Jesters do oft prove prophets.

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

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