"There is nothing in which people more betray their character than in what they find to laugh at."
"The ridiculous arises out of a moral contrast, in which two things are brought together before the mind in an innocent way."
"The foolish man often laughs where there is nothing to laugh at.
Whatever touches him, his inner nature comes to the surface."
"The man of understanding finds almost everything ridiculous; the man of thought scarcely anything."
"Some one found fault with an elderly man for continuing to pay attention to young ladies. 'It is the only means,' he replied, 'of keeping one's-self young, and everybody likes to do that.'"
"People will allow their faults to be shown them; they will let themselves be punished for them; they will patiently endure many things because of them; they only become impatient when they have to lay them aside."
"Certain defects are necessary for the existence of individuality. We should not be pleased, if old friends were to lay aside certain peculiarities."
"There is a saying, 'He will die soon,' when a man acts unlike himself."
"What kind of defects may we bear with and even cultivate in ourselves?
Such as rather give pleasure to others than injure them."
"The passions are defects or excellencies only in excess."