"Like all young men I set out to be a genius, but mercifully laughter intervened"

This quote by Lawrence Durrell speaks with the youthful aspiration of numerous young men to be a genius. It implies that the speaker had a lofty objective of attaining greatness, but that this aspiration was tempered by a funny bone. The quote suggests that the speaker was able to recognize the absurdity of his aspiration and had the ability to laugh at himself. This self-awareness and funny bone enabled the speaker to accept his constraints and to pursue more reasonable objectives. The quote also implies that the speaker was able to recognize the importance of laughter in life, which it can be an effective tool for self-reflection and growth. Ultimately, the quote recommends that the speaker was able to find balance in between ambition and humbleness, and that laughter was a crucial consider attaining this balance.