"Men need some kind of external activity, because they are inactive

Contrarily, if they are active within, they do not care to be dragged out

themselves; it disturbs and impedes their thoughts in a way that is often
most ruinous to them."
"I am not surprised that some people are bored when they find themselves
alone; for they cannot laugh if they are quite by themselves. The very

of it seems folly to them."

"Are we, then, to look upon laughter as merely a signal for others -- a

sign, like a word? What makes it impossible for people to laugh when they
are alone is nothing but want of imagination, dulness of mind
generally -anaisthesia kai bradutes psuxes, as Theophrastus has it.(8) The
lower animals never laugh, either alone or in company. Myson, the
misanthropist, was once surprised by one of these people as he was

to himself. Why do you laugh? he asked; there is no one with you. That is
just why I am laughing, said Myson"

-Arthur Schopenhauer