"Men show their character in nothing more clearly than what they think laughable." (Johann Wolfgang von Goethe)

What do you think is the meaning of that quotation?

I would say that the things that you find humorious shows what kind of person you are.

"Men show their character in nothing more clearly than what they think laughable."

If a person laughs at a disabled person stumbling; for instance, in the grocery store, it certainly doesn't say much for the person.

If a person laughs at sexist jokes, chances are they're a sexist person.

If a bully is hitting and taunting a person, and a person stands in the crowd, watching and laughing at the the incident, it says bad things about their character.

If a person bullies a person online, perticipates in the gangup or watches and laughs at the gangup, instead of hitting the report person, I hate their guts, lol.

If a person parks in a handicap space, using someone else's placard, and they make a joke and laugh to their friend that they got away with it, they suck. Ditto for handicap restrooms, etc.

If a person laughs at another person swinging a cat around by its tail, it clearly indicates that the person is a dirtbag.

I guess what a person laughs at tells us about their character, or lack thereof. It's more what they don't laugh at that's most telling.

"Men show their character in nothing more clearly than what they think laughable."

I guess what a person laughs at tells us about their character, or lack thereof. It's more what they don't laugh at that's most telling.

Can a man's character also be shown by what types of sitcoms make them laugh? The kinds of comedies that make me laugh are the comedies of the past ("Taxi," "What's Happening!!," "Mary Tyler Moore"). Could my character be determined by that?

Can a man's character also be shown by what types of sitcoms make them laugh? The kinds of comedies that make me laugh are the comedies of the past ("Taxi," "What's Happening!!," "Mary Tyler Moore"). Could my character be determined by that?
I honestly don't know, but my guess is not so much your character, but your "type", even your intelligence. Some comedies have smart humor to them. Too tired to think of them now, but MTM was a clever show. Then again, I enjoy The Brady Bunch and The Beverly Hillbillies. I'll research this soon, and post my findings. Promise. :)

I honestly don't know, but my guess is not so much your character, but your "type", even your intelligence. Some comedies have smart humor to them. Too tired to think of them now, but MTM was a clever show. Then again, I enjoy The Brady Bunch and The Beverly Hillbillies. I'll research this soon, and post my findings. Promise. :)

I'm eager to see. I'm looking forward to what you find about it. No hurry, though. Just take your time. That's what report writers are supposed to do. Better that you take your time and get it right.

I think to a degree the type of humour could be related to not only your intelligence, and character, but also maturity level.

Like if you're 13 and find Weekend At Bernie's hilarious, then fine, but if you're 35 and still find it hilarious, I'd say you might have some maturity issues.

Slapstick humour is different. Any intelligence, character and maturity level can enjoy that. I like Woody Allen's humour, but I also still laugh at The Three Stooges (and most women don't like them at all).

I think more the quote is referring to negative forms of humour like the examples Janice gave. Laughing at someone's disability, race, etc. is always negative and speaks volumes about a person's sensitivity and character traits. I also enjoy humour from Red Skelton to George Carlin and even to outright "filthy" stuff - depends on what it is and in what context it's delivered in.

I think to a degree the type of humour could be related to not only your intelligence, and character, but also maturity level.

Like if you're 13 and find Weekend At Bernie's hilarious, then fine, but if you're 35 and still find it hilarious, I'd say you might have some maturity issues.

Let me see if I'm interpreting this right-- because of my age, you say that I'd have maturity issues if I still find "What's Happening!!" funny, despite the fact that it was made from 1976-79 and this is 2009? I just don't find any of today's sitcoms funny at all, and this is why I enjoy the sitcoms that I enjoy (albeit on DVD).

Like if you're 13 and find Weekend At Bernie's hilarious, then fine, but if you're 35 and still find it hilarious, I'd say you might have some maturity issues.

Oh I love this way of thinking because it's such bulls**t.

For example, I don't care for Arrested Development or Seinfeld and don't think either are quite as smart or funny as people claim them to be and I end up being told that I don't "get it" and the shows are over my head. Oh, I got the jokes, it's just that I don't care for the way the jokes were delivered. I also think that jokes such as GOB doing magic tricks to Final Countdown and Tobias painting himself blue to be in Blue Man Group to be rather lazy, cheap writing and smothering of that "random" humor (if you can call it that) that the scenesters eat up. I prefer sleazy childish vaudevillian humor, so that's why I tend to like stuff like Night Court, Mystery Science Theater 3000 and episodes of The Simpsons from the 1990s. Not to mention I must be rather smart if I can find Frasier funny. I also love slimeball womanizer characters and those characters are lacking in today's television shows, unless I watch Two and a Half Men, which I feel a little ashamed to watch because the hipsters have attached such a stank stigma to it.

Oh I love this way of thinking because it's such bulls**t.

For example, I don't care for Arrested Development or Seinfeld and don't think either are quite as smart or funny as people claim them to be and I end up being told that I don't "get it" and the shows are over my head. Oh, I got the jokes, it's just that I don't care for the way the jokes were delivered. I also think that jokes such as GOB doing magic tricks to Final Countdown and Tobias painting himself blue to be in Blue Man Group to be rather lazy, cheap writing and smothering of that "random" humor (if you can call it that) that the scenesters eat up. I prefer sleazy childish vaudevillian humor, so that's why I tend to like stuff like Night Court, Mystery Science Theater 3000 and episodes of The Simpsons from the 1990s. Not to mention I must be rather smart if I can find Frasier funny. I also love slimeball womanizer characters and those characters are lacking in today's television shows, unless I watch Two and a Half Men, which I feel a little ashamed to watch because the hipsters have attached such a stank stigma to it.


Holy **** - take a stress tab already. I would hardly compare Weekend At Bernie's to Night Court, Frasier, etc..

Have you guys even ever seen Weekend At Bernie's?

Talk about totally twisting my words around. Sounds to me like someone's a little sensitive about their own maturity here.

O.k. smartass, how 'bout YOU in your infinite wisdom tell us all exactly what the quote means since you've put so much thought into this obviously.