The most wasted of all days is that in which we have not laughed.

The aphorism treats laughter not as frivolity but as a marker of vitality and perspective. By calling a day “wasted” when it lacks laughter, the speaker implies that productivity, duty, or suffering alone do not make a day meaningful; some experience of delight, release, or shared humanity is essential. The statement also carries a moral-psychological edge typical of French moralists: laughter becomes a small act of resistance against despair and a reminder that life’s value is not reducible to achievement. In this sense, the quote elevates humor to a criterion of a well-spent life.