The basis of tragedy is man's helplessness against disease, war and death; the basis of comedy is man's helplessness against vanity (the vanity of love, greed, lust, power).
Bio: Rolf Potts is an American travel writer, essayist, and author. He has written two books, Vagabonding and Marco Polo Didn't Go There, and his travel writing has appeared in National Geographic Traveler, Outside, Salon.com, Slate.