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Quotation from Gargantua and Pantagruel by François Rabelais

“Because to laugh is proper to the man.”

François Rabelais (spoken by Rabelais)

Gargantua and Pantagruel, Book I, prefatory verses "Rabelais to the Reader", trans. Thomas Urquhart

Portrait of François Rabelais

The closing line of the short poem in which Rabelais tells readers the book is meant to cure sorrow with mirth, echoing Aristotle's definition of man as the laughing animal.

Citation: "Because to laugh is proper to the man." — François Rabelais, Gargantua and Pantagruel, Book I, prefatory verses "Rabelais to the Reader", trans. Thomas Urquhart. (id rabelais-gargantua-and-pantagruel-q1)

Portrait: Francois Rabelais - Portrait, anonymous / Unidentified painter, Public domain.

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Quote card: Because to laugh is proper to the man.