Wit Quotes - Page 22

• The doctrine of human equality reposes on this: that there is no man really clever who has not found that he is stupid.

  Gilbert K. Chesterton

  Clever, Stupid, Men

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• Wit is as infinite as love, and a deal more lasting in its qualities.

  Agnes Repplier

  Quality, Infinite, Lasting

  Agnes Repplier (1891). “Points of View”, Boston Houghton, Mifflin 1893.

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• An ounce of prudence is worth a pound of cleverness.

  Baltasar Gracian

  Pounds, Prudence, Cleverness

  "The Art of Worldly Wisdom". Book by Baltasar Gracián, Maxim 92, 1647.

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• I have ever thought so superstitiously of wit, that I fear I have committed idolatry against wisdom.

  John Lyly

  Committed, Idolatry

  John Lyly, Leah Scragg (2003). “John Lyly 'Euphues: the Anatomy of Wit' and 'Euphues and His England': An Annotated, Modern-Spelling Edition”, p.43, Manchester University Press

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• There is no kind of false wit which has been so recommended by the practice of all ages, as that which consists in a jingle of words, and is comprehended under the general name of punning.

  Joseph Addison

  Practice, Names, Age

  Joseph Addison, Sir Richard Steele (1826). “The Spectator: With Notes, and a General Index”, p.80

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• The physician must have at his command a certain ready wit, as dourness is repulsive both to the healthy and the sick.

  Hippocrates

  Sick, Healthy, Physicians

  Hippocrates (1967). “Hippocrates”

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• The idea of what the public will think prevents the public from ever thinking at all, and acts as a spell on the exercise of private judgment.

  William Hazlitt

  Exercise, Thinking, Ideas

  William Hazlitt (2015). “Delphi Collected Works of William Hazlitt (Illustrated)”, p.1118, Delphi Classics

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• The goodness of your true pun is in the direct ratio of its intolerability.

  Edgar Allan Poe

  Ratios, Goodness, Punning

  "The Complete Works of Edgar Allan Poe".

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• Your highest female grace is silence.

  Ben Jonson

  Silence, Grace, Female

  Ben Jonson (1756). “The Works of Ben. Jonson: Poetaster; or, His arraignm[e]nt. Sejanus his fall. Volpone; or, The fox. Epicoene; or, The silent woman”, p.337

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• Perfect simplicity is unconsciously audacious.

  George Meredith

  Perfect, Simplicity, Audacious

  George Meredith (1922). “The Complete Works of George Meredith”, p.383, Library of Alexandria

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• To be happy with human beings, we should not ask them for what they cannot give.

  Tristan Bernard

  Giving, Should, Humans

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• Sharp men, like sharp needles, break easy, though they pierce quick.

  Henry Ward Beecher

  Men, Easy, Break

  Henry Ward Beecher (1866). “Royal truths”, p.210

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• I wonder how anyone can have the face to condemn others when he reflects upon his own thoughts.

  W. Somerset Maugham

  Faces, Wonder

  W. Somerset Maugham (1954). “Mr. Maugham Himself”

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• Satire's my weapon, but I'm too discreet To run amuck, and tilt at all I meet.

  Alexander Pope

  Running, Tilt, Weapons

  "The complete poetical works of Alexander Pope".

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• It is undoubtedly true that some people mistake sycophancy for good nature, but it is equally true that many more mistake impertinence for sincerity.

  George D. Prentice

  Mistake, People, Sincerity

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• Man usually avoids attributing cleverness to somebody else unless it is an enemy.

  Albert Einstein

  Humorous, Men, Enemy

  Albert Einstein (2010). “Ideas And Opinions”, p.28, Broadway Books

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• The heart of a statesman should be in his head.

  Napoleon Bonaparte

  Heart, Power, Should

  Napoleon Bonaparte “Napoleon in his own words from the French of Jules Bertaut”, Рипол Классик

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• It is less dishonor to hear imperfectly than to speak imperfectly. The ears are excused; the understanding is not.

  Ben Jonson

  Understanding, Ears, Speak

  Ben Jonson, William Gifford (1879). “The Works of Ben Jonson”

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• True melancholy breeds your perfect fine wit.

  Ben Jonson

  Perfect, Melancholy, Fine

  Ben Jonson, William Gifford (1875). “The Works of Ben Jonson: With Notes Critical and Explanatory, and a Biographical Memoir”, p.63

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• Any euphemism ceases to be euphemistic after a time and the true meaning begins to show through. It's a losing game, but we keep on trying.

  Joseph Wood Krutch

  Games, Trying, Losing

  Joseph Wood Krutch (1964). “If You Don't Mind My Saying So ...: Essays on Man and Nature”

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• The wholly manly man lacks the wit necessary to give objective form to his soaring and secret dreams, and the wholly womanly woman is apt to be too cynical a creature to dream at all.

  H. L. Mencken

  Dream, Women, Giving

  H. L. Mencken (2015). “In Defense of Women: Human Sexuality”, p.9, 谷月社

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• Roosevelt's humor was broad, his manner friendly. Of wit there was little; of philosophy, none. What did he possess? Intuition, inspiration, love of adventure.

  Emanuel Celler

  Travel, Philosophy, Inspiration

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• Ay, that incestuous, that adulterate beast, With witchcraft of his wit, with traitorous gifts- O wicked wit and gifts, that have the power So to seduce!

  William Shakespeare

  Wicked, Charity, Beast

  William Shakespeare (2001). “Hamlet”, p.100, Classic Books Company

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• Insanity destroys reason, but not wit.

  Nathanael Emmons

  Funny, Insanity, Reason

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• The first ingredient in conversation is truth, the next good sense, the third good humor, and the fourth wit.

  William Temple

  Communication, Talking, Next

  Sir William Temple (1720). “The Works of Sir William Temple, Bart. ...: Observations upon the United Provinces of the Netherlands. Miscellanea. Memoirs. The third part. From the peace concluded 1679, to the time of the author's retirement from publick business. Memoirs ... from ... 1672, to 1679”, p.311

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