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
- Witty one-liners that pierce the heart: a collection of brief yet profoundly meaningful maxims
- 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
- Short, heart-stirring words of encouragement! Courageous quotes that push you to take a step toward 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.
Witty quotes: chuckle-worthy words from great figures (1–10)
When your friends start complimenting you by saying you look young, it’s a sign that you’ve gotten older.Mark Twain
Mark Twain, who flourished as a novelist in the United States, is remembered for classics like The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.
This famous quote—delivered with the humor that also colors his works—expresses his view on youth with a playful twist.
It reminds us to scrutinize the seemingly positive phrase “You look young,” suggesting that truly young people are never described that way.
Rather than taking flattery at face value, his words prompt us to consider what such remarks might really mean.
The only place where success comes before effort is in the dictionary.Vidal Sassoon
Vidal Sassoon, a hairstylist who created the innovative cutting method known as the “Sassoon cut” and had a profound impact on the beauty industry.
The quote that tends to make you think of a dictionary when you hear it is this one.
Indeed, in alphabetical order, “effort” comes before “success.” Using that as a metaphor, he’s saying that in reality, success cannot exist without effort.
This quote likely gives everyone who is striving now the strength to persevere and the courage to move forward.
If you don’t want to meet any fools, the first thing to do is break your own mirror.François Rabelais
We all want to avoid people who feel unpleasant to us as much as possible.
So, what kind of person is unpleasant to you? The French writer and physician François Rabelais left words that serve as a lesson for moments when we come into contact with such unpleasantness.
If you break the mirror, your own image will no longer be reflected.
In other words, isn’t this asking whether we ourselves have become the unpleasant presence? If there is someone you find disagreeable, this remark may be telling you, in a unique way, to first be careful not to become that kind of person yourself.
Worry is the interest paid by those who borrow trouble in advance.George Washington
If possible, you don’t want to pay interest, right? Worry is just like that interest—something you don’t want to pay and don’t need to pay.
These words come from George Washington, the first president of the United States.
Some people can’t help but worry whenever something happens.
But is that worry really necessary right now? Worrying about things whose outcomes you don’t know can be a waste of time, since there’s no clear answer.
This quote teaches us to throw away that kind of thinking—like interest you’d rather not pay—and focus on moving forward with a positive mindset.
My hardest battle was with my first wife.Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali, who had a remarkable career as a professional boxer in the United States, also drew attention for his mixed-rules bout with Antonio Inoki, often called “the fight of the century.” Here is a famous quote from this great boxer, whose name is etched in history, in which he speaks about the toughest battle of his life.
While it may sound comical that, among all his fights, he names an argument with his wife, the words carry his regret for having raised his hand against her and his resolve to be considerate of others.
Precisely because the words alone can seem humorous, knowing the full story allows us to truly feel the importance of empathy toward others.
Grand causes come rolling in later, like loaded freight cars.NEW!Tarō Asō
It sharply captures the relationship between ideals and reality.
It holds that a grand cause isn’t perfectly assembled from the start, but takes shape afterward through accumulated actions.
Rather than stopping to seek legitimacy or praise from the outset, it says what matters is to decide and move forward first.
There’s a pragmatic view that meaning and support will naturally gather as you produce results.
These are words that push those who hesitate to act, reflecting a stance that values practice.
It shows that only those who have taken action have reasons they can speak to, a practical maxim that pierces the essence of decision-making.
When the wallet is light, the heart is heavy.Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, who was active in Germany as a playwright and poet—best known for works like the poetic drama Faust—left behind many masterpieces.
Here is an easy-to-understand quote by this great writer that conveys the relationship between money and peace of mind.
It tells us that having money is a form of preparedness for emergencies, and that this preparedness leads to mental ease.
Because it mentions a wallet, the wording may seem light, but by deliberately expressing it lightly, it makes the importance of being prepared feel all the more direct.