Quotes
Quotes about Ridicule
Truth, 'tis supposed, may bear all lights; and one those principal lights or natural mediums by which things are to be viewed in order to a thorough recognition is ridicule itself.
Jane borrow'd maxims from a doubting school, And took for truth the test of ridicule; Lucy saw no such virtue in a jest, Truth was with her of ridicule the test.
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.
There is nothing one sees oftener than the ridiculous and magnificent, such close neighbors that they touch. [Fr., L'on ne saurait mieux faire voir que le magnifique et le ridicule sont si voisins qu'ils se touchent.]
Ridicule more often settles things more thoroughly and better than acrimony. [Lat., Ridiculum acri fortius ac melius magnas plerumque secat res.]
Generally the ridiculous touches the sublime. [Fr., En general, le ridicule touche au sublime.]
There is only one step from the sublime to the ridiculous. [Fr., Du sublime au ridicule il n'y a qu'un pas.]
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.
I know that there are things that never have been funny, and never will be. And I know that ridicule may be a shield, but it is not a weapon.
And took for truth the test of ridicule.
Man learns more readily and remembers more willingly what excites his ridicule than what deserves esteem and respect.
Ridicule is the first and last argument of fools.
Resort is had to ridicule only when reason is against us.
Ridicule is the language of the devil.
Man learns more readily and remembers more willingly what excites his ridicule than what deserves esteem and respect.
The more backwoodish a social group, juvenile or adult, the stricter its conception of the normal, and the readier it will ridicule any departure from it.
