I distrust those sentiments that are too far removed from nature,
and whose sublimity is blended with ridicule; which read more

I distrust those sentiments that are too far removed from nature,
and whose sublimity is blended with ridicule; which two are as
near one another as extreme wisdom and folly.

First they ignore you. Then they laugh at you. Then they fight you. Then you win.

First they ignore you. Then they laugh at you. Then they fight you. Then you win.

Ridicule is the best test of truth

Ridicule is the best test of truth

Ridicule is generally made use of to laugh men out of virtue and good sense, by attacking everything praiseworthy in read more

Ridicule is generally made use of to laugh men out of virtue and good sense, by attacking everything praiseworthy in human life.

One does not lash what lies at a distance. The foibles that we ridicule must at least be a little read more

One does not lash what lies at a distance. The foibles that we ridicule must at least be a little bit our own. Only then will the work be a part of our own flesh. The garden must be weeded.

Ridicule is the first and last argument of fools.

Ridicule is the first and last argument of fools.

We never repent of having eaten too little.

We never repent of having eaten too little.

I believe they talked of me, for they laughed consumedly.

I believe they talked of me, for they laughed consumedly.

We have oftener than once endeavoured to attach some meaning to
that aphorism, vulgarly imputed to Shaftesbury, which however read more

We have oftener than once endeavoured to attach some meaning to
that aphorism, vulgarly imputed to Shaftesbury, which however we
can find nowhere in his works, that "ridicule is the test of
truth."