Ridicule has historically proven itself a rickety fence for great ideas.

Ridicule has historically proven itself a rickety fence for great ideas.

Mockery is the weapon of those who have no other.

Mockery is the weapon of those who have no other.

And took for truth the test of ridicule.

And took for truth the test of ridicule.

Ridicule more often settles things more thoroughly and better
than acrimony.
[Lat., Ridiculum acri fortius ac melius magnas read more

Ridicule more often settles things more thoroughly and better
than acrimony.
[Lat., Ridiculum acri fortius ac melius magnas plerumque secat
res.]

Resort is had to ridicule only when reason is against us.

Resort is had to ridicule only when reason is against us.

Ridicule is like a wolf: it only destroys those who fear it

Ridicule is like a wolf: it only destroys those who fear it

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."

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.]

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

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