I like people with a good sense of humor, like Jennifer Aniston.

Hear the words of Helio Castroneves, a champion of both speed and spirit, who said: “I like people with a good sense of humor, like Jennifer Aniston. She is amazing and is a great actress.” Though his words appear simple, within them lies the wisdom of one who has lived in the arena of triumph and trial. For beneath the praise of another’s lightheartedness, there is a deeper truth—the recognition that humor is not merely laughter, but a reflection of grace, resilience, and the power to endure with joy.

In this saying, Castroneves honors more than a single person; he celebrates a quality that sustains the soul. A sense of humor is not the art of jesting alone—it is the ability to see through the storm, to find light in the shadow, to turn the sting of life into song. Those who possess it walk through the same trials as others, but they do so with eyes that gleam, finding meaning where others find only misfortune. Jennifer Aniston, to whom his words are directed, embodies this spirit. In her art and her being, she carries laughter not as a mask but as a mirror—reflecting the beauty and absurdity of being human.

The ancients, too, revered this quality. The philosopher Democritus, known as the “laughing philosopher,” walked the streets of Greece smiling at the folly of mankind. Yet his laughter was not mockery—it was wisdom. He laughed because he understood that life’s troubles are fleeting, that pride and sorrow alike pass like wind through the reeds. In the same way, Castroneves reminds us that those with a good sense of humor possess something rare: they are free. They do not become prisoners of bitterness or defeat, for laughter is their chariot through the difficulties of the world.

Helio Castroneves, a man of racing and courage, knows this truth through experience. He has faced the dangers of speed, the sting of loss, the pressure of greatness. Yet he sees in the laughter of others a reflection of strength—an endurance more powerful than any engine. To admire Jennifer Aniston for her humor is to recognize that joy, like courage, requires choice. It is easy to despair, to dwell upon what breaks, but to laugh amid adversity is to conquer it. It is to say to life, “You may wound me, but you will not possess me.”

Think also of Charlie Chaplin, who lived through poverty and exile, yet brought laughter to millions. His films, though comic, were born of suffering. He taught the world that the sense of humor is not frivolity—it is armor for the soul. His tramp character, smiling through hunger and hardship, became an emblem of hope. This is the kind of spirit that Castroneves praises—the humor that carries dignity, the laughter that defies despair. Like Aniston’s quiet grace, it reminds us that humor and compassion walk hand in hand.

The origin of such humor lies in humility. To laugh well is to accept oneself. The proud cannot laugh at their errors, nor can the fearful smile at their misfortunes. But the wise know that perfection is an illusion, and that laughter is the song of acceptance. When Castroneves speaks of admiring those with humor, he speaks as one who understands that joy is not a gift given by fortune—it is a craft, a way of seeing, a discipline of the heart.

Let this be the lesson passed to future generations: cultivate a sense of humor, not as a mask to hide your wounds, but as a torch to light your path. When you fall, rise with laughter; when you are mocked, answer with grace. Surround yourself, as Castroneves says, with those who can laugh kindly, who bring warmth rather than scorn. For such souls are the healers of the world. Their laughter lifts the weary, their light disarms the dark, and their presence reminds us that life, though fleeting, is still beautiful.

And so, remember this teaching: the one who can laugh deeply has already won a quiet victory. Humor is the sign of the free heart, the resilient spirit, and the enduring soul. As Helio Castroneves saw in Jennifer Aniston, and as the wise of every age have known—those who can laugh amid the struggle are the true champions of life. Therefore, be not solemn in despair, nor rigid in pride, but carry laughter as your companion. For in laughter, the weary find strength, and the heart remembers its courage.