There is no defense against adverse fortune which is so effectual

Hearken, children of the ages, and attend the wisdom of Thomas Wentworth Higginson, who proclaimed: “There is no defense against adverse fortune which is so effectual as an habitual sense of humor.” Know this: the storms of life, sudden and unrelenting, have visited every soul since time immemorial. Kings have been dethroned, cities razed, and empires shattered. Yet amid the ruin, there is a shield more enduring than steel, more potent than gold—the cultivated, habitual sense of humor that steadies the spirit against the blows of fate.

In the annals of antiquity, the philosophers of Athens knew this truth well. When Socrates faced the judgment of the city, his calm demeanor and subtle wit disarmed both accuser and crowd. Even in the shadow of death, his spirit remained unshaken, guided by a keen understanding of the world’s folly. It was his habitual perspective—his cultivation of reason and humor—that fortified him, revealing that humor is not a mere pastime, but a defense, a fortress of the mind against life’s adversities.

Consider the trials of Abraham Lincoln, who bore the weight of a nation torn by war and a heart weighed down by personal loss. In letters and conversations, he often employed wit and gentle humor, even in moments of deepest sorrow. Through the habitual use of humor, he preserved his resilience, inspired those around him, and faced the relentless adversity of his era with a spirit unbroken. Higginson’s words find living truth in Lincoln: laughter, practiced and intentional, becomes armor for the soul.

Even in the crucible of war, humor has served as a shield against despair. During the trenches of the Great War, soldiers endured cold, hunger, and the shadow of death, yet they found solace in jest and camaraderie. Songs, quips, and irreverent tales allowed men to navigate the horrors surrounding them, teaching the instinctive lesson that an habitual sense of humor can transform even the most oppressive adversity into a bearable trial, giving strength where otherwise there would be only suffering.

Yet, the wisdom of Higginson is not trivial. To cultivate humor is not to deny misfortune or to turn away from suffering; it is to meet life with deliberate grace, to temper despair with perspective. Habitual humor trains the mind to see the absurdities, the ironies, and the small joys hidden even in adversity. It is a practice, a discipline of the spirit, as vital as courage or patience, and as necessary to survival as the body’s own breath.

History presents another example in the life of Winston Churchill, who faced the relentless storm of global conflict during the Second World War. Amid bombings, loss, and political pressure, he wielded wit as both sword and shield, often deflecting tension and bolstering morale with carefully chosen quips. His habitual humor fortified not only his own spirit but also that of his nation, proving that laughter, repeated and deliberate, is among the most potent defenses against adverse fortune.

Children of the ages, the lesson is clear: let your spirit cultivate humor as a daily practice. Seek to observe the world with a keen eye, to notice the ironies, the absurdities, and the incongruities that weave through life’s trials. Let laughter become habitual, not as escapism, but as armor—shaping perception, strengthening resilience, and transforming adversity into a teacher rather than a tyrant.

Practical action follows naturally from this truth. Each day, find moments to see life’s contradictions and delights, to smile at small missteps, and to share levity with those around you. Read wit, study humor, and train your spirit to meet adversity with a heart unshaken. In this way, as Higginson teaches, the habitual sense of humor becomes a fortress, guarding your soul, illuminating your path, and rendering even the harshest fortune surmountable.