Who said “Humor is laughing at what you haven't got when you ought to have it.”?

Verified

Langston Hughes. A published source records them saying or writing it.

Source"A Note on Humor", from The Book of Negro Humor, p. vii (1966)

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“Humor is laughing at what you haven't got when you ought to have it.”
— Langston Hughes
Verified"A Note on Humor", from The Book of Negro Humor, p. vii (1966) · evidenceHumor

Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: "A Note on Humor", from The Book of Negro Humor, p. vii (1966).

APA

Hughes, L. (n.d.). Humor is laughing at what you haven't got when you ought to have it. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/16983-humor-is-laughing-at-what-you-havent-got/

MLA

Hughes, Langston. “Humor is laughing at what you haven't got when you ought to have it.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/16983-humor-is-laughing-at-what-you-havent-got/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Hughes, Langston. “Humor is laughing at what you haven't got when you ought to have it.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/16983-humor-is-laughing-at-what-you-havent-got/.

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