The hidden secret within laugher

Thomas Hobbes statement might come off as offensive because of the word choice. When people think of the word deformed, they automatically think of major deformities, rather than small and common deformities that Hobbes is describing. Throughout his quote, it seems as if Hobbes is implying that laugher only comes from “the apprehension of some deformed thing in another, by comparison whereof they suddenly applaud themselves.” Although most people do not associate laugher with evil, some of the time we do laugh out of pure meanness. People mainly laugh at others because they “are conscious of the fewest abilities in themselves.” For instance, remember being a child and other students made fun of you because you wore glasses or had braces or always being chosen last for a team. All of these problems can seem like deformities, even though children cannot change how they are, somehow as children we find making fun of them pleasurable. As we get older, we no longer look at glasses as funny; instead, we poke fun at other aspects. Hobbes knows that we are human and laugh at each other, but I do not think that we always laugh at others imperfections. It is hard for us to admit our own imperfections, so in return, we end up laughing at others flaws, but in reality, we actually end up laughing at ourselves for comparing ourselves to others. I agree with Hobbes, laugher is often associated by laughing at another’s failure and flaws, to make them feel better about themselves. On the other hand, Hobbes points out that laughter is sometimes caused “by some sudden act of their own that pleaseth them.” By this, I think he meant that we could find things that are funny without offending others. Laughter starts a number of different ways, wither it be from jealousy or something else, laughter always makes one feel better.