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About this quote

What does it mean?
This speaker finds humor only in nonsense because reality is tragic due to death.
In plain terms
Real life is sad so only silly things make me laugh.
What can you take from it?
Nonsense offers escape from tragic reality.

Where it applies

  • philosophical m
  • existential crisis
  • literary voice

Putting it to work

  • writing tone
  • internal monologue

Questions to consider

  • Is life inherently tragic?
  • Does fantasy protect us from sadness?

Another view

It dismisses simple humor without clear justification.

More from Jack Vance

  1. Shimrod said: 'Once I thought of you as a child in a woman's body.' Melanchte smiled a cool smile. 'And now?' 'The child seems to have wandered away'.

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  2. Orthodoxy derives from this axiomatic foundation, and the two systems are mutually reinforcing: hence each is doubly validated.

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  3. Zaxa rode a small pacing wole, and carried his fabulous sword Zil, while the others of the party rode steeds of other descriptions

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