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

There is nothing sillier than a silly laugh.

Laughter almost ever cometh of things most disproportioned to ourselves and nature. Laughter hath only a scornful tickling.

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.

Wit enables us to act rudely with impunity.