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Comedy
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Man is the only animal that laughs and weeps;
for he is the only animal that is struck by the difference between what
things are and what they might have been.
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-William Hazlitt
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At least one way of measuring the freedom of
any society is the amount of comedy that is permitted, and clearly a healthy
society permits more satirical comment than a repressive, so that if comedy
is to function in some way as a safety release then it must obviously deal
with these taboo areas. This is part of the responsibility we accord our
licensed jesters, that nothing be excused the searching light of comedy. If
anything can survive the probe of humour it is clearly of value, and
conversely all groups who claim immunity from laughter are claiming special
privileges which should not be granted.
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-Eric Idle
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