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.

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.

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

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.

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

Jesters do oft prove prophets.

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

Jokes are grievances.

Wit enables us to act rudely with impunity.

Big head, little wit.

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

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.