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

There is nothing sillier than a silly laugh.

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

He who laugheth too much, hath the nature of a fool; he that laugheth not at all, hath the nature of an old cat.

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.

Wit enables us to act rudely with impunity.

Big head, little wit.

Jests and scoffs do lessen majesty and greatness and should be far from great personages and men of wisdom.

Jokes are grievances.

A difference of taste in jokes is a great strain on the affections.

I used to think that everyone was just being funny. But now I don’t know. I mean, how can you tell?

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

Jesters do oft prove prophets.