"Sudden glory is the passion which maketh those grimaces called laughter"

Thomas Hobbes, the distinguished 17th-century thinker, provides an appealing point of view on laughter in his quote, "Sudden glory is the passion which maketh those grimaces called laughter". To unpack this statement, we must understand the context of Hobbes's wider philosophical concepts and his exploration of human emotions and habits.

At its core, the quote suggests that laughter occurs from a sensation of "unexpected splendor". Hobbes saw human feelings through the lens of power characteristics, recommending that laughter is a response to an abrupt realization or discovery that raises one's status or understanding, even briefly. This "sudden magnificence" is a burst of self-congratulatory supremacy that frequently surface areas when we find humor in a situation. Here, Hobbes suggests that laughter is not simply a reflexive, unimportant physical expression however rather a complex emotional response grounded in social interactions and self-reflection.

Hobbes's view lines up with his more comprehensive philosophical position that human actions are driven by self-interest and the pursuit of power. In his seminal work, "Leviathan", Hobbes explains human life as a consistent struggle for resources and status. The "unexpected glory" people experience when they laugh may come from a perceived accomplishment or the recognition of an unforeseen connection or insight that casts them in a beneficial light compared to others.

Additionally, the expression "grimaces called laughter" includes an interesting layer, as it identifies laughter as an uncontrolled facial expression that might appear monstrous or distorted. This imagery captures laughter's physicality, stressing the contrast between the internal feeling of triumph and the external manifestation that can in some cases appear unreasonable or extreme.

Through this quote, Hobbes challenges us to think about laughter not merely as entertainment however as a reflection of underlying human desires and social hierarchies. By doing so, he frames a typical human experience within the wider context of his philosophical inquiries into power, emotion, and the nature of human interactions.