i'm curious about the "he who laughs first" adage*...

(1) any ideas of its origin?

(2) what is the actual quote... i've seen it as
(a) he who laughs first laughs last
(b) he who laughs first laughs best
(c) he who laughs first cries at the last
??

(3) what is its point?



*as an aside, and please don't let this divert the scholars from addressing my original question, but i'm curious as to the distinctions between [among?] maxims, adages, proverbs and aphorisms...

TIA =)