boris laughed, and threw out some fake-looking gang sign. "Suit yourself, yo," he said, in his "gangsta" voice (discernible from his regular voice only by the hand gesture and the "yo") as he got up and roll-walked out. "Nigga gotz to eat.
~ Donna Tartt
I doubt if she's ever used a broom in her life," he said sarcastically. "Except to ride on, of course.
~ Doreen Owens Malek
I find the humor in life, and laugh easily
~ Doreen Virtue
For your penance, say two Hail Marys, three our Fathers, and, he added, with a chuckle, say a special prayer for the Dodgers.
~ Doris Kearns Goodwin
For recreation, Lincoln took up bowling with his fellow boarders. Though a clumsy bowler, according to Dr. Busey, Lincoln "played the game with great zest and spirit" and "accepted success and defeat with like good nature and humor.
~ Doris Kearns Goodwin
immediately allayed his fears, he gratefully recalled, by "the raillery
~ Doris Kearns Goodwin
Moreover, Lincoln, unlike the brooding Chase, possessed a life-affirming humor and a profound resilience that lightened his despair and fortified his will.
~ Doris Kearns Goodwin
Wherever a tension needed the solvent of good-will, or friction the oil of benevolence; wherever suspicion needed the antidote of frankness, or wounded pride the disinfectant of a hearty laugh—there Taft was sent.
~ Doris Kearns Goodwin
The story is told of Lincoln's first meeting with Mary at a festive party. Captivated by her lively manner, intelligent face, clear blue eyes, and dimpled smile, Lincoln reportedly said, "I want to dance with you in the worst way." And, Mary laughingly told her cousin later that night, "he certainly did.
~ Doris Kearns Goodwin
Humor, like hope, permits one to focus upon and to bear what is too terrible to be borne," writes George Valliant. "Humor can be marvelously therapeutic," adds another observer. "It can deflate without destroying; it can instruct while it entertains; it saves us from our pretensions; and it provides an outlet for feeling that expressed another way would be corrosive.
~ Doris Kearns Goodwin
I can't say I'm overwhelmed with surprise. I'm 88 years old and they can't give the Nobel to someone who's dead, so I think they were probably thinking they'd probably better give it to me now before I've popped off.
~ Doris Lessing
laughter is by definition heretical, unless used cruelly, turned outwards against an opponent or enemy. Bigots can't laugh. True believers don't laugh. Their idea of laughter is a satirical cartoon pillorying an opposition person or idea. Tyrants and oppressors don't laugh at themselves, and don't tolerate laughter at themselves.
~ Doris Lessing
I'll have a martini...two at the most. Three, I'm under the table...four, I'm under the host.
~ Dorohy Parker
Mama learned to laugh with them, before they could laugh at her, and to do it so well no one could be sure what she really thought or felt.
~ Dorothy Allison
And of course these days I feel like there is a nation of us - displaced southerners and children of the working class. We listen to Steve Earle, Mary J. Blige, and k.d. lang. We devour paperback novels and tell evil mean stories, value stubbornness above patience and a sense of humor more than a college education. We claim our heritage with a full appreciation of how often it has been disdained. And let me promise you, you do not want to make us angry.
~ Dorothy Allison
I never expect anything,' said Marthe. 'It provides a level, low-pitched existence with no disappointments.' 'I'm all for a level, low-pitched existence,' said Philippa. 'And when you see your way back to one, for heaven's sake don't forget to tell me.' At which Marthe, surprisingly, laughed aloud.
~ Dorothy Dunnett
I've wed his two empty boots.' 'That you havena,' said Janet, Lady of Buccleuch, lowering her voice not at all in the presence of two hundred twittering Scott relations as they gazed after their vanishing husbands. 'They aye remember their boots. It's their empty nightgowns that get fair monotonous.
~ Dorothy Dunnett
Did I ever tell you,' said Lymond pausing on the afterthought, on his way to the flap, 'that that aunt of mine once hatched an egg?' He paused, deep in thought, and walked slowly to the door before turning again. His lordship of Aubigny, staring after the vanishing form of his brother, received the full splendour of Lymond's smile. 'It was a cuckoo,' said Francis Crawford prosaically, and followed Lennox out.
~ Dorothy Dunnett
You have not yet discovered what happens to Russians at sea.' 'The same thing, I suppose, that happens to Englishmen,' Chancellor said. 'Scots, I take it, are immune.' 'To sarcasm, yes,' Lymond said.
~ Dorothy Dunnett
Tobie. Unless I'm giving off steam, behave normally. I remember what to do. One foot in front of the other, but not both at the same time unless I'm a robin.
~ Dorothy Dunnett
Let's consider the subject exhausted except for choosing the wedding gift. Something tasteful with poison in it, perhaps. Although I can't think which of them deserves it the more.
~ Dorothy Dunnett
Are you by any chance …' said Lymond. '… baiting you?' Philippa said. 'Only when you are inclined to be magisterial.' 'Oh, good God,' Lymond said. 'Kate must be out of her mind.' 'And thank heaven you aren't my father?' said Philippa. 'Roughly,' said Lymond, and began to laugh, and then stopped.
~ Dorothy Dunnett
Some day, I must take my own prolific advice and contrive to drop dead.
~ Dorothy Dunnett
If you were a dear, good little wife, Janet,' had said Lymond, 'you'd fall into a mortal decline that day, or at least hide his boots.' 'Francis Crawford, are ye daft! What ever kept a Scott from a fight? Women? Boots? If yon one were deid, he'd spend his time in Heaven sclimming up and down the Pearly Gates peppering Kerrs.
~ Dorothy Dunnett