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.

Truth, 'tis supposed, may bear all lights; and one those
principal lights or natural mediums by which things are read more

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.

Ridicule is the best test of truth

Ridicule is the best test of truth

There is nothing one sees oftener than the ridiculous and
magnificent, such close neighbors that they touch.
[Fr., read more

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 is the language of the devil.

Ridicule is the language of the devil.

Mockery is the weapon of those who have no other.

Mockery is the weapon of those who have no other.

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

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

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.

How comes it to pass, then, that we appear such cowards in
reasoning, and are so afraid to stand read more

How comes it to pass, then, that we appear such cowards in
reasoning, and are so afraid to stand the test of ridicule?
- Sir Anthony Ashley Cooper, 7th Earl of Shaftesbury,