I've always chosen my band members based on their sense of humor.

The musician and poet Kristin Hersh, known for her raw honesty and ethereal artistry, once said: “I've always chosen my band members based on their sense of humor. It might sound stupid, but it means not only are they fun to live with on a tour bus for years, but humor implies intelligence.” What she expresses here is not mere preference, but a philosophy — one born of long journeys, sleepless nights, and the quiet understanding that in art, as in life, laughter is a form of wisdom. Hersh’s insight is simple yet profound: the ability to find humor in hardship is not a sign of foolishness, but of intellect, balance, and emotional grace.

When she says that “humor implies intelligence,” she touches upon an eternal truth — that true wit is born not from ignorance, but from awareness. To laugh is to see life clearly and yet still choose to embrace it. The fool laughs without knowing why; the wise laugh because they understand too well. In Hersh’s world — the relentless, often chaotic world of musicianship — humor becomes a kind of alchemy, transforming exhaustion into energy, conflict into camaraderie, and monotony into meaning. It is not merely a trait of the entertainer; it is a survival skill of the enlightened.

Her decision to select band members by their sense of humor reveals a deeper understanding of human nature. For on a tour bus, confined within steel and time, personalities collide, fatigue sharpens tempers, and the grind of repetition can erode even friendship. In such a life, talent alone is not enough. A musician may play perfectly, but if the soul is heavy, the journey becomes unbearable. Laughter, then, is the oil that keeps the machinery of companionship running smoothly. Hersh recognizes what the ancients knew — that harmony among people is as vital as harmony in music, and humor is often the key that unlocks both.

History is rich with examples of this truth. The great playwright William Shakespeare, whose works bridged the gap between kings and clowns, understood that humor was not separate from genius — it was its reflection. In his tragedies, even amid death and despair, jesters and fools appear — not to mock the suffering, but to reveal truth through laughter. They remind both the audience and the heroes that intelligence is not cold logic alone, but the ability to hold sorrow and mirth within the same heart. Hersh, like Shakespeare, recognizes that the artist who cannot laugh has not yet mastered the full spectrum of creation.

And yet, Hersh’s words also carry a moral dimension. To choose people by their humor is to choose those who possess humility — for humor requires one to laugh first at oneself. Those who cannot find joy in their own absurdities are often trapped by pride or fear. The one who laughs freely, by contrast, is unburdened, wise enough to see that perfection is an illusion. Hersh’s band, built upon humor, becomes a fellowship of souls who understand that the creative path, with all its failures and triumphs, is best traveled lightly. In laughter, they find both strength and unity.

The lesson hidden within her words is one that applies far beyond the world of music: surround yourself with those who can laugh — not because life is easy, but because they have learned how to carry its weight with grace. Seek companions whose humor comes from compassion, not cruelty; whose laughter lifts, not wounds. In your work, in your family, in your friendships, measure people not by wealth or skill alone, but by the lightness they bring to heavy days. For those who can find joy amid struggle are the ones who will endure with you to the end.

So remember this truth, passed down like a melody through the ages: humor is the intelligence of the heart. It is the mark of those who understand both the beauty and the absurdity of being alive. As Kristin Hersh teaches, laughter is not a distraction from purpose — it is the soul’s proof that it still believes in meaning. Therefore, choose your companions — and your own spirit — by this measure: can they find light in the dark? Can they smile when the song falters? For those who can laugh wisely will not only make the journey bearable — they will make it unforgettable.