The increasing seriousness of things, then that's the great opportunity of jokes.
 Henry James, The Portrait of a Lady (1881). copy citation

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Author Henry James
Source The Portrait of a Lady
Topic seriousness joke
Date 1881
Language English
Reference
Note
Weblink http://www.gutenberg.org/files/2833/2833-h/2833-h.htm

Context

“When there are no jokes you've nothing left.»
«Fortunately there are always more jokes,» the ugly young man remarked.
«I don't believe it—I believe things are getting more serious. You young men will find that out.»
«The increasing seriousness of things, then that's the great opportunity of jokes.»
«They'll have to be grim jokes,» said the old man. «I'm convinced there will be great changes, and not all for the better.»
«I quite agree with you, sir,» Lord Warburton declared. «I'm very sure there will be great changes, and that all sorts of queer things will happen.” source

Meaning and analysis

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