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About this quote

What does it mean?
Mostel defines humor as the ability to maintain perspective and observe oneself objectively.
In plain terms
Being funny means seeing yourself from a distance and keeping things in proportion.
What can you take from it?
Self-awareness is the core of humor.

Where it applies

  • daily life
  • social interaction
  • self-reflection

Putting it to work

  • practicing perspective
  • using self-deprecation

Questions to consider

  • How can you step back to see yourself objectively?
  • Why is perspective hard to find?

Another view

Not everyone can achieve this level of detachment easily.

More from Zero Mostel

  1. Romanian-Jewish cooking has killed more Jews than Hitler.

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  2. The freedom of any society varies proportionately with the volume of its laughter.

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  3. With kikes like you on the loose, who needs Hitler?

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