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.

Jokes are grievances.

Jests and scoffs do lessen majesty and greatness and should be far from great personages and men of wisdom.

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

Comedy, like sodomy, is an unnatural act.

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

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

Big head, little wit.

Jesters do oft prove prophets.

A jest breaks no bones.

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

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

A joke is at most a temporary rebellion against virtue, and its aim is not to degrade the human being but to remind him that he is already degraded.