“Do not fear being ridiculous in relation to the ridiculous.”
Diary of an Unknown (1988)
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Jean Cocteau 123
French poet, novelist, dramatist, designer, boxing manager … 1889–1963Related quotes

“Man is forming thousands of ridiculous relations between himself and God.”
Book II, Ch. 12
Essais (1595), Book II

“Everything is sad and ridiculous in old age. Even the fear of death.”
"En la vejez todo es triste y ridículo: hasta el miedo a la muerte."
Diario de la Guerra del Cerdo, 1969.

Source: 1790s, The Age of Reason, Part II (1795), Chapter I: The Old Testament; this may be the origin of Napoleon's celebrated mot, Du sublime au ridicule il n'y a qu'un pas (From the sublime to the ridiculous there is but one step).
Context: The sublime and the ridiculous are often so nearly related, that it is difficult to class them separately. One step above the sublime makes the ridiculous, and one step above the ridiculous makes the sublime again.

Heimsljós (World Light) (1940), Book Three: The House of the Poet

“In politics, being ridiculous is more damaging than being extreme.”
Evening Standard, 9 May 1989

“The fate of animals is of far greater importance to me than the fear of appearing ridiculous.”

Women Can't Hear What Men Don't Say (2000)