Humour is the weapon of unarmed people: it helps people who are oppressed to smile at the situation that pains them.

Summary

This quote emphasizes the power of humor as a tool for those who lack other means of resistance. People who are unable to physically or overtly oppose their oppressors can use humor as a form of passive resistance. By finding amusement in their troubling circumstances, they are able to maintain a certain level of psychological resilience and even provoke a sense of discomfort or bewilderment in those who oppress them. Humor thus becomes an invaluable weapon for the oppressed, allowing them to reclaim a sense of agency and momentarily transcend their situations.

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