Skip to content
quotesby

About this quote

What does it mean?
Surface laughter often hides deep sadness or pain inside a person.
In plain terms
Most smiling is fake hiding deep sadness inside.
What can you take from it?
Look deeper than surface cheer to understand true emotional states.

Where it applies

  • mental health
  • social interaction
  • empathy

Putting it to work

  • listen beyond words
  • check in with others
  • observe body language

Questions to consider

  • How often do we hide pain?
  • What does real joy look like?

Another view

Not all laughter is masking pain.

More from Robert South

  1. It is idleness that creates impossibilities; and where people don't care to do anything, they shelter themselves under a permission that it cannot be done.

    Permalink to quote #6
  2. Passion is the drunkenness of the mind.

    Permalink to quote #8
  3. Innocence is like polished armor; it adorns and defends.

    Permalink to quote #5

Related quotes

  1. Jamais nous ne goutons de parfaite allegresse: Nos plus heureux succes sont meles de tristesse.

    Pierre CorneillePierre Corneille quote #16
  2. Pure and complete sorrow is as impossible as pure and complete joy.

    Leo TolstoyLeo Tolstoy quote #32
  3. A boy's hunched body loved out of a stalk The first song of his happiness, and the song woke His heart to the darkness and into the sadness of joy.

    Galway KinnellGalway Kinnell quote #1