Isaac Asimov, in his second collection of jokes, limericks, and humorous anecdotes (Asimov Laughs Again[i] ) includes the following that he attributes as an “Arab saying”:
“If you meet a blind man, kick him. Why should you be kinder than God?”
It’s funny – but we dare not laugh too long, or out loud, or in public. It’s humor, but it cuts too close to truth to be laughable. It's gallows humor. The French call it humour noir. It’s laughter that rises up from cynicism. It makes light of terrible, horrible things.
It makes us uncomfortable. And it should. Especially if it’s true.
I can’t find much more information about the saying. One place online has it attributed as an “Iranian saying” but that’s about all I can find. Does anyone recognize it?
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