“It takes a big man to cry, but it takes a bigger man to laugh at that man.”

“Man is the animal who weeps and laughs — and writes. If the first Prometheus brought fire from heaven in a fennel-stalk, the last will take it back — in a book.”

John Cowper Powys (1872–1963) British writer, lecturer and philosopher

“The basic difference between an ordinary man and a warrior is that a warrior takes everything as a challenge while an ordinary man takes everything as a blessing or a curse.”

Carlos Castaneda (1925–1998) Peruvian-American author

“Humanity takes itself too seriously. It is the world's original sin. If the cave-man had known how to laugh, History would have been different.”

Oscar Wilde book The Picture of Dorian Gray

“It takes a great man to be a good listener.”

Calvin Coolidge (1872–1933) American politician, 30th president of the United States (in office from 1923 to 1929)

“It takes a lot of rehearsing for a man to be himself.”

William Saroyan (1908–1981) American writer

“Man is as young as the risks he takes.”

Will Durant (1885–1981) American historian, philosopher and writer

“One man's theology is another man's belly laugh.”

Robert A. Heinlein (1907–1988) American science fiction author

“A handsome man guards his image a while;
a good man will one day take on beauty.”

Sappho (-630–-570 BC) ancient Greek lyric poet

“The name of an iron man goes round the world.
It takes a long time to forget an iron man.”

Carl Sandburg (1878–1967) American writer and editor