The direct quotation can be translated as an indirect quotation. Alternate translation: "I said that it is crazy to laugh at things" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-quotations]])
The author uses a rhetorical question to emphasize that pleasure is useless. Alternate translation: "It is useless." (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion]])