Some mornings, it's just not worth chewing through the leather

The comedian Emo Philips, master of wit wrapped in absurdity, once declared: “Some mornings, it's just not worth chewing through the leather straps.” Though at first this seems like nonsense, a playful exaggeration, it hides within it an ancient truth clothed in humor: that there are days when the burdens of life weigh so heavily that even the smallest act feels impossible. The image of a man bound, struggling against straps, speaks to those mornings when the spirit resists rising, when the body aches against effort, when the heart wonders if the struggle is worth it.

This quote is not only a jest but also a reflection on the human condition. Each of us has felt the weight of existence—the days when weariness dulls the mind, when grief presses upon the chest, when even the act of rising seems like a victory too far. Philips, with his dark humor, reminds us that acknowledging such days is part of being human. There is wisdom in laughter at our own frailty, for it allows us to endure what otherwise might crush us.

History, too, knows of such mornings. The great Winston Churchill, in his later writings, described his depression as a “black dog” that stalked him. There were days when to face the world seemed too much, when every step was like tearing through leather restraints. Yet by enduring and even naming the struggle, he kept moving forward, leading his nation through its darkest hour. What Philips presents as comedy, others have lived as tragedy—but both reveal the truth: that not every morning will greet us with light.

The meaning of the phrase also speaks to the contrast between expectation and reality. We dream of waking to inspiration, of bounding from bed ready to conquer the day. But life is not always so generous. Sometimes the morning is cruel, demanding energy we do not have, demanding courage when the well feels dry. It is in these moments that humor becomes a lifeline, for to laugh at our weakness is to lessen its power. In comedy, Philips gives us the gift of perspective: even our worst mornings can be endured if we can smile at them.

Yet there is also a lesson of resilience within the jest. To say “it’s not worth chewing through the leather straps” is to admit defeat for a moment, but only for a moment. For if one recognizes the struggle, one also recognizes that it is temporary. The straps are not eternal; they can be endured, or set aside, or laughed at until they lose their grip. The heroism of life does not lie in feeling strong every morning, but in continuing despite mornings when strength falters.

The lesson we may take is this: accept the mornings when you are weary. Do not despise yourself for struggling, nor believe that such days define you. Instead, carry humor as a shield, patience as a weapon, and faith as a compass. Remember that even the greatest leaders, the brightest artists, the strongest warriors had mornings when they too felt bound. What mattered was not that they were unbreakable, but that they endured, step by step, laugh by laugh, until the burden lightened.

Thus, Emo Philips’ quote, though delivered in jest, belongs to the lineage of ancient wisdom cloaked in laughter. It tells us that life will have days of bondage, days when rising feels impossible, days when our soul rebels against duty. But by recognizing them, laughing at them, and moving forward regardless, we claim victory over despair. Let us then live with this truth: not every morning will be radiant, but every morning endured is a triumph, and every burden laughed at loses its sting.