more on this theme | more from this thinker
Full Idea
I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, what doeth it?
Gist of Idea
Laughter is mad; of mirth, what doeth it?
Source
Anon (Ecc) (21: Book of Ecclesiastes [c.200 BCE], 02.02)
Book Ref
'The Bible', ed/tr. the Church [Collins 1950], p.326
A Reaction
Not much of an argument, but an interesting support for the extreme anti-hedonistic puritanical view. Most people would praise laughter as an end in itself, so 'what doeth it?' seems to miss the point.
| 8765 | All is vanity, saith the Preacher [Anon (Ecc)] |
| 8766 | In much wisdom is much grief [Anon (Ecc)] |
| 7494 | Laughter is mad; of mirth, what doeth it? [Anon (Ecc)] |
| 8767 | Sorrow is better than laughter [Anon (Ecc)] |
| 8768 | Books are endless, and study is wearisome [Anon (Ecc)] |