The man who doesn't relax and hoot a few hoots voluntarily, now and then, is in great danger of hooting hoots and standing on his head for the edification of the pathologist and trained nurse, a little later on.

Hubbard’s comic image—“hooting hoots” and “standing on his head”—argues for the necessity of voluntary, harmless release: laughter, play, eccentricity, or rest. If a person never permits small, self-chosen breaks from propriety or pressure, the pent-up strain may later erupt involuntarily as breakdown, illness, or institutionalized “treatment,” hence the “pathologist and trained nurse.” The line reflects Hubbard’s characteristic blend of moral advice and vaudevillian humor: self-care is framed not as indulgence but as prudence. The exaggeration underscores a serious point about mental and physical health—regular relaxation can prevent more dramatic, costly crises.