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 more often a shield than a lance.
—Unknown
Conceit causes more conversation than wit.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
And new Philosophy calls all in doubt, the element of fire is quite put out; the Sun is lost, and the earth, and no mans wit can well direct him where to look for it.
—John Donne (1572–1631) English Poet, Cleric
Avoid witicisms at the expense of others.
—Horace Mann (1796–1859) American Educator, Politician, Educationalist
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
It is always the same: women bedeck themselves with jewels and furs, and men with wit and quotations.
—Maurice Chevalier (1888–1972) French Actor, Singer
A man renowned for repartee will seldom scruple to make free with friendship’s finest feeling, will thrust a dagger at your breast, and say he wounded you in jest, by way of balm for healing.
—William Cowper (1731–1800) English Anglican Poet, Hymn writer
Wit is educated insolence.
—Aristotle (384BCE–322BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Scholar
Ideal conversation must be an exchange of thought, and not, as many of those who worry most about their shortcomings believe, an eloquent exhibition of wit or oratory.
—Emily Post (1873–1960) American Writer, Socialite
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
Brevity is the body and soul of wit.
—Jean Paul (1763–1825) German Novelist, Humorist
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
Don’t set your wit against a child.
—Jonathan Swift (1667–1745) Irish Satirist
Wit is the salt of conversation, not the food.
—William Hazlitt (1778–1830) English Essayist
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
People who can’t be witty exert themselves to be devout and affectionate.
—George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans) (1819–80) English Novelist
In conversation, humor is more than wit, and easiness more than knowledge. Few desire to learn, or think they need it.—All desire to be pleased, or at least to be easy.
—William Temple (1881–1944) British Clergyman, Theologian
At twenty years of age the will reigns; at thirty, the wit; and at forty, the judgment.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
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
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
Better the fragrant herb of wit and a little cream of affability than all the pretty cups in the world.
—Van Wyck Brooks (1886–1963) American Literary Critic, Biographer, Historian
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 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
Melancholy men are of all others the most witty.
—Aristotle (384BCE–322BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Scholar
Great wits are sure to madness near allied
And thin partitions do their bounds divide.
—John Dryden (1631–1700) English Poet, Literary Critic, Playwright
Impropriety is the soul of wit.
—W. Somerset Maugham (1874–1965) British Novelist, Short-Story Writer, Playwright
He is winding the watch of his wit; by and by it will strike.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
The impromptu reply is precisely the touchstone of the man of wit.
—Moliere (1622–73) French Playwright
Wit should be used as a shield for defence rather than as a sword to wound others.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
Where judgment has wit to express it, there is the best orator.
—William Penn (1644–1718) American Entrepreneur, Political leader, Philosopher
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
Wit is the only wall between us and the dark.
—Mark Van Doren (1894–1972) American Poet, Writer, Critic
Being a blockhead is sometimes the best security against being cheated by a man of wit.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
Better a witty fool than a foolish wit.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
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
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
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 consists in assembling, and putting together with quickness, ideas in which can be found resemblance and congruity, by which to make up pleasant pictures and agreeable visions in the fancy.
—John Locke (1632–1704) English Philosopher, Physician
It is a sad thing when men have neither the wit to speak well, nor judgment to hold their tongues.
—Jean de La Bruyere (1645–96) French Satiric Moralist, Author
Wit is the epitaph of an emotion.
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900) German Philosopher, Scholar, Writer
In the midst of the fountain of wit there arises something bitter, which stings in the very flowers.
—Lucretius (c.99–55 BCE) Roman Epicurean Poet, Philosopher
Wit makes its own welcome, and levels all distinctions. No dignity, no learning, no force of character, can make any stand against good wit.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Sometimes we are inclined to class those who are once-and-a-half witted with the half-witted, because we appreciate only a third part of their wit.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
A wise man will live as much within his wit as within his income.
—Earl of Chesterfield (1694–1773) English Statesman, Man of Letters
But assuming the same premises, to wit, that all men are equal by the law of nature and of nations, the right of property in slaves falls to the ground; for one who is equal to another cannot be the owner or property of that other.
—William H. Seward (1801–72) American Elected Representative, Lawyer, Politician, Activist
True wit is nature to advantage dressed, what oft was thought, but never so well expressed.
—Alexander Pope (1688–1744) English Poet
Wit is the sudden marriage of ideas which, before their union, were not perceived to have any relation.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
He’s winding up the watch of his wit. By and by it will strike.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright