quotations about wit
Wit is better as a seasoning than as a whole dish by itself.
CHRISTIAN NESTELL BOVEE
Intuitions and Summaries of Thought
The wit of conversation consists more in finding it in others than in showing a great deal yourself. He who goes from your conversation pleased with himself and his own wit, is perfectly well pleased with you.
SAMUEL R. WELS
How to Behave
This pleasant aspect of wit is almost the opposite of satire and may be found in any kind of character: according to Congreve, 'from a witty man they are expected and even a fool may be permitted to stumble on 'em by chance'.
BART VAN ES
Shakespeare's Comedies: A Very Short Introduction
Wit is not fed, but sharpened with applause; For wealth is solid food, and wit but hungry sauce.
JOHN DRYDEN
Love Triumphant
It is inconceivable how much wit it requires to avoid being ridiculous.
SEBASTIEN ROCH NICOLAS CHAMFORT
attributed, Day's Collacon
I admire wit as I do the wind; when it shakes the trees, it is fine; when it cools the wave, it is refreshing; when it steals over the flowers, it is enchanting; but when it whistles through the keyhole, it is unpleasant.
ANTOINE BRET
attributed, Day's Collacon
Wit is brief and sudden, and sharply defined as a crystal; it does not make pictures, it is not fantastic; but it detects an unsuspected analogy or suggests a startling or confounding inference. Every one who has had the opportunity of making the comparison will remember the effect produced on him by some witticisms is closely akin to the effect produced on him by subtle reasoning which lays open a fallacy or absurdity, and there are persons whose delight in such reasoning always manifests itself in laughter.
GEORGE ELIOT
Essays
Sharp wits, like sharp knives, do often cut their owner's fingers.
JOHN ARROWSMITH
Armilla Catechetica: A Chain of Principles
Real wit is shown in language. We need language.
MAYA ANGELOU
The Paris Review, fall 1990
As the sea-crab swimmeth always against the stream, so doth wit always against wisdom.
PYTHAGORAS
attributed, Day's Collacon