World Laughter Day, celebrated on May 3, is an annual event observed worldwide with the idea to raise awareness about laughter and the many healing benefits it offers. The celebration is also focused on promoting thousands of community groups around the world who regularly practice comedy, which promote wellness and overall well-being for humans.

World Laughter Day is celebrated in almost all parts of the world. Before the world was hit by the coronavirus pandemic and social distancing became the new normal, people used to gather togther on this day to share a laugh.

Here are 20 best quotes taken from the Laughter Online University that commemorate this day of fun and awareness.

  • “[Humanity] has unquestionably one really effective weapon—laughter. Power, money, persuasion, supplication, persecution—these can lift at a colossal humbug—push it a little—weaken it a little, century by century, but only laughter can blow it to rags and atoms at a blast. Against the assault of laughter, nothing can stand.” — Mark Twain
  • “A good laugh heals a lot of hurts.” — Madeleine L’Engle
  • “A good laugh is a mighty good thing, a rather too scarce a good thing.” — Herman Melville
  • “A good laugh is sunshine in the house.” — William Thackeray
  • “A smile is a curve that sets everything straight.” — Phyllis Diller
  • “A smile starts on the lips, a grin spreads to the eyes, a chuckle comes from the belly; but a good laugh bursts forth from the soul, overflows, and bubbles all around.” — Carolyn Birmingham
  • “A well-balanced person is one who finds both sides of an issue laughable.” — Herbert Procknow
  • “Always laugh when you can. It is cheap medicine." — Lord Byron
  • “Among those whom I like or admire, I can find no common denominator, but among those whom I love, I can: all of them make me laugh.” — W. H. Auden
  • “An optimist laughs to forget; a pessimist forgets to laugh.” — Tom Nansbury
  • “And keep a sense of humor. It doesn’t mean you have to tell jokes. If you can’t think of anything else, when you’re my age, take off your clothes and walk in front of a mirror. I guarantee you’ll get a laugh.” — Art Linkletter
  • “And we should consider every day lost on which we have not danced at least once. And we should call every truth false which was not accompanied by at least one laugh.” — Friedrich Nietzsche
  • “As soap is to the body, so laughter is to the soul.” — A Jewish Proverb
  • “Earth laughs in flowers.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson
  • “Even the gods love jokes.” — Plato
  • “Everyone is so afraid of death, but the real Sufis just laugh: nothing tyrannizes their hearts. What strikes the oyster shell does not damage the pearl.” — Mevlana Rumi
  • “From there to here, from here to there, funny things are everywhere.” — Dr. Seuss
  • “God has a smile on His face.” — Psalm 42:5
  • “God is a comedian playing to an audience too afraid to laugh.” — Voltaire
The new Middle East version of Sesame Street called 'Ahlan Simsim' will seek to help children and particularly Syrian refugees cope with emotions with new characters joining old favourite ones
Representational image. AFP / KARIM SAHIB
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