Some things are privileged from jest—namely, religion, matters of state, great persons, all men’s present business of importance, and any case that deserves pity.

It is easy to distinguish between the joking that reflects good breeding and that which is coarse—the one, if aired at an apposite moment of mental relaxation, is becoming in the most serious of men, whereas the other is unworthy of any free person, if the content is indecent or the expression obscene.

Laughter always arises from a gaiety of disposition, absolutely incompatible with contempt and indignation.

I used to think that everyone was just being funny. But now I don’t know. I mean, how can you tell?

No man ever distinguished himself who could not bear to be laughed at.

I said of laughter, “It is mad,” and of pleasure, “What use is it?”

Big head, little wit.

A difference of taste in jokes is a great strain on the affections.

There is nothing sillier than a silly laugh.

Comedy, like sodomy, is an unnatural act.

He who laugheth too much, hath the nature of a fool; he that laugheth not at all, hath the nature of an old cat.

Laughter almost ever cometh of things most disproportioned to ourselves and nature. Laughter hath only a scornful tickling.

Wit enables us to act rudely with impunity.