Wit Quotes - Page 7

• Wit has as few true judges as painting.

  William Wycherley

  Judging, Painting

  William Wycherley, Peter Dixon (1998). “Country Wife and Other Plays”, p.13, Oxford University Press, USA

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• Men famed for wit, of dangerous talents vain,
  Treat those of common parts with proud disdain;
  The powers that wisdom would, improving, hide,
  They blaze abroad, with inconsid'rate pride;
  While yet but mere probationers for fame,
  They seize the honor they should then disclaim:
  Honor so hurried to the light must fade,
  The lasting laurels nourish in the shade.

  George Crabbe

  Pride, Men, Light

  George Crabbe (1839). “The Poetical Works of Crabbe, Heber, and Pollok: Complete in One Volume”, p.158

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• You may be witty, but not satirical.

  Horace Greeley

  Witty, May, Satirical

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• Genuine witticisms surprise those who say them as much as those who listen to them; they arise in us in spite of us, or, at least, without our participation,--like everything inspired.

  Joseph Joubert

  Inspired, Surprise, Arise

  Joseph Joubert (1867). “Some of the "Thoughts" of Joseph Joubert”, p.83

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• Only just the right quantum of wit should be put into a book; in conversation a little excess is allowable.

  Joseph Joubert

  Book, Excess, Littles

  Joseph Joubert (1896). “Pensées of Joubert”

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• There are some men who are witty when they are in a bad humor, and others only when they are sad.

  Joseph Joubert

  Witty, Men

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• It consisteth in one knows not what, and springeth up one can hardly tell how. Its ways are unaccountable and inexplicable, being answerable to the numberless rovings of fancy and windings of language.

  Isaac Barrow

  Roving, Fancy, Way

  Isaac Barrow (1818). “The Theological Works of Isaac Barrow”, p.306

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• By wit we search divine aspect above,
  By wit we learn what secrets science yields,
  By wit we speak, by wit the mind is rul'd,
  By wit we govern all our actions;
  Wit is the loadstar of each human thought,
  Wit is the tool by which all things are wrought.

  Robert Greene

  Yield, Secret, Mind

  Robert Greene, George Peele, Alexander Dyce (1861). “The dramatic and poetical works: With memoirs of the authors and notes”, p.319

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• In cheerful souls there is no wit. Wit shows a disturbance of the equipoise.

  Novalis

  Soul, Cheerful, Shows

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• It is a certain rule that wit and passion are entirely incompatible. When the affections are moved, there is no place for the imagination.

  David Hume

  Passion, Imagination, Affection

  David Hume (2016). “Delphi Complete Works of David Hume (Illustrated)”, p.697, Delphi Classics

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• Wit has its place in debate; in controversy it is a legitimate weapon, offensive and defensive.

  Theodore Parker

  Weapons, Debate, Offensive

  Theodore Parker (1871). “Speeches, Addresses, and Occasional Sermons”, p.299

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• At present, the novels which we owe to English ladies form no small part of the literary glory of our country. No class of works is more honorably distinguished for fine observation, by grace, by delicate wit, by pure moral feeling.

  Thomas B. Macaulay

  Country, Class, Grace

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• Confidence in conversation has a greater share than wit.

  Francois de La Rochefoucauld

  Confidence, Share, Conversation

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• Wit sometimes enables us to act rudely with impunity.

  Francois de La Rochefoucauld

  Sometimes, Impunity

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• A man does not please long when he has only species of wit.

  Francois de La Rochefoucauld

  Men, Long, Doe

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• A small degree of wit, accompanied by good sense, is less tiresome in the long run than a great amount of wit without it.

  Francois de La Rochefoucauld

  Running, Long, Degrees

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• When we seek after wit, we discover only foolishness.

  Baron de Montesquieu

  Foolishness

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• What an ornament and safeguard is humor! Far better than wit for a poet and writer. It is a genius itself, and so defends from the insanities.

  Walter Scott

  Humor, Insanity, Ornaments

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• A joker is near akin to a buffoon; and neither of them is the least related to wit.

  Lord Chesterfield

  Related, Buffoons

  Lord Chesterfield, David Roberts (2008). “Lord Chesterfield's Letters”, p.141, Oxford University Press

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• It is by vivacity and wit that man shines in company; but trite jokes and loud laughter reduce him to a buffoon.

  Lord Chesterfield

  Laughter, Men, Shining

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• A wise man will live as much within his wit as his income.... Bear this truth always in your mind, that you may be admired for your wit, if you have any; but that nothing but good sense and good qualities can make you be loved.

  Lord Chesterfield

  Wise, Men, Mind

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• I always put these pert jackanapeses out of countenance by looking extremely grave when they expect that I should laugh at their pleasantries; and by saying Well, and so?--as if they had not done, and that the sting were still to come. This disconcerts them, as they have no resources in themselves, and have but one set of jokes to live upon.

  Lord Chesterfield

  Laughing, Done, Resources

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• Remember that the wit, humour, and jokes of most mixed companies are local. They thrive in that particular soil, but will not often bear transplanting.

  Lord Chesterfield

  Funny, Humor, Soil

  Lord Chesterfield, David Roberts (2008). “Lord Chesterfield's Letters”, p.109, Oxford University Press

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• I love every-day senses, every-day wit and entertainment; a man who is only good on holidays, is good for very little.

  Lord Chesterfield

  Holiday, Men, Littles

  Lord Chesterfield, David Roberts (2008). “Lord Chesterfield's Letters”, p.285, Oxford University Press

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• It is inconceivable how much wit it requires to avoid being ridiculous.

  Nicolas Chamfort

  Ridiculous

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