Full Idea
Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.
Gist of Idea
Sorrow is better than laughter
Source
Anon (Ecc) (21: Book of Ecclesiastes [c.200 BCE], 07.03)
Book Reference
'The Bible', ed/tr. the Church [Collins 1950], p.328
A Reaction
This writer fails to see the good in laughter. If he did, he would have a more balanced view, and we could take this opinion more seriously. Theatre audiences always seem keen to hunt out jokes where none are intended.