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

There is nothing sillier than a silly laugh.

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.

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.

A jest breaks no bones.