Laughter is the best medicine

Against the assault of laughter nothing can stand.

Mark Twain

This quote by Mark Twain is deceptively simple, yet profoundly subversive. 

The Disarming Power of Laughter

Mark Twain and the Quiet Rebellion of Humor

Mark Twain, ever the satirist, understood that laughter isn’t just a reaction—it’s a force. When he wrote “Against the assault of laughter, nothing can stand,” he wasn’t just being clever. He was naming laughter as something that dissolves fear, punctures pomposity, and exposes the absurdity of oppressive systems.

The word assault is key here. Twain isn’t describing laughter as passive or polite. He’s describing it as active, even aggressive—a weapon of truth that can dismantle the most rigid structures:

• Tyranny loses its grip when mocked.

• Shame loses its sting when shared with a chuckle.

• Pretension collapses when exposed to irony.

• Fear shrinks when we laugh in its face.

In Twain’s time, this was revolutionary. Humor allowed people to speak truth to power without being silenced. It was a way to survive injustice, to reclaim dignity, and to connect across divides. And today, it still is.

Laughter as Resistance

Think of satire, stand-up comedy, memes, even playful protest signs. These aren’t just entertainment—they’re tools of resistance. They allow us to:

• Challenge authority without direct confrontation.

• Process trauma without being consumed by it.

• Build solidarity through shared joy and absurdity.

• Reframe pain into something survivable, even beautiful.

Twain’s quote reminds us that laughter is not frivolous—it’s foundational. It’s how we stay human in the face of dehumanizing forces.

Within Yourself: The Laughing Heart

This quote affirms that laughter isn’t something we wait for—it’s something we cultivate. It lives within us, even in grief, even in struggle. And when we let it rise, it can clear the air, soften the edges, and remind us that we are still free.

Does this quote resonate with you in any way?

More information on laughing and smiling:
Laughter and chronic illness

World Laughter Day

What's in a Smile?

The Happiness Institute

and more at GNN SMILE