ProverbHuman NatureBiblical 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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