Lord Chesterfield Laughter Quotations

It is by vivacity and wit that man shines in company; but trite jokes and loud laughter reduce him to a buffoon.

Frequent and loud laughter is the characteristic of folly and ill manners.

Observe it, the vulgar often laugh, but never smile, whereas well-bred people often smile, and seldom or never laugh. A witty thing never excited laughter, it pleases only the mind and never distorts the countenance.

In my mind, there is nothing so illiberal, and so ill-bred, as audible laughter.

Horse-play, romping, frequent and loud fits of laughter, jokes, and indiscriminate familiarity, will sink both merit and knowledge into a degree of contempt. They compose at most a merry fellow; and a merry fellow was never yet a respectable man.

The vulgar only laugh, but never smile; whereas well-bred people often smile, but seldom laugh.

Loud laughter is the mirth of the mob, who are only pleased with silly things; for true Wit or good Sense never excited a laugh since the creation of the world. A man of parts and fashion is therefore often seen to smile, but never heard to laugh.