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

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.

Big head, little wit.

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

Comedy, like sodomy, is an unnatural act.