Laughter
Laughing is a reaction to certain stimuli. It may ensue from hearing a joke, being tickled, or other stimuli. Most commonly, it is considered a visual expression of a number of positive emotional states, such as joy, mirth, happiness, relief, etc. However on some occasions it may express other emotions, such as embarrassment, apology or confusion ("nervous laughter)" or courtesy laugh.
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Famous quotes containing the word laughter:
“There exists a kind of laughter which is worthy to be ranked with the higher lyric emotions and is infinitely different from the twitchings of a mean merrymaker.”
—Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol (1809–1852)
“Real holy laughter in the river! They saw it all! the wild eyes!
the holy yells! They bade farewell! They jumped off the roof! to
solitude! waving! carrying flowers! Down to the river! into the street!”
—Allen Ginsberg (b. 1926)
“A withered silence filled my chest of sorrow
With mildewed fancies till she came to me;
My world she made of laughter and tomorrow
A lonely sail that gemmed a wasted sea.”
—Allen Tate (1899–1979)