Quote by William Hazlitt
Man is the only animal that laughs and weeps, for he is the only animal that is struck with the difference between what things are and what they ought to be.
Summary
This quote suggests that humans possess a unique ability to experience both laughter and tears because they possess the capacity to recognize the disparity between the way things are and the way they should be. Unlike other animals, humans have a sense of idealism or expectation, which can evoke emotions of joy when expectations are exceeded and sadness when expectations are unmet. In other words, our ability to perceive the world through a lens of comparison allows us to feel both the humor and sadness that arise from this contrast.
Topics
Humor
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