A sense of humour is the lubricant of life’s machinery.
Humour is the salt of personality. Its’ presence is an evidence of good nature, of an appreciation of real values of life, and of the lack of tenseness that characterises some people. It is the most effective means of easing a difficult situation. Here it is important to differentiate between wit and humour: wit is of mind and humour is of the heart. Learn to laugh. And most of all learn to laugh at yourself. Honest good humour is the oil and wine of merry meeting and there is no jovial companionship equal to that where the jokes are rather small and laughter abundant.
The essence of humour is that it should be unexpected, that it should embody an element of surprise, that it should startle us out of the responsible gravity which, after all, must be our habitual frame of mind. God made both tears and laughter, and both for kind purposes; for as laughter enables mirth and surprise to breathe freely, so tears enable sorrow vent itself patiently. Cheerfulness is the great lubricant of the wheels of life. It lightens labour, diminishes difficulties, and mitigates misfortunes. Cheerfulness gives a creative power which pessimism never possesses. A sunny, hopeful, optimistic disposition sweetens life, lightens its’ inevitable drudgery, and eases the jolts along the road.
“Common sense and a sense of humour are the same things, moving at different speeds. A sense of humour is just common sense, dancing”.
One searching test of character is: can you take an insult without taking offence? When someone called George Bernard Shaw an ass, far from taking offence, he took it as a compliment. He pointed out the qualities we associate with the humble donkey: modesty, hard work, contentment with plain food and under estimation by the public. No one could be offended by having such qualities ascribed to him.
Humour is the harmony of the heart.
