Laughter gives us distance. It allows us to step back from an event, deal with it and then move on.

Newhart frames humor as a psychological tool rather than mere entertainment. “Distance” suggests the way laughter can interrupt panic, anger, or self-pity by shifting perspective—turning an overwhelming incident into something observable and therefore manageable. In this view, comedy functions like a coping mechanism: it creates a brief gap between the self and the event, making room for reflection and choice. The final clause—“deal with it and then move on”—emphasizes that humor is not denial; it’s a method for processing experience without being trapped by it. The idea aligns with Newhart’s persona: dry, understated comedy that deflates tension and restores proportion.