Quotations with a sense of humor: witty words from great figures that make you chuckle.
Things that give us the strength to keep going, things that help us get back up when we’ve stumbled.
When we think of famous quotes, we often imagine powerful, rousing words like these—but some are full of humor, too.
In this article, we’ll introduce memorable quotes with a sense of humor.
Because they come from great figures who have experienced the bitter and the sweet of life, these amusing words can give you courage and lift your spirits in a way that’s different from straightforward pep talks.
If you want a little laugh and a boost of energy, be sure to check them out!
- Witty quotes that make you chuckle without thinking
- Witty quotes by great figures and celebrities where wordplay shines even in brevity
- The magical power of words that make people laugh! A collection of quotes that lighten the heart
- Short precisely because it sticks in your heart: witty, chuckle-worthy one-liners and quotes
- Healed in a single word… Words that blow away negative feelings and bring a smile.
- From surprising to cynical! Funny one-liners that make you laugh
- Quotes from great figures that give us the power to live
- Words to remember when you feel like running away—phrases to rally a weakened heart.
- Powerful words give you a push! Words that help you try even harder than before.
- A list of comforting words to soothe a tired heart: giving you the strength to face tomorrow
- Just remembering them fills you with courage! Striking quotes that touch the heart from great figures and famous people
- Gives you the power to face challenges! Inspiring words of courage from great and famous people.
- [Heart-Touching] Quotes That Keep You Going Anytime! Fiery Words That Push You Forward
Witty quotes: chuckle-worthy words from great figures (1–10)
Friendship is a contract in which you do someone a small kindness and expect a great kindness in return.Charles de Montesquieu
The person who took a sardonic stance on friendship was the French philosopher Charles de Montesquieu, with this remark.
Many might think that one should treat friends kindly without expecting anything in return.
But this quote says the opposite: that friendship is only truly nurtured when there is reciprocity.
It may sound rather dry—cold, even, as if it lacks blood and tears.
Still, even if not everyone feels this way, perhaps some people do approach a few of their friends with such a mindset.
When you find yourself wondering, “What is friendship, anyway?” try laughing it off with this saying.
People who aren’t very smart criticize anything they don’t understand.François de La Rochefoucauld
It may be in our immediate reaction when faced with something we cannot understand that the true character hidden deep within us is revealed.
From this way of confronting the incomprehensible comes a saying by François de La Rochefoucauld, a French nobleman and man of letters, that sees through to the essence.
He expresses that those who belittle what they cannot understand are not wise, while those who strive to understand or to accept it are the truly wise.
It’s a quote that invites us to reflect on how we face what lies beyond our understanding.
Alcohol doesn’t ruin people. It simply teaches us that humans were hopeless to begin with.Danshi Tatekawa
Some adults may have had experiences of messing up because of alcohol.
At such times, we tend to say it was because of the drink—but is that really true? Danshi Tatekawa, who had many disciples and left a major legacy in the rakugo world, argued that the problem lies not with alcohol but with the person.
It’s not that alcohol makes you fail; rather, drinking simply reveals that you were the kind of person likely to fail to begin with.
When people drink, their true nature can show, right? These words are essentially saying exactly that.
Because alcohol brings out one’s true colors, what is exposed in that moment is who the person really is.
Witty quotes: chuckle-worthy words from great figures (11–20)
The length of a movie should be directly tied to how long a person’s bladder can hold out.Alfred Hitchcock
Alfred Hitchcock, who was active as a film director in the United Kingdom, was also called the master of suspense for his unique style.
Here is a famous, comical quote by this great filmmaker, who had a profound influence on later cinema, about the proper length of a movie.
He argues that if a film is long enough to make people get up in the middle, it fails as a work; it should be short enough to keep audiences watching to the end.
He illustrates this idea by humorously comparing it to the need to urinate—something one would try to hold in.
Though the wording gives a comedic impression, the quote addresses an important question in filmmaking: how long is truly appropriate?
If you smile, you’ll make friends. If you frown, you’ll make wrinkles.George Eliot
George Eliot, a British writer and a leading figure of the Victorian era, is also noted for her psychological portrayals.
This famous quote, in which the great author lightly expresses what keeping a smile can lead to, conveys first and foremost that making an effort to smile at those around you leads to being trusted and gaining more friends.
By contrast, she humorously illustrates through juxtaposition that if you keep scowling, it results only in wrinkles on your face and brings you nothing to gain.
If you want to make God laugh, tell Him about your plans for the future.Woody Allen
The person who said the rather unique phrase about making God laugh is Woody Allen, who wears many hats as a film director, actor, and clarinetist.
No one knows what the future holds, right? But perhaps God does.
If you talk to such a God about your future, He might laugh and say, “That’s not going to happen—you’re way off!” In other words, instead of worrying and feeling anxious about the unknown, this phrase may be urging us to live fully in the present.
Since there isn’t much difference no matter which husband you choose, you might as well grab the first one.Adela Rogers St. Johns
If you’re going to agonize over your options, you might as well just choose the one that first felt right—so goes this saying.
These are the words of Adela Rogers St.
Johns, who was active as a journalist and screenwriter.
The line about “whichever husband you choose, it’s all the same” is wonderfully humorous, isn’t it? Even if there are subtle differences, once something makes it into the realm of genuine contenders, whichever you pick you’ll probably be satisfied to some extent.
In that case, the idea that the choice guided by your initial, honest intuition is the best of the bunch may offer a new perspective to those who are indecisive and prone to overthinking.