Quotes about Wit

Humour is the only test of gravity, and gravity of humour, for a subject which will not bear raillery is suspicious, and a jest which will not bear serious examination is false wit.

All intellectual labor is inherently humorous

It is positively because he is quick-witted that he is long-winded.

Can anything be more disgusting than to hear people called 'educated' making small jokes about eating ham, and showing themselves empty of any real knowledge as to the relation of their own social and religious life to the history of the people they think themselves witty in insulting? [...] The best thing that can be said of it is, that it is a sign of the intellectual narrowness—in plain English, the stupidity which is still the average mark of our culture.

You must have taken great pains, sir; you could not naturally been so very stupid.

If you can make a woman laugh, you can make her do anything.

They are fond of fun and therefore witty, wit being well-bred insolence.

They are fond of fun and therefore witty, wit being well-bred insolence.

It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing.

Take a pinch of snuff, doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over you in your example.

The wisdom that is from above, is not only pure, but also peaceable and gentle; and the lack of these qualifications, like the dead fly in the jar of ointment, will spoil the fragrance and efficacy of our labors. If we act in a wrong spirit—we shall bring little glory to God; do little good to our fellow creatures; and procure neither honor nor comfort to ourselves! If you can be content with showing your wit, and gaining the laugh on your side—you have an easy task!

Instead of working for the survival of the fittest, we should be working for the survival of the wittiest - then we can all die laughing.