Wit. The salt with which the American humorist spoils his intellectual cookery by leaving it out.
—Ambrose Bierce (1842–1913) American Short-story Writer, Journalist
Conceit causes more conversation than wit.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
For those whose wit becomes the mother of villainy, those it educates to be evil in all things.
—Sophocles (495–405 BCE) Ancient Greek Dramatist
True wit is nature to advantage dressed, what oft was thought, but never so well expressed.
—Alexander Pope (1688–1744) English Poet
I definitely did look up to John. We all looked up to John. He was older and he was very much the leader; he was the quickest wit and the smartest.
—Paul McCartney (b.1942) English Pop Singer, Songwriter
Comedy has to be done en clair. You can’t blunt the edge of wit or the point of satire with obscurity. Try to imagine a famous witty saying that is not immediately clear.
—James Thurber
Wit and Humor—if any difference, it is in duration—lightning and electric light. Same material, apparently; but one is vivid, and can do damage—the other fools along and enjoys elaboration.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
A wit with dunces, and a dunce with wits.
—Alexander Pope (1688–1744) English Poet
If a man’s wit be wandering, let him study the mathematics.
—Francis Bacon (1561–1626) English Philosopher
Perpetual aiming at wit is a very bad part of conversation. It is done to support a character; it generally fails; it is a sort of insult to the company, and a restraint upon the speaker.
—Jonathan Swift (1667–1745) Irish Satirist
Wit is proper and commendable when it enlightens the intellect by good sense, conveyed in jocular expression; when it infringes neither on religion, charity, and justice, nor on peace; when it maintains good humor, sweetens conversation, and makes the endearments of society more captivating; when it exposes what is vile and base to contempt; when it reclaims the vicious, and laughs them into virtue; when it answers what is below refutation; when it replies to obloquy; when it counterbalances the fashion of error and vice, playing off their own weapons of ridicule against them; when it adorns truth; when it follows great examples; when it is not used upon subjects, improper for it, or in a manner unbecoming, in measure intemperate, at an undue season or to a dangerous end.
—Isaac Barrow
Don’t set your wit against a child.
—Jonathan Swift (1667–1745) Irish Satirist
As it is the characteristic of great wits to say much in few words, so small wits seem to have the gift of speaking much and saying nothing.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
To be witty is not enough. One must possess sufficient wit to avoid having too much of it.
—Andre Maurois (1885–1967) French Novelist, Biographer
Avoid witicisms at the expense of others.
—Horace Mann (1796–1859) American Educator, Politician, Educationalist
Melancholy men are of all others the most witty.
—Aristotle (384BCE–322BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Scholar
As empty vessels make the loudest sound, so they that have least wit are the greatest babblers.
—Plato (428 BCE–347 BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Mathematician, Educator
Though wit be very useful, yet unless a wise man has the keeping of it, that knows when, where, and how to apply it, it is like wild fire, that runs hissing about, and blows up everything that comes in its way.
—Walter Scott (1771–1832) Scottish Novelist, Poet, Playwright, Lawyer
Wit is the sudden marriage of ideas which, before their union, were not perceived to have any relation.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
Brevity is the body and soul of wit.
—Jean Paul (1763–1825) German Novelist, Humorist
Repartee is what you wish you’d said.
—Heywood Broun (1888–1939) American Journalist
Genuine and innocent wit is surely the flavor of the mind. Man could not direct his way by plain reason, and support his life by tasteless food; but God has given us wit, and flavor, and brightness, and laughter, and perfumes, to enliven the days of man’s pilgrimage, and to charm his pained steps over the burning marl.
—Sydney Smith (1771–1845) English Clergyman, Essayist, Wit
Confidence contributes more to conversation than wit.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
Wit should be used as a shield for defence rather than as a sword to wound others.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
Some people seem born with a head in which the thin partition than divides great wit from folly is wanting.
—Robert South (1634–1716) English Theologian, Preacher
Humor does not include sarcasm, invalid irony, sardonicism, innuendo, or any other form of cruelty. When these things are raised to a high point they can become wit, but unlike the French and the English, we have not been much good at wit since the days of Benjamin Franklin.
—James Thurber
Where judgment has wit to express it, there is the best orator.
—William Penn (1644–1718) American Entrepreneur, Political leader, Philosopher
For my own part I think no innocent species of wit or pleasantry should be suppressed: and that a good pun may be admitted among the smaller excellencies of lively conversation.
—James Boswell (1740–95) Scottish Biographer, Diarist
Brevity is the soul of lingerie.
—Dorothy Parker (1893–1967) American Humorist, Journalist
He’s winding up the watch of his wit. By and by it will strike.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
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