Humorous Sayings

If a barber, without the knowledge of his master, cut the sign of a slave on a slave not to be sold, the hands of this barber shall be cut off.

If any one deceive a barber, and have him mark a slave not for sale with the sign of a slave, he shall be put to death, and buried in his house. The barber shall swear: “I did not mark him wittingly,” and shall be guiltless.

If the 'finger is pointed' at a man's wife about another man, but she is not caught sleeping with the other man, she shall jump into the river for her husband.

If a man betroth a girl to his son, and his son have intercourse with her, but he (the father) afterward defile her, and be surprised, then he shall be bound and cast into the water (drowned).

If any one ensnare another, putting a ban upon him, but he can not prove it, then he that ensnared him shall be put to death.

If any one bring an accusation against a man, and the accused go to the river and leap into the river, if he sink in the river his accuser shall take possession of his house. But if the river prove that the accused is not guilty, and he escape unhurt…

If a man's wife be surprised (in flagrante delicto) with another man, both shall be tied and thrown into the water, but the husband may pardon his wife and the king his slaves.

If a builder build a house for some one, and does not construct it properly, and the house which he built fall in and kill its owner, then that builder shall be put to death.

If a son strikes his father, his hand shall be cut off.

If a free person's slave strikes the cheek of another free person, the ear of the slave shall be cut off.

If a slave says to the master, 'you are not my master,' the master shall cut off the slave's ear.

Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn't mean politics won't take an interest in you!

A woman's greatest glory is to be little talked about by men, whether for good or ill.

Those who can think, but cannot express what they think, place themselves at the level of those who cannot think.

Having knowledge but lacking the power to express it clearly is no better than never having any ideas at all.

We do not say that a man who takes no interest in public affairs is a man who minds his own business. We say he has no business being here at all.

Mankind are tolerant of the praises of others so long as each hearer thinks that he can do as well or nearly as well himself, but, when the speaker rises above him, jealousy is aroused and he begins to be incredulous.

Future ages will wonder at us, as the present age wonders at us now.

Who makes the fairest show means most deceit.

I am more afraid of our own mistakes than of our enemies' designs.