Man goes to doctor. Says he's depressed. ...

[Deep13]

Says life seems harsh and cruel. Says he feels all alone in a threatening world where what lies ahead is vague and uncertain. Doctor says "Treatment is simple. Great clown Pagliacci is in town tonight. Go and see him. That should pick you up." Man bursts into tears.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Says "But, doctor...I am Pagliacci.
.
.
credit-I heard this in the film The Watchmen, but I'm pretty sure it was an old joke even when it was written.

[struggle4progress]

1. It is old. There is a passage somewhere in Kierkegaard that tells a similar story,

and since Kierkegaard is full of classical allusions, it is likely Kierkegaard reworked it from other material. The Kierkegaarde passage tells of a man who has completely lost faith and seeks help; he is told to read this, or that, or something else, and responds in each case he has read the recommended work and it was no help; finally, he advised that, in that case, reading a certain work by So-and-so is the only help for him, at which point he replies: But I am So-and-so! I wrote that piece!