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

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.

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

There is nothing sillier than a silly laugh.

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