Jesters do oft prove prophets.
—William Shakespeare, c. 1605
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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.
—Cicero, c. 44 BCLaughter always arises from a gaiety of disposition, absolutely incompatible with contempt and indignation.
—Voltaire, 1736I said of laughter, “It is mad,” and of pleasure, “What use is it?”
—Book of Ecclesiastes, 225 BCA difference of taste in jokes is a great strain on the affections.
—George Eliot, 1876