I somehow find serious people often have their hearts almost closed to humour and are, therefore, in a way, quite pitiable. Once, during the course of a discussion about how some people have this repelling quality about their very presence, I quoted a witty remark from someone I had heard or picked up, and in line with the topic of the discussion saying, “Yes sir, there are people who cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go.”

Though brilliant, the serious professor of Literature with whom I was discussing couldn’t quite catch the sense of the words, “wherever” and “whenever”, prompting a heated argument from him about the clarity of the meaning, and decimating the entire fun of the moment.

Once it happened that a crow came up to a frog and said, “There is going to be a big party in heaven!”

The frog opened his big mouth and with a croaking voice said, “Faaar out!”

The crow went on, “There will be great food and drinks!”

And the frog replied, “Faaar out!”

“And there will be beautiful women, and the Rolling Stones will be playing!”

The frog opened his mouth even wider and cried, “Faaar out!”

Then the crow added, “But anyone who has a big mouth won’t be allowed in!”

The frog pursed his lips tightly together and mumbled in a serious tone,

“Poor alligator! He will be disappointed!”

The frog, I believe, couldn’t have been intelligent enough to understand the pun or the import of the sarcasm intended, but the exasperation of the crow (that was me) can be well understood! Such froggish people miss out a lot in life. On the other hand, those who are quick on the uptake are perhaps more receptive, less serious, less moralistic, and more open to life.

Perfectionism is a disease, because no perfection is perfect unless it is imbued with humility. Humility is so very endearing because it remains untainted by any trace of seriousness. Humility is akin to godliness.