Great wits are sure to madness near allied
And thin partitions do their bounds divide.
—John Dryden (1631–1700) English Poet, Literary Critic, Playwright
Brevity is the soul of lingerie.
—Dorothy Parker (1893–1967) American Humorist, Journalist
Flattery is never so agreeable as to our blind side; commend a fool for his wit, or a knave for his honesty, and they will receive you into their bosoms.
—Henry Fielding (1707–54) English Novelist, Dramatist
He is winding the watch of his wit; by and by it will strike.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Wit is more often a shield than a lance.
—Unknown
Better a witty fool than a foolish wit.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
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
Brevity is the body and soul of wit.
—Jean Paul (1763–1825) German Novelist, Humorist
Punning is a conceit arising from the use of two words that agree in the sound, but differ in the sense. The only way, therefore, to try a piece of wit, is to translate it into a different language; if it bears the test, you may pronounce it true; but if it vanishes in the experiment, you may conclude it to have been a pun.
—Joseph Addison (1672–1719) English Essayist, Poet, Playwright, Politician
Wit lies in recognizing the resemblance among things which differ and the difference between things which are alike.
—Anne Louise Germaine de Stael (1766–1817) French Woman of Letters
Humor is consistent with pathos, whilst wit is not.
—Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772–1834) English Poet, Literary Critic, Philosopher
If you have wit, use it to please and not to hurt: you may shine like the sun in the temperate zones without scorching.
—Earl of Chesterfield (1694–1773) English Statesman, Man of Letters
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
Melancholy men are of all others the most witty.
—Aristotle (384BCE–322BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Scholar
Don’t set your wit against a child.
—Jonathan Swift (1667–1745) Irish Satirist
There are heads sometimes so little, that there is no room for wit, sometimes so long that there is no wit for so much room.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
Conceit causes more conversation than wit.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
Less judgment than wit, is more sail than ballast. Yet it must be confessed, that wit gives an edge to sense, and recommends it extremely.
—William Penn (1644–1718) American Entrepreneur, Political leader, Philosopher
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
Wit loses its respect with the good, when seen in company with malice; and to smile at the jest which places a thorn in another’s breast, is to become a principal in the mischief.
—Richard Brinsley Sheridan (1751–1816) Irish-born British Playwright, Poet, Elected Rep
His foe was folly and his weapon wit.
—Anthony Hope (1863–1933) English Novelist, Playwright
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
Wit is the only wall between us and the dark.
—Mark Van Doren (1894–1972) American Poet, Writer, Critic
Indeed I had not much wit, yet I was not an idiot – my wit was according to my years.
—Margaret Lucas Cavendish (1623–73) English Aristocrat, Philosopher, Writer
Far less envy in America than in France, and far less wit.
—Stendhal (Marie-Henri Beyle) (1783–1842) French Writer
A wit with dunces, and a dunce with wits.
—Alexander Pope (1688–1744) English Poet
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
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
A wit should be no more sincere than a woman constant.
—William Congreve (1670–1729) English Playwright, Poet
Wit is so shining a quality that everybody admires it; most people aim at it, all people fear it, and few love it unless in themselves. A man must have a good share of wit himself to endure a great share of it in another.
—Earl of Chesterfield (1694–1773) English Statesman, Man of Letters