A Dictionary of Proverbs (Oxford Paperback Reference)

1883 E. W. WILCOX in Sun (New York) 25 Feb. 3 Laugh, and the world laughs with

you; Weep, and you weep alone. For the sad old earth must borrow its mirth, But has

trouble enough of its own. 1907 ‘O. HENRY’ Trimmed Lamp 211 Laugh, and the world

laughs with you; weep, and they give you the laugh. 1912 ‘SAKI’ Chronicle of Clovis 127

The proverb ‘Weep and you weep alone,’ broke down as badly on application as most of

its kind. 1997 Oldie Aug. 27 Laugh, said the little clown, and the world laughs with you.

Cry but don’t let anyone catch you at it! 2001 R. HILL Dialogues of Dead xviii. 153

‘Right joker, this Wordman, ain’t he? What’s it they say? Laugh and the world laughs

with you.’ merriment

Let them LAUGH that win

An older version of the next two proverbs.

1546 J. HEYWOOD Dialogue of Proverbs I.V. B2 He laught that wynth. a 1596 G.

PEELE Clyomon & Clamides F1 But I zay to you my nabor [neighbour].. wel let them

laugh that win. 1777 Bonner & Middleton’s Bristol Journal 5 July 3 The old Proverb

says, let them laugh that wins.—They glory over us, by saying that our Fund is almost

exhausted—that is our look out not theirs. 1873 TROLLOPE Phineas Redux I. xxxvii.

‘You are laughing at me, I know.’ ‘Let them laugh that win.’ success; winners and

losers

laugh see also JOVE but laughs at lovers’ perjury; LOVE laughs at locksmiths.

He LAUGHS best who laughs last

See also the two adjacent proverbs. The ‘French proverb’ referred to in quot. 1822 is rira
bien qui rira le dernier.

c 1607 Christmas Prince (1923) 109 Hee laugheth best that laugheth to the end. 1715

VANBRUGH Country House II. V. Does she play her jests upon me too!—but mum, he

laughs best that laughs last. 1822 SCOTT Peveril IV. iii. Your Grace knows the French

proverb, ‘He laughs best who laughs last.’ 1980 J. LINSSEN Yellow Pages lii. The mark

of greatness is survival. He laughs best who laughs last. 1996 Washington Post 15 Jan. C2

This purchase.. was wildly out of character and the source of endless amusement to those

who know me best... Well, in the immortal words of Sir John Vanbrugh (1664–1726):

He laughs best who laughs last. revenge; winners and losers