I think the main thing about comedy and humor is that it's

In the ancient halls of wisdom, where the great minds gathered to unravel the mysteries of the cosmos, there was one truth that even the most revered philosophers could not define. It was a force both elusive and universal, a force that transcended the limits of language, logic, and reason. This force is humor—a mystery that, like the wind, can be felt but never fully grasped. Mike Nichols, a master of the comedic craft, spoke these profound words: "I think the main thing about comedy and humor is that it's impossible and always was impossible to define." In these words, Nichols captured the very essence of humor—it is not a thing to be defined, but a force to be experienced, fleeting and mysterious, like a shadow that slips from your grasp the moment you try to hold it.

The ancients knew well that some truths could not be captured by mere words. Socrates, in his dialogues, sought to define the nature of justice, virtue, and knowledge. Yet, when it came to the elusive art of humor, even he remained silent. For humor is not a rigid structure that can be placed neatly into categories. It flows freely, like the river of life itself, twisting and turning in ways that cannot be predicted or controlled. To define humor, to constrain it within boundaries, is to strip it of its power, for it thrives in the unpredictable, in the unseen, in the moments when the heart leaps with joy or the soul is struck by a truth hidden beneath the surface.

Consider the ancient playwright Aristophanes, whose comedies were filled with sharp wit, biting satire, and absurdity. His humor was a mirror held up to the society of his time, revealing its flaws and follies. Yet, his humor could not be reduced to a single explanation, nor could it be captured by a rigid definition. It was not the punchlines themselves that made his work so powerful, but the moment in which his audience recognized the deeper truth beneath the laughter. Comedy, like humor, cannot be confined to a single definition; it is both intellectual and emotional, a complex dance between the mind and the heart. It is the fleeting recognition that the world is far stranger than we could ever explain.

In more recent times, Charlie Chaplin, the great silent film comedian, brought this same mystery to the silver screen. Through his timeless character, the Tramp, Chaplin explored the most profound aspects of the human condition—loneliness, struggle, and hope—all while making his audience laugh. And yet, his humor was not easily defined. It was not just in the slapstick gags or the graceful movements of his character. No, it was in the subtle moments, the quiet gestures, the pauses between actions, where the audience was invited to experience a deeper truth. Humor, as Chaplin knew, was not something that could be pinned down by a single formula. It was a moment of connection, of understanding, that transcended language and culture.

This, then, is the lesson that Mike Nichols imparts upon us. In a world driven by the desire to define and control, humor stands as a reminder that there are forces in life that cannot be captured by logic alone. To try to define it is to limit its power, to constrain its reach. Instead, we must approach humor with humility, with openness, and with an understanding that some things are meant to be experienced, not explained. Laughter does not always come from understanding; sometimes it comes from the very mystery itself, from the unexpected twist, from the moment when the mind and the heart collide in a joyous recognition of life's absurdities.

Let us then embrace this truth in our own lives. When we encounter humor, let us not search for the explanation behind it, nor seek to define it. Instead, let us enjoy it in its full, unrestrained glory. Like the ancient riddles that only revealed their meaning to those who embraced their mystery, humor is something to be felt and embraced, not dissected. When the moment of laughter comes, whether in the form of a clever joke, a comic situation, or a sudden realization, let us receive it with joy, knowing that it is a gift, a reminder of the beauty and mystery of life.

So, let us take this wisdom forward, not as a rule, but as a freedom. Seek not to define the world in terms that limit it, but allow the world, and humor, to exist beyond the boundaries of our understanding. For in the very act of laughter, we touch the essence of life itself—the uncontainable, the mysterious, the ever-changing force that reminds us that not everything in this world is meant to be understood. Let us laugh, let us embrace the absurd, and in doing so, we will find a deeper connection to the world around us.