Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 3rd Earl of Shaftesbury on Ridicule

“How comes it to pass, then, that we appear such cowards in reasoning, and are so afraid to stand the test of ridicule?”

“Truth, 'tis supposed, may bear all lights; and one of those principal lights or natural mediums by which things are to be viewed in order to a thorough recognition is ridicule itself.”

“'Twas the saying of an ancient sage that humour was the only test of gravity, and gravity of humour. For a subject which would not bear raillery was suspicious; and a jest which would not bear a serious examination was certainly false wit.”