
ProverbHuman Nature
Biblical origin
Laughter is the best medicine
Meaning: Humor and joy can help overcome difficulties.
Origin: The thought is biblical: Proverbs 17:22 says "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine." The modern wording was popularized by Reader's Digest, whose long-running joke column is titled "Laughter, the Best Medicine."
Equivalents in French, Spanish, Japanese, German, Italian, and Polish
French: Le rire est le meilleur remède (literally: Laughter is the best remedy)
Spanish: La risa es la mejor medicina (literally: Laughter is the best medicine)
Japanese: 笑う門には福来たる (Warau kado ni wa fuku kitaru) (literally: Fortune comes to the gate that laughs)
German: Lachen ist die beste Medizin (literally: Laughter is the best medicine)
Italian: Il riso fa buon sangue (literally: Laughter makes good blood)
Polish: Śmiech to zdrowie (literally: Laughter is health)
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