"Ridicule is a weak weapon when pointed at a strong mind; but common people are cowards and dread an empty laugh"

In this quote, Martin Farquhar Tupper is highlighting the power of a strong mind in the face of ridicule. He suggests that those who possess a strong mind are not easily affected by the taunts and mockery of others. Nevertheless, he also acknowledges that most of people are not as resilient and are quickly swayed by the fear of being laughed at. Tupper implies that making use of ridicule as a weapon is only effective against those who are weak-minded and quickly daunted. Eventually, he is highlighting the significance of having a strong mind and not catching the viewpoints of others.