“Have you ever had a case where you went in but couldn’t get out?”
This question is directed at a robber caught robbing a supermarket.
95% of the robbers responded that “I could not in good conscience threaten an employee when he or she made eye contact and greeted me.”
On the other hand, when asked, “When was there a time when you harmed someone or even committed murder without thinking about it?” he answered, “When someone didn’t even pretend to know you as a customer or smile.”
Even when you're being robbed, a smile can make all the difference.
--- p.19

What is humor? The original meaning of humor is "umere."
It means fluid like water.
I think it means disarming and lightening the mood.
Humor is a warm laughter.
It is compassion for humanity.
It is affectionate, gentle, and comforting to the weary heart.
Humor comes from looking at pitiful human behavior with tearful eyes.
Humor is distancing.
It is a device that distances oneself from the current situation.
You can never use humor when you are immersed in reality.
Because we keep our distance, we can actually see reality properly.
It's a good device for facing reality.
The gist of the humor is, “We’ve gone off course.
But then what about the attitude?
--- p.24

Humor reduces hostility, deflects criticism, eases tension, boosts morale, and facilitates the communication of difficult ideas.
Disarm.
Humor opens closed doors and relieves tension.
It acts as a safety valve for the pressure cooker.
People cannot live under constant pressure and tension.
If you live like that, you'll either explode or go crazy.
--- p.29

There is someone who always has a frown on his face.
This kind of person says, 'Please don't touch me.
It's like advertising that says, 'If you approach, we will shoot.'
There is no one in the world who would like this kind of person.
Putting on an impression doesn't help anyone.
First of all, it causes the greatest harm to oneself.
Because no one likes that kind of person and wants to get close to him.
To be impressed means to say, 'I am a person who cannot control my emotions.
It's just to let you know that 'I'm a little lacking.'
To have smooth interpersonal relationships, you need to have a relaxed expression, smile, and use humor.
A smile disarms others.
Humor is the best social tool.
--- p.43

Are you a funny leader, or a scary one? When you enter a meeting, do people start laughing, or do they stop laughing and become tense? Is your organization full of laughter and laughter, or is it more like a ghost lodge? What kind of organization do you want to create? Do you laugh easily when you tell a joke, or do you just flash a rotten smile? How can you create an organization that is laughter-filled, fun, and communicative? It's a well-established fact that organizational culture influences performance.
It is not easy to achieve great results in an organization that is like a cemetery under the moon.
You can only achieve the results you want by creating an organization where people can communicate openly and honestly.
How can we create such an organization?
--- p.51

A person who used to say only dark things about obesity, saying that obesity is a disease and cannot be cured, said this.
“I’ve only talked about gloomy things so far.
“I’ll tell you something even darker from now on.” Then the people laughed and turned over.
Why? Because it completely overturned people's expectations.
Professor Kim Jeong-un, a famous lecturer, also frequently uses this method.
He always introduces himself like this at the beginning of his lectures.
“You know who the unluckiest person in the world is? That’s right.
He is a know-it-all.
Who is more unlucky? Yes.
A person who is good at something is acting like he is good at something.
I will do that throughout the lecture.
It will probably be hard to bear.
Still, you have to endure it.
“I’m going to talk about my great achievements throughout the lecture.” People who expected me to say something humble are left laughing.
Making people laugh by subverting expectations is the basis of humor.

--- p.71~72

Dosan Ahn Chang-ho took an oral exam in front of an American missionary to enter Baejae School.
The missionary asked.
“Where are you from?” “Pyongyang.” “How far is Pyongyang from here?” “About 800 li.” “But why did you come all the way to Seoul instead of studying in Pyongyang?” Dosan looked into the missionary’s eyes and asked back.
“How many miles is America from Seoul?” “About 80,000 miles.” “You came from 80,000 miles to teach, so why can’t you come to me from a distance of only 800 miles?” Just as missionaries had reasons for traveling halfway around the world to Seoul, he meant that he too had a clear and urgent reason for leaving home to learn.
Dosan was accepted to Baejae School.
It is only natural that Dosan, who gave confident and witty answers at the age of only fourteen, later became the leader of the nation.
--- p.87

Churchill also had a knack for wit.
Nancy Astor was the first American woman to marry a British man and serve in Parliament.
She met Churchill, then a political freshman, at a dinner party for politicians.
Churchill was very drunk.
She was so disgusted by it that she couldn't stand it anymore and said, "Winston, if you were my husband, I'd put poison in your coffee."
Upon hearing this, Churchill replied, “Nancy, if you were my wife, I would gladly drink that.”
It's like a general being fooled.
--- p.105

An old man was dying in his dilapidated house.
Then suddenly, someone was heard banging on the door.
The old man said.
“Who are you?” asked the Grim Reaper.
“I have come to take you,” said the old man.
“Thank you, God.
I thought the KGB had come.”
--- p.171

The most successful teenagers are those with successful fathers.
It reminds me of the words of a certain shameless person who said that being born to good parents is also a skill.
People in their 20s have good academic backgrounds.
That's somewhat true.
People in their 30s have good jobs.
I can agree.
People in their 40s are capable of shooting a second shot.
People in their 50s are the parents of children who study well.
In your 50s, the standards for success change.
It is passed from oneself to one's children.
People in their 60s can still make money.
A person in his 70s is still healthy and can move freely on two feet.
Hearing this reminds me of the blind dates for senior citizens at the senior center.
The first question they ask is, 'Can that person walk on his own legs?'
In his 80s, his wife is the one who prepares his meals.
People in their 90s are people who have phone calls.
A person in his 100s is someone who can open his eyes in the morning.
--- p.178

Lincoln's wife, Mary Todd, came from an upper-class Kentucky family.
So Todd and Lincoln had a lot of conflicts due to differences in their family backgrounds, cultures, and personalities.
Lincoln was quiet and cautious by nature, while Todd was a bit impulsive and neurotic.
When Lincoln was working as a lawyer, his wife Todd, as usual, was irritated and lashed out at the fishmonger.
The fishmonger complained to her husband, Lincoln, with a displeased expression.
Then Lincoln smiled and quietly asked.
“I have endured it for 15 years and survived until now.
“It’s only 15 minutes, so please bear with me.” Lincoln’s words resonate deeply with me.
I live with a wife like that, so the question is, can't you endure it for a few minutes?
In fact, I often use this kind of humor with people who are having a hard time with annoying customers or bad bosses.
It's like this.
“Don’t be so hard on yourself.
We only see that person occasionally, but there are people who live with that person.” It’s not like we have to live together or be together 24 hours a day, so please be patient.
--- p.201

Churchill hurriedly hailed a taxi and urged the driver to arrive on time for the broadcast.
“Let’s go to the broadcasting station quickly!” But the driver waved his hand as if he was having trouble.
“Sorry, sir, but please use another car.
“I have to listen to Lord Churchill’s announcement later.” Churchill, who was delighted by those words, held out a pound, and the driver, who quickly took it, started to fuss.
“Get in! It’s not just Churchill or anything, money is everything to us.” Churchill chimed in as he got into the car.
“That’s right! Even that guy named Churchill would want you to make a lot of money.
“That way we can collect more taxes!”
--- p.206

A series of car accidents occurred while the president and key cabinet members were on their way to a meeting, and they were all taken to the hospital.
When reporters heard the news, they rushed to the hospital.
After a while, when the doctor in charge came out, the reporters started asking questions.
“Doctor, can you save the President?” The doctor shook his head with a frown.
“The president has no hope,” the reporters asked again.
“What about the Prime Minister?” The doctor shook his head.
“He is hopeless too.” Then the reporters asked in unison, “Then who can we save?”
The doctor shouted in a triumphant voice.
“Now we can save the Republic of Korea!”
--- p.210

The mother-in-law took her childless daughter-in-law to church and gave her a request.
“Baby.
When the pastor prays, you must always say 'Amen! Amen!'
“Then you can have the baby you want.” The pastor continued to pray, but the daughter-in-law did not say “Amen.”
The mother-in-law, who was becoming anxious, kept shouting “Amen! Amen!” on behalf of her daughter-in-law.
Eventually, the prayer was answered and a few months later, my mother-in-law became pregnant.

--- p.213