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

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.

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.

There is nothing sillier than a silly laugh.

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