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

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.

There is nothing sillier than a silly laugh.

Jokes are grievances.

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