Quote by Mervyn Peake

There is a kind of laughter that sickens the soul. Laughter when it is out of control: when it screams and stamps its feet, and sets the bells jangling in the next town. Laughter in all its ignorance and cruelty. Laughter with the seed of Satan in it. It tramples upon shrines; the belly-roarer. It roars, it yells, it is delirious: and yet it is as cold as ice. It has no humor. It is naked noise and naked malice.

There is a kind of laughter that sickens the soul. Laughter

Summary

This quote highlights the dark side of laughter, emphasizing its potential to harm and corrupt. It describes a type of laughter that is uncontrollable, loud, and void of any humor or warmth. This laughter is portrayed as cruel, ignorant, and soul-sickening, with no regard for sacredness or empathy. It is characterized by its ability to destroy and trample upon things held sacred, making it akin to a diabolical force. Essentially, the quote suggests that not all laughter is lighthearted and good-natured, but rather there exists a kind that is malicious and harmful.

Topics

Alcohol/alcoholism

By Mervyn Peake

Liked the quote? Share it with your friends.

Random Quotations

I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you shoul

I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go. I will counsel you with my eye upon you. Psalm 25:12

Never underestimate the power of jealousy and the power of e

Never underestimate the power of jealousy and the power of envy to destroy. Never underestimate that.

We take greater pains to persuade others we are happy than i

We take greater pains to persuade others we are happy than in trying to think so ourselves.

God deliver us all from prejudice and unkindness, and fill u

God deliver us all from prejudice and unkindness, and fill us with the love of truth and virtue.

William Ellery Channing

Truth Love Virtues

Humans aren't as good as we should be in our capacity to emp

Humans aren't as good as we should be in our capacity to empathize with feelings and thoughts of others, be they humans or other animals on Earth. So maybe part of our formal education should be training in empathy. Imagine how different the world would be if, in fact, that were 'reading, writing, arithmetic, empathy.'

Neil deGrasse Tyson

Education Fact Other

It takes a certain courage and a certain greatness to be tru

It takes a certain courage and a certain greatness to be truly base.

There must be a reason why photographers are not very good a

There must be a reason why photographers are not very good at verbal communication. I think we get lazy.

Annie Leibovitz

With the abolition of private property, then, we shall have

With the abolition of private property, then, we shall have true, beautiful, healthy Individualism. Nobody will waste his life in accumulating things, and the symbols for things. One will live. To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.

Life People Symbols

It is a commonplace that the history of civilisation is larg

It is a commonplace that the history of civilisation is largely the history of weapons. In particular, the connection between the discovery of gunpowder and the overthrow of feudalism by the bourgeoisie has been pointed out over and over again. And though I have no doubt exceptions can be brought forward, I think the following rule would be found to be generally true that ages in which the dominant weapon is expensive or difficult to make will be ages of despotism, whereas when the dominant weapon is cheap and simple, the common people have a chance. Thus, for example, tanks, battleships and bombing planes are inherently tyrannical weapons, while rifles, muskets, long-bows and hand-grenades are inherently democratic weapons. A complex weapon makes the strong stronger, while a simple weapon so long as there is no answer to it gives claws to the weak.

Variety is the condition of harmony.

Variety is the condition of harmony.

I originated a remark many years ago that I think has been c

I originated a remark many years ago that I think has been copied more than any little thing that Ive every said, and I used it in the FOLLIES of 1922. I said America has a unique record. We never lost a war and we never won a conference in our lives. I believe that we could without any degree of egotism, single-handed lick any nation in the world. But we cant confer with Costa Rica and come home with our shirts on.

I have two kids, career and I travel, and I don't think my l

I have two kids, career and I travel, and I don't think my life is any different than most couples. The most valuable commodity now for many people is time and how to parcel that out.