There are several kinds of stories, but only one difficult kind--the humorous. I will talk mainly about that one. The humorous story is American, the comic story is English, the witty story is French. The humorous story depends for its effect upon the manner of the telling; the comic story and the witty story upon the matter.英文原著 · 《How Tell a Story and Others》
Many of its similes are intended to be humorous. A few of its incidents are humorous; but it has little of that element in it, as indeed little of our literature has that element markedly in it. We have a few exceptions. But what George Eliot says in Adam Bede is true, that wit is of a temporary nature, and does not deal with the deep and more lasting elements in life. The Bible is not a sad book. There are children at play in it; there are feasts and buoyant gatherings fully recounted. But it never trifles nor jests.英文原著 · 《A Study of Bible》
The humorous story may be spun out to great length, and may wander around as much as it pleases, and arrive nowhere in particular; but the comic and witty stories must be brief and end with a point. The humorous story bubbles gently along, the others burst.英文原著 · 《How Tell a Story and Others》
The humorous story is strictly a work of art--high and delicate art-- and only an artist can tell it; but no art is necessary in telling the comic and the witty story; anybody can do it. The art of telling a humorous story--understand, I mean by word of mouth, not print--was created in America, and has remained at home.英文原著 · 《How Tell a Story and Others》
Has he funny characters that are funny, and humorous passages that are humorous?英文原著 · 《Letters Vol. 5》
At eight o'clock, arrayed in all the gorgeousness of my scarlet and gold uniform, I sat in front of the band platform in the White House lobby, and the bass-drummer stationed himself back in the semi-obscurity of his corner. There was a dazzling array of music-stands and empty chairs, but no musicians! The President evidently saw the humorous side of it, and when I explained the situation he said it could not be helped. All the evening we sat there and listened to humorous remarks from the guests. We had "reported for duty," though, and the drummer and I stayed till the reception was over.英文原著 · 《The Experiences of a Bandmaster》
Did you enjoy the humorous footnote Where I illustrate mirror-symmetry By likening it to the flash playing tennis with himself?美剧 · 《The Big Bang Theory》
The combination of the star trek reference And the play on words involving the double-meaning Of the verb "to go" Suggests that leonard is humorously mocking Your efforts in space plumbing.美剧 · 《The Big Bang Theory》