WIST Quotations

Stevenson, Robert Louis -- Essay (1880-01/02?), “Reflections and Remarks on Human Life,” § 4.3 “Solitude and Society”

Dave — Fri, 29 May 2026 07:41:41 +0000

But solitude for its own sake should surely never be preferred. We are bound by the strongest obligations to busy ourselves amid the world of men, if it be only to crack jokes.

Robert Louis Stevenson (1850–1894) Scottish essayist, novelist, poet
Essay (1880-01/02?), “Reflections and Remarks on Human Life,” § 4.3 “Solitude and Society”
(Source)

A collection of aphorisms and musings, first published in the Edinburgh Edition of his Works, vol. 28 (1898).

Billings, Josh -- Josh Billings’ Farmer’s Allminax, 1875-04 “Fun” (1875 ed.)

Dave — Thu, 13 Nov 2025 19:02:33 +0000

But thare iz lots ov pholks who kant see enny phun in enny thing, yu couldn’t fire a joke into them with a double barrell gun, 10 paces off, they go thru life az sollum az a cow. Menny people think it iz beneath their dignity to relish a joke, sutch people are simply fools, and dont seem to kno it.

[But there are lots of folks who can’t see any fun in anything; you couldn’t fire a joke into them with a double-barrel gun, ten paces off; they go through life as solemn as a cow. May people think it is beneath their dignity to relish a joke; such people are simply fools, and don’t seem to know it.]

Josh Billings (1818-1885) American humorist, aphorist [pseud. of Henry Wheeler Shaw]
Josh Billings’ Farmer’s Allminax, 1875-04 “Fun” (1875 ed.)
(Source)

Orwell, George -- Essay (1941-09), “The Art of Donald McGill,” Horizon Magazine

Dave — Fri, 03 Oct 2025 15:07:36 +0000

A dirty joke is not, of course, a serious attack upon morality, but it is a sort of mental rebellion, a momentary wish that things were otherwise. So also with all other jokes, which always centre round cowardice, laziness, dishonesty or some other quality which society cannot afford to encourage.

George Orwell (1903-1950) English journalist, essayist, writer [pseud. of Eric Arthur Blair]
Essay (1941-09), “The Art of Donald McGill,” Horizon Magazine
(Source)

Cicero, Marcus Tullius -- Philippics [Philippicae; Antonian Orations], No. 2, ch. 16 / sec. 39 (2.16/2.39) (44-10-24 BC) [tr. Grant (1960)]

Dave — Thu, 26 Jun 2025 16:30:01 +0000

Yet however grim circumstances are, human beings, if they really are human, occasionally relax.

[Homines quamvis in turbidis rebus sint, tamen, si modo homines sunt, interdum animis rexantur.]

Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43 BC) Roman orator, statesman, philosopher
Philippics [Philippicae; Antonian Orations], No. 2, ch. 16 / sec. 39 (2.16/2.39) (44-10-24 BC) [tr. Grant (1960)]
(Source)

To Antony's accusations of his inappropriately telling jokes while in camp with Pompey's army.

(Source (Latin)). Other translations:

Men, so long as they are men, relax at times even amid the heaviest perplexities.
[tr. King (1877)]

Men, in whatever anxiety they may be, if they are men, sometimes indulge in relaxation.
[ed. Hoyt (1896)]

But men, in however troublous times -- if only they are human -- sometimes relax their minds.
[tr. Ker (Loeb) (1926)]

Although men are in great difficulties, still, provided they are men, they sometimes relax their minds.
[tr. Yonge (1903)]

In whatever trouble men may be, yet so long as they are men, they must occasionally have their moments of cheerfulness.
[ed. Harbottle (1906)]

Human beings, even in times of crisis, do sometimes unwind, if they are human at all.
[tr. Berry (2006)]

Even when they are in troubled situations, men, if they are human, still relax their minds from time to time.
[tr. McElduff (2011)]

Rogers, Will -- Column (1923-08-19), “Weekly Article: Let’s Treat Our Presidents Like Human Beings” [No. 36]

Dave — Wed, 08 Mar 2023 15:47:54 +0000

I don’t think I ever hurt any man’s feelings by my little gags. I know I never willfully did it. When I have to do that to make a living I will quit.

Will Rogers (1879-1935) American humorist
Column (1923-08-19), “Weekly Article: Let’s Treat Our Presidents Like Human Beings” [No. 36]
(Source)

Collected in The Illiterate Digest (1924).

Atkinson, Rowan -- Letter to The Times of London (Oct 2001)

Dave — Fri, 08 May 2015 13:49:40 +0000

For telling a good and incisive religious joke, you should be praised. For telling a bad one, you should be ridiculed and reviled. The idea that you could be prosecuted for the telling of either is quite fantastic.

Rowan Atkinson (b. 1955) English actor, comedian, and screenwriter
Letter to The Times of London (Oct 2001)
(Source)

Regarding proposed legislation outlaw "incitement to religious hatred."

Shaftesbury, Earl of -- Characteristics, Treatise 2 “Freedom of Wit and Humour,” Part 1, sec. 5 (1709)

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 16:00:00 +0000

‘Twas the saying of an ancient Sage, “That Humour was the only Test of Gravity, and Gravity of Humour. For a Subject which would not bear Raillery is suspicious; and a Jest which would not bear a serious Examination is certainly false Wit.”

Anthony Cooper, 3rd Earl of Shaftesbury (1671-1713) English politician and philosopher
Characteristics, Treatise 2 “Freedom of Wit and Humour,” Part 1, sec. 5 (1709)
(Source)

Shaftesbury, according to his footnote, is paraphrasing from Aristotle, Rhetoric, Book 3, ch. 18, 1419b, in turn quoting Gorgias Leontinus. The phrase is sometimes incorrectly attributed directly to Aristotle. The Greek here is:

δεῖν ἔφη Γοργίας τὴν μὲν σπουδὴν διαφθείρειν τῶν ἐναντίων γέλωτι, τὸν δὲ γέλωτα σπουδῇ

The Latin translation of the Greek is "Seria risu, risum seriis discutere" ("In arguing one should meet serious pleading with humor, and humor with serious pleading"). Shaftesbury's second sentence is actually his own commentary. Lord Chesterfield, in a letter to his son (1752-02-06), renders down the Latin as "Ridicule is the best test of truth" (Chesterfield disagrees with the sentiment).

Shaftesbury actually misuses the quotation. In context Gorgias is offering rhetorical advice in argument, to meet seriousness with humor, and humor with seriousness, not to use humor as a test of the argument.

Shaftesbury used to this theme on a number of occasions. Elsewhere in the same Treatise, Part 1, sec. 1 (1709):

Truth, 'tis supposed, may bear all lights; and one of those principal lights, or natural mediums, by which things are to be viewed, in order to a thorough recognition, is ridicule itself, or that manner of proof by which we discern whatever is liable to just raillery in any subject.

In Characteristics, Treatise 1 "Enthusiasm," sec. 2 (1708):

How comes it to pass, then, that we appear such cowards in reasoning, and are so afraid to stand the test of ridicule? O! say we, the subjects are too grave. Perhaps so: but let us see first whether they are really grave or no: for in the manner we may conceive them they may, peradventure, be very grave and weighty in our imagination, but very ridiculous and impertinent in their own nature.

Thomas Carlyle in Foreign Review, No. 6, "Voltaire" (1829), lacking access to the Internet, noted:

We have oftener than once endeavoured to attach some meaning to that aphorism, vulgarly imputed to Shaftesbury, which however we can find nowhere in his works, that "ridicule is the test of truth."

Carlyle also disagreed with the sentiment, on the grounds that finding something humorous is subjective, and there is no reason to think that a subjective reaction defines the truth of the matter.

Horace -- Satires [Saturae, Sermones], Book 1, # 10 “Nempe incomposito,” l. 14ff (1.10.14-15) (35 BC) [tr. Francis (1747)]

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 16:00:00 +0000

For ridicule shall frequently prevail,
And cut the knot, when graver reasons fail.

[Ridiculum acri
Fortius et melius magnas plerumque secat res.]

Horace (65–8 BC) Roman poet, satirist, soldier, politician [Quintus Horatius Flaccus]
Satires [Saturae, Sermones], Book 1, # 10 “Nempe incomposito,” l. 14ff (1.10.14-15) (35 BC) [tr. Francis (1747)]
(Source)

On varying and selecting the proper tone and style when writing.

(Source (Latin)). Alternate translations:

A Drolling merry stile does better hit
Great matters, then a down-right railing Wit.
[tr. A. B.; ed. Brome (1666)]

A waggish sneer
Doth nick the great Ones more then a severe.
[tr. Creech (1684)]

For oft a smile beyond a frown prevails,
And raillery triumphs where invective fails.
[tr. Howes (1845)]

For ridicule often decides matters of importance more effectually and in a better manner, than severity.
[tr. Smart/Buckley (1853)]

The satire's jest will generally solve all matters of great moment with more spirit and success than declamation's gravity.
[tr. The Millington (1870)]

And pleasantry will often cut clean through
Hard knots that gravity would scarce undo.
[tr. Conington (1874)]

Humour very often cuts the knot of serious questions more trenchantly and successfully than severity.
[tr. Wickham (1903)]

Jesting oft cuts hard knots more forcefully and effectively than gravity.
[tr. Fairclough (Loeb) (1926)]

A jest often decides matters of importance more effectively and happily than seriousness.
[tr. Wells, ed. Kraemer (1936)]

A good witticism is often conclusive and forceful
Where a sober remark is not.
[tr. Palmer Bovie (1959)]

Frequently a clever stroke is better,
abler in cutting at big problems than something serious.
[tr. Fuchs (1977)]

Most times, ridicule cuts sharp and clean
when it deals with serious matters
and arouses indignation for the most part.
[tr. Alexander (1999)]

Jokes can slice
knots that blunt earnest attack.
[tr. Matthews (2002)]

Humour is often stronger
and more effective than sharpness in cutting knotty issues.
[tr. Rudd (2005 ed.)]

Ridicule usually
Cuts through things better, more swiftly, than force.
[tr. Kline (2015)]