The sublime and the ridiculous are often so nearly related, that it is difficult to class them separately. One step above the sublime, makes the ridiculous; and one step above the ridiculous, makes the sublime again.
伟大与荒谬往往紧密相连，以致难以区分。从伟大向前走一步，就变成了荒谬；而从荒谬向前走一步，又成为了伟大。

——Thomas Paine 1737-1809: The Age of Reason
——托马斯·潘恩