“Sadness is a matter of the spirit, while laughter is a matter of the intellect.”
- January 14, 1925 – November 25, 1970
- Born in Japan
- Novelist, playwright, critic, political activist
Japanese
「悲しみとは精神的なものであり、笑いとは知的なものであります」
English
“Sadness is a matter of the spirit, while laughter is a matter of the intellect.”
Explanation
In this quote, Mishima makes a distinction between sadness and laughter, attributing sadness to the spirit—an internal, emotional state—and laughter to the intellect, suggesting that laughter is a more rational or cognitive response. Mishima’s view implies that sadness is rooted in deep, often unarticulated feelings or existential despair, while laughter, though it can be spontaneous, is often the product of thought or recognition of something amusing or clever. He contrasts the emotional depth of sadness with the more cerebral nature of laughter, where humor often requires an intellectual grasp of irony, absurdity, or wit. Mishima’s division may reflect his interest in how human emotions and intellectual processes are often intertwined yet can manifest in very different ways.
Mishima’s philosophical exploration of emotion and reason reflects his broader concerns with the dual nature of human existence, often focusing on the tension between the body and mind, emotion and reason. By placing sadness in the realm of the spirit and laughter in the realm of the intellect, Mishima suggests that sadness is more connected to internal suffering or a loss of meaning, while laughter represents a momentary relief, a rational escape from the weight of human existence. This view reflects the contradictory nature of human life, where emotion and intellect interact but also conflict—with sadness often linked to the spiritual and laughter to the rational aspects of life.
In a modern context, this quote offers insight into the complex relationship between emotion and intellectual understanding in human experience. Sadness is often associated with emotional depth or psychological struggle, while laughter, particularly in contemporary society, can be used as both a coping mechanism and an intellectual tool for making sense of life’s absurdities. Mishima’s differentiation highlights how laughter can be a mental process—a recognition of something funny or witty—while sadness tends to be more about existential reflection or emotional turmoil. His reflection reminds us that emotions and thoughts are often separate yet deeply connected, with sadness serving as a profound internal experience and laughter as a more conscious, intellectual response to the world around us.
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