It is not funny that anything else should fall down; only that a man should fall down. Why do we laugh? Because it is a gravely religious matter: it is the Fall of Man. Only man can be absurd: for only man can be dignified.

Summary

This quote suggests that we find humor in the fall of a man because it represents the Fall of Man, a profound religious concept. The speaker argues that humans possess a unique ability to be both dignified and ridiculous, making them the perfect target for laughter. The humor lies in the paradoxical nature of our existence, where we can exhibit traits of greatness and foolishness simultaneously. It implies that laughter helps us acknowledge the complexity of being human and highlights the innate contradictions and imperfections that make us who we are.

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