About this quote

Humor is often the only safe way we have to speak uncomfortable truths without starting a fight. Have you ever laughed at a dark joke because it hit too close to home? On the flip side, watching someone lose their temper over a minor inconvenience is objectively hilarious. We put on masks to protect ourselves, but the mask always slips when we try too hard. Pay closer attention to what your friends laugh off next time you talk to them.

When to use it

• Your manager laughs while proposing a ridiculous weekend shift during a team meeting. You lean over to your coworker and say this to confirm that the boss is actually dead serious.
• Your brother keeps making sharp jabs about your career choices under the guise of family teasing. You recall this idea to help you address the very real tension behind his jokes.
• During a local basketball game, an amateur opponent throws a wild, dramatic tantrum over a missed layup. You and your teammate share a look, finding his intense anger absolutely hilarious.