Georg Christoph Lichtenberg and Monty Python

One of my favorite Monty Python skit is The Funniest Joke in the World¹. When the lethal impact of the joke becomes obvious the British Army translates it into German to use it as a weapon in World War II against German troops. The German translation of the joke sounds quite funny indeed: Wenn ist das Nunstück git und Slotermeyer? Ja! Beiherhund das Oder die Flipperwaldt gersput² This is pure nonsense. But as we see in the film the Wehrmacht cannot withstand this attack.

I was surprised to see that the idea of a deadly joke is much older and that it is of German origin. Georg Christoph Lichtenberg had this idea in the 18th century. He wrote in his Sudelbuch (D 137):

„Einen Gedanken zu finden, wobei sich allemal jeder Mensch der ihn hört todtlacht.“

In English: To find a thought, which would make every body laugh himself to death, if he hears it.

Literatur

Monty Python - The Funniest Joke In The World. 2006. Internet: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gpjk_MaCGM&feature=youtube_gdata_player. Zuletzt geprüft am: 22.9.2014.

The Funniest Joke in the World. In: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. 2014. Internet: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Funniest_Joke_in_the_World&oldid=618952947. Zuletzt geprüft am: 22.9.2014.

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