Sarcasm, is it hostility dressed up in a clown suit?

Sometimes, a ''one-liner'' seem to be able to communicate a 

a message, a deeper meaning, insight, wisdom, etc. that sets in

motion a lot of further thinking.

Often, due to the economy and specificity of words, a well-crafted

one-liner can cut through a lot of ''barriers'' and hit us straight in the

heart.

Sometimes in a good way, and sometimes in a hurtful way.

Sarcasm in my view, can at times be very hurtful one-liners,

(some say it is the lowest form of wit/humor) although

they may at times be both witty and even quite funny.

English is not my first language, Swedish is, so I will freely

admit that it has taken me some time to come to grips with

sarcasm.

In the beginning I found it hard to laugh when folks made

sarcastic remarks (one-liners) about for instance my ''accent'',

but as the years have gone by and my English has improved,

 I have learnt to not take quips about my accent too seriously.

In my experience, a well-crafted one-liner of the ''benign'' kind,

as for instance: ''be the change you want to see in the world'',

or ''it's in the stillness the greatest thoughts are born'', or 

''do unto others as you would have them do unto you'' can

assist us to gain a greater understanding of what it is to be a human.

Sarcastic comments/one-liners on the other hand,

 seldom lifts us up or boosts our self-esteem and or self-confidence. 

Some say that sarcasm is hostility disguised as humor, and considering 

that the word sarcasm comes from the Greek word ''sarkazein'',

which means ''to tear or strip the flesh off'', it is not really

surprising that being at the brunt of sarcastic comments hurts.

Benign one-liners on the other hand, rather than tear us down, 

often has the ability to lift us up, to offer us insight, and

to comfort us.

''If at first you don't succeed, try, and try again", or ''Never, never, never, 

give up'', or ''Pain is temporary but love is forever'',  or ''You

are not alone, I am here with you.''

As a professional musician, there were times when the gigs

dried up.  In order to look after my son and keep food on

the table, I worked on and off in different

warehouses. For some reason, the fact that I was a musician

seemed to arouse hostilities and unfriendliness in many of

my co-workers. Sarcasm and belittling was a daily occurrence.

I do not believe in responding in kind, so whenever they bullied me,

I would walk away. I never retaliated, I just worked harder.

Until. Until they fiddled with my steering wheel and I almost

ran off the road on the way home from work.

I decided I had to say something, but I did not want to stoop

to their level. 

The next morning I walked up to the warehouse manager, 

(aka the man behind most of the harassment) 

stood eyeball to eyeball with him and then said:

''Never mistake kindness for weakness.

I am choosing not to treat you the way you treat me. ''

I held his gaze for a full minute and then walked away.

After that, I was left alone.

You see, I rather be a candle, than curse the darkness.

With that I mean: Darkness=scary stuff, light=good stuff.

Lighting a match in utter darkness one night when

the power had been cut, I realized that no matter how dark

 the darkness was, even a single lit match

was ''stronger'' than the darkness.

For some of us sarcasm may come easier than words of encouragement.

Here's the bad about that: Sarcasm often pushes people away, whereas

kind words and encouragement often draws people closer.