Wit Quotes - Page 7

• 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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• The best thing next to wit is a consciousness that it is not in us; without wit, a man might then know how to behave himself, so as not to appear to be a fool or a coxcomb.

  Jean de la Bruyere

  Men, Might, Next

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• For the qualities of sheer wit and humor, Swift had no superior, ancient or modern.

  Leigh Hunt

  Quality, Wit And Humor, Ancient

  Leigh Hunt (1856). “Selections from the English poets”

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• Women ought not to know their own wit, because they will still be showing it, and so spoil it.

  John Selden

  Spoil, Stills, Ought

  John Selden, Richard Milward (1689). “Table Talk: Being the Discourses of John Selden”, p.152

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• 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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• 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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• 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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• A Christian's wit is offensive light,
  A beam that aids, but never grieves the sight;
  Vig'rous in age as in the flush of youth,
  'Tis always active on the side of truth.

  William Cowper

  Christian, Grieving, Light

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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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• 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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• 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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• 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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• 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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• 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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• 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 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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