Laughter

Though the words appear in question marks, there seem to be only five passages in which Hobbes discusses laughter -- never in quite in these words. Hobbes explained laugher by invoking the will to power, albeit without using that term.

The first and longest discussion is found in 'Human Nature (1640)', Chapter IX.13: "There is a passion that has no name; but the sign of it is the distortion of the countenance which we call 'laughter', which is always joy.....Whatsoever it be that moveth to laughter, it must be new and unexpected. Men laugh often, especially such as are greedy for applause from everything they do well, at their own actions performed never so little beyond their own expectations; as also at their own jests: and in this case it is manifest, that the passion of laughter proceedeth from a sudden conception of some ability in himself that laugheth. Also men laugh at the infirmities of others, by comparisons wherewith their own abilities are set off and illustrated. Also men laugh at jests, the wit whereof always consisteth in the elegant discovering and conveying to our minds some absurdity of another: and in this case also the passion of laughter proceedeth from the sudden imagination of our own odds and eminency.... For when a jest is broken upon ourselves, or friends of whose dishonour we participate, we never laugh thereat. I may therefore conclude, that the passion of laughter is nothing else but sudden glory arising fromn some sudden conception of some eminency in ourselves, by comparison with the infirmity of others, or with our own formerly: for men laugh at the follies of themselves past.. Besides, it is vain glory, and an argument of little worth, to think the infirmity of another, sufficient matter for his triumph."

The parallel passage in the 'Leviathan' (1651) Part I. Chapter 6, P.27, which is much shorter, ends "And it is incident most of them, that are conscious of the fewest abilities in themselves: who are forced to keep themselves in their own favour, by observing imperfections of other men. And therefore must Laughter at the defects of others in a single of Pusillanimity. For the great minds, one of the proper workes is, to help and free others from scorn; and compare themselves onely with the most able."

Finally, in "The Answer of Mr. Hobbes, to Sir William Davenant's Preface before Gondibert" Hobbes says "Great persons, that have their minds employed on great designs, have not leisure enough to laugh, and are pleased with the contemplation of their own power and virtues, so as they need not the infirmities and vices of other men to recommend themselves to their own favour by comparison, as all men do when they laugh."