By definition, humor is gentle. The savage, the cruel, the harsh would fall under the heading of wit and/or satire, as the lawyers say. Now, my definitions are these: The wit makes fun of other persons; the satirist makes fun of the world; the humorist makes fun of himself, but in so doing, he identifies himself with people — that is, people everywhere, not for the purpose of taking them apart, but simply revealing their true nature.
James Thurber (1894–1961) American humorist, cartoonist, writer
Interview (1959-03-24) by Edward R. Murrow, Small World, CBS-TV
(Source)
When Siobhan McKenna, one of the other guests, made a comment about "cruel humor."
The transcript was printed as "That Girl in Galway" in the next (?) day's New York Post.
Quotations about:
wit
Note not all quotations have been tagged, so Search may find additional quotes on this topic.
Tricks and Treachery are the Practice of Fools, that have not Wit enough to be honest.
Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790) American statesman, scientist, philosopher, aphorist
Poor Richard (1740 ed.)
(Source)
Borrowed without attribution from La Rochefoucauld (1665).
Beauty without intelligence is like a hook without bait.
Molière (1622–1673) French playwright, actor [stage name for Jean-Baptiste Poquelin]
(Misattributed)
Widely attributed to Moliere, and usually to his play Tartuffe. An extensive look across multiple translations of that and other Moliere plays finds no reference to any of those four nouns that at all resembles this sentiment.
Instead, the phrase appears to originate from Ninon de Lenclos (1620-1705), French letter writer, courtesan, and salonnière. Moliere knew her when he was a child. Attributed to her is the phrase "La beauté sans grâce est un hameçon sans appât," which sometimes is translated as above, or as "Beauty without grace ...."
MORE: Now listen, Will. And, Meg, you know I know you well, you listen too. God made the angels to show him splendour — as he made animals for innocence and plants for their simplicity. But Man he made to serve him wittily, in the tangle of his mind! If he suffers us to fall to such a case that there is no escaping, then we may stand to our tackle as best we can, and yes, Will, then we may clamour like champions — if we have the spittle for it. And no doubt it delights God to see splendour where he only looked for complexity. But it’s God’s part, not our own, to bring ourselves to that extremity! Our natural business lies in escaping.
Robert Bolt (1924–1995) English dramatist
A Man for All Seasons, play, Act 2 (1960)
(Source)
In Bolt's 1966 film adaptation, this takes place in a slightly different and is slightly shortened:MORE: Listen, Meg, God made the angels to show Him splendor, as He made animals for innocence and plants for their simplicity. But Man He made to serve Him wittily, in the tangle of his mind. If He suffers us to come to such a case that there is no escaping, then we may stand to our tackle as best we can, and, yes, Meg, then we can clamor like champions, if we have the spittle for it. But it's God's part, not our own, to bring ourselves to such a pass. Our natural business lies in escaping.
FALSTAFF: I am not only witty in myself, but the cause that wit is in other men.
William Shakespeare (1564–1616) English dramatist and poet
Henry IV, Part 2, Act 1, sc. 2, l. 9ff (1.2.9-11) (c. 1598)
(Source)
A witticism is that clever thing you wish you had said, not listened to.
Minna Antrim (1861–1950) American epigrammatist, writer
Naked Truth and Veiled Allusions (1902)
(Source)
Making a book is a craft, like making a clock; it needs more than native wit to become an author.
[C’est un métier que de faire un livre, comme de faire une pendule: il faut plus que de l’esprit pour être auteur.]
Jean de La Bruyère (1645–1696) French essayist, moralist
The Characters [Les Caractères], ch. 1 “Of Works of the Mind [Des Ouvrages de l’Esprit],” § 3 (1.3) (1688) [tr. Stewart (1970)]
(Source)
(Source (French)). Other translations:To make a Book, is like making a Pendulum, a Man must have Experience, as well as Wit to succeed in it.
[Bullord ed. (1696)]Tis as much a Trade to make a Book, as to make a Watch; there's something more than Wit requisite to make an Author.
[Curll ed. (1713)]To make a Book, is no less a Trade than to make a Clock; something more than Wit is necessary to form an Author.
[Browne ed. (1752)]To make a book is as much a trade as to make a clock; something more than intelligence is required to become an author.
[tr. Van Laun (1885)]
The mania afflicting most French people is the desire to be witty, and the mania afflicting those who want to be witty is the desire to write books.
However, this is a very bad idea.
[La fureur de la plupart des François, c’est d’avoir de l’esprit ; et la fureur de ceux qui veulent avoir de l’esprit, c’est de faire des livres.
Cependant il n’y a rien de si mal imaginé.]Charles-Lewis de Secondat, Baron de Montesquieu (1689–1755) French political philosopher
Persian Letters [Lettres Persanes], Letter 66, Rica to *** (1721) [tr. MacKenzie (2014), No. 64]
(Source)
(Source (French)). Other translations:The Predominant Passion or rather Fury of most of the French is, to be thought Wits; and the Predominant passion of those who would be thought Wits, is to write Books.
And yet there is nothing so ill-contrived.
[tr. Ozell (1736 ed.), No. 64]The passion of most of the French is to be taken for wits, and the passion of thole who would be thought wits, is to write books. And yet there is nothing so badly imagined.
[tr. Floyd (1762)]The passion of nearly every Frenchman, is to pass for a wit; and the passion of those who wish to be thought wits, is to write books.
There never was such an erroneous idea.
[tr. Davidson (1891)]The passion of most Frenchmen is to be thought wits ; and the passion of those who wish to be thought wits is to write books.
It is impossible to imagine a more unfortunate mania.
[tr. Betts (1897)]The passion of most of the French is to be thought witty, and the passion of those who wish to be considered wits is to write books.
A worse misconception cannot be imagined.
[tr. Healy (1964)]Most Frenchmen are desperately eager to be thought witty and, of those who seek to be witty, most are desperately eager to write a book.
No plan, however, could be less well conceived.
[tr. Mauldon (2008), No. 64]
An elegant writer has observed, that wit may do very well for a mistress, but that he should prefer reason for a wife. He that deserts the latter, and gives himself up entirely to the guidance of the former, will certainly fall into many pitfalls and quagmires, like him, who walks by flashes of lightning, rather than by the steady beams of the sun.
Charles Caleb "C. C." Colton (1780–1832) English cleric, writer, aphorist
Lacon: Or, Many Things in Few Words, Vol. 1, § 71 (1820)
(Source)
It is a sad thing when men have neither enough intelligence to speak well nor enough sense to hold their tongues.
[C’est une grande misère que de n’avoir pas assez d’esprit pour bien parler, ni assez de jugement pour se taire.]Jean de La Bruyère (1645–1696) French essayist, moralist
The Characters [Les Caractères], ch. 5 “Of Society and Conversation [De la Société et de la Conversation],” § 18 (5.18) (1688) [tr. Van Laun (1885)]
(Source)
(Source (French)). Other translations:'Tis a sad thing when Men have neither Wit enough to speak well, nor Sense enough to hold their tongues.
[Bullord ed. (1696)]'Tis a sad thing when Men have neither Wit enough to speak well, nor Judgment enough to hold their Tongues.
[Curll ed. (1713)]It is a sad Thing when Men have neither Wit to speak well, nor Judgment to hold their Tongues.
[Browne ed. (1752)]It is a great misfortune to have neither wit enough to talk well nor sense enough to keep silence.
[tr. Stewart (1970)]
The next best thing to being clever is being able to quote some one who is.
Mary Pettibone Poole (fl. 1930s) American aphorist
A Glass Eye at a Keyhole, “Excess Prophets” (1938)
(Source)
Ideal conversation must be an exchange of thought, and not, as many of those who worry most about their shortcomings believe, an eloquent exhibition of wit or oratory.
Emily Post (1872–1960) American author, columnist [née Price]
Etiquette: The Blue Book of Social Usage, ch. 6 “The Art of Conversation” (1922; 1955 10th ed.)
(Source)
I have just now come from a party where I was its life and soul; witticisms streamed from my lips, everyone laughed and admired me, but I went away — yes, the dash should be as long as the radius of the earth’s orbit ——————————— and wanted to shoot myself.
Søren Kierkegaard (1813–1855) Danish philosopher, theologian
Journal (1836-04) [tr. Hannay (1982)]
(Source)
Papieren: 1 A 161; KJN: NB 2:53. Other translations:I have just returned from a party of which I was the life and soul; wit poured from my lips, everyone laughed and admired me -- but I went away -- and the dash should be as long as the earth's orbit ——————————— and wanted to shoot myself.
[tr. Dru (1938)]I have just come back from a party where I was the life and soul. Witticisms flowed from my lips. Everyone laughed and admired me -- but I left, yes, that dash should be as long as the radii of the earth's orbit ——————————— and wanted to shoot myself.
[tr. Hannay (1996)]
Some of the words you’ll find within yourself,
the rest some power will inspire you to say.
You least of all — I know —
were born and reared without the gods’ good will.[τὸν δ᾽ αὖτε προσέειπε θεά, γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη:
‘Τηλέμαχ᾽, ἄλλα μὲν αὐτὸς ἐνὶ φρεσὶ σῇσι νοήσεις,
ἄλλα δὲ καὶ δαίμων ὑποθήσεται: οὐ γὰρ ὀίω
οὔ σε θεῶν ἀέκητι γενέσθαι τε τραφέμεν τε.’]Homer (fl. 7th-8th C. BC) Greek author
The Odyssey [Ὀδύσσεια], Book 3, l. 25ff (3.25) [Athena to Telemachus] (c. 700 BC) [tr. Fagles (1996)]
(Source)
Athena (disguised as Mentor) reassuring Telemachus he can go up to Nestor and talk with him without embarrassing himself.
Original Greek. Other translations:Thy mind will some conceit impress,
And something God will prompt thy towardness;
For, I suppose, thy birth, and breeding too,
Were not in spite of what the Gods could do.
[tr. Chapman (1616)]Telemachus, said Pallas, do not fear,
You’ll somewhat prompted be by your own breast
(You never by the Gods neglected were),
The God that loves you will supply the rest.
[tr. Hobbes (1675)]To whom the martial goddess thus rejoin'd:
"Search, for some thoughts, thy own suggesting mind;
And others, dictated by heavenly power,
Shall rise spontaneous in the needful hour.
For nought unprosperous shall thy ways attend,
Born with good omens, and with heaven thy friend."
[tr. Pope (1725)]Thou wilt, in part, thyself
Fit speech devise, and heav’n will give the rest;
For thou wast neither born, nor hast been train’d
To manhood, under unpropitious Pow’rs.
[tr. Cowper (1792), l. 33ff]Thou shalt bethink thee of somewhat in thine own breast, and somewhat the god will give thee to say. For thou, methinks, of all men wert not born and bred without the will of the gods.
[tr. Butcher/Lang (1879)]Some words surely the thought in thine heart shall make,
And some the Gods shall give thee: for this of thee I wot,
That against the will of the Godfolk thy birth and thy life were not.
[tr. Morris (1887)]Some promptings you will find in your own breast, and Heaven will send still more; for, certainly, not unbefriended of the gods have you been born and bred.
[tr. Palmer (1891)]Some things, will be suggested to you by your own instinct, and heaven will prompt you further; for I am assured that the gods have been with you from the time of your birth until now.
[tr. Butler (1898)]"Some things, Telemachus," answered owl-vision Athena, “will be suggested to you by your own instinct, and some superhuman force will prompt you further; for I am assured that the gods have been with you from the time of your birth until now."
[tr. Butler (1898), rev. Kim/McCray/Nagy/Power (2018)]Somewhat thou wilt of thyself devise in thy breast, and somewhat heaven too will prompt thee. For, methinks, not without the favour of the gods hast thou been born and reared.
[tr. Murray (1919)]Your heart will prompt you in part: and other things the spirit will teach you to say. I think if ever anyone was conceived and grew to manhood with the fostering care of the gods, it was yourself.
[tr. Rieu (1946)]Reason and heart will give you words, Telémakhos;
and a spirit will counsel others. I should say
the gods were never indifferent to your life.
[tr. Fitzgerald (1961)]Telemachos, some of it you yourself will see in your own heart,
and some the divinity will put in your mind. I do not
think you could have been born and reared without the gods’ will.
[tr. Lattimore (1965)]You'll come up with some things yourself, Telemachus,
And a god will suggest others. I do not think
You were born and bred without the gods' good will.
[tr. Lombardo (2000)]Some things, Telémachos, you will discover yourself, in your own mind;
others again some god will suggest: I cannot imagine
it was against the gods' wills you received such birth and upbringing.
[tr. Merill (2002)]Telemachus [...], where your own intelligence fails, a god will inspire you. For I think the gods ahve blessed both your birth and your progress to manhood.
[tr. DCH Rieu (2002)]Telemachus, part your own mind will devise, and heaven will prompt the rest. You were not born or reared, I think, without divine favour.
[tr. Kline (2004)]Telemachus, some words you will think of yourself in your mind,
and others some divinity will prompt you to -- for I do not think
it was without the gods' purpose that you were born and raised.
[tr. Verity (2016)]You will work out what to do,
through your own wits and with divine assistance.
The gods have blessed you in your life so far.
[tr. Wilson (2017)]Telemachos, there are some things you'll figure out for yourself, and for others you'll have divine guidance -- I don't think you were born and raised without the gods' good favor.
[tr. Green (2018)]Telemachus, your heart will think of something,
and power from heaven will provide the rest.
For I don’t think that you were born and raised
without being favoured by the gods.
[tr. Johnston (2019)]
Wit is cultured insolence.
[ἡ γὰρ εὐτραπελία πεπαιδευμένη ὕβρις ἐστίν.]
Aristotle (384–322 BC) Greek philosopher
Rhetoric [Ῥητορική; Ars Rhetorica], Book 2, ch. 12, sec. 16 (2.12.16) / 1389b.11 (350 BC) [tr. Freese (1926)]
(Source)
(Source (Greek)). Other translations:
People in France have a phrase: “Spirit of the Stairway.” In French: Esprit d’Escalier. It means that moment when you find the answer but it’s too late. So you’re at a party and someone insults you. You have to say something. So, under pressure, with everybody watching, you say something lame. But the moment you leave the party …
As you start down the stairway, then — magic. You come up with the perfect thing you should’ve said. The perfect crippling put down.
That’s the Spirit of the Stairway.
The trouble is, even the French don’t have a phrase for the stupid things you actually do say under pressure. Those stupid, desperate things you actually think or do.
If with the literate I am
Impelled to try an epigram,
I never seek to take the credit;
We all assume that Oscar said it.Dorothy Parker (1893–1967) American writer, poet, wit
‘A Pig’s-Eye View of Literature: Oscar Wilde,” Life (2 Jun 1927)
(Source)
Reprinted in Sunset Gun (1928).
Thare would be a grate supply ov wit and humor in this world, if we would only giv others the same credit for being witty that we claim for ourselfs.
[There would be a great supply of wit and humor in this world, if we would only give others the same credit for being witty that we claim for ourselves.]
Josh Billings (1818–1885) American humorist, aphorist [pseud. of Henry Wheeler Shaw]
Everybody’s Friend, Or; Josh Billing’s Encyclopedia and Proverbial Philosophy of Wit and Humor, “Mollassis Kandy” (1874)
(Source)
There is no possibility of being witty without a little ill-nature; the malice in a good thing is the barb that makes it stick.
Richard Brinsley Sheridan (1751–1816) Irish dramatist, satirist, politician
The School for Scandal, Act 1 (1777)
(Source)
My quarrel with him is, that his works contain nothing worth quoting; and a book that furnishes no quotations is, me judice, no book — it is a plaything.
Thomas Love Peacock (1785–1866) English novelist, satirist, poet, merchant
Crochet Castle, ch. 9 (1831)
(Source)
A cheerful temper, joined with innocence, will make beauty attractive, knowledge delightful, and wit good-natured.
Joseph Addison (1672–1719) English essayist, poet, statesman
Essay (1710-07-01), The Tatler, No. 192
(Source)
Every age has its pleasures, its style of wit, and its own ways.
Nicolas Boileau-Despréaux (1636–1711) French poet and critic
The Art of Poetry [L’Art Poétique], Canto 3 (1674)
POLONIUS: Brevity is the soul of wit.
William Shakespeare (1564–1616) English dramatist and poet
Hamlet, Act 2, sc. 2, l. 97 (2.2.97) (c. 1600)
(Source)
In full, from the least brief-speaking character in the play:Therefore, since brevity is the soul of wit,
And tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes,
I will be brief ...."
A fine quotation is a diamond on the finger of a man of wit, and a pebble in the hand of a fool.
Joseph Roux (1834–1886) French Catholic priest
Meditations of a Parish Priest: Thoughts, Part 1, #74 (1886)
(Source)
Wit lies in recognizing the resemblance among things which differ and the difference between things which are alike.
[L’esprit consiste à connaître la ressemblance des choses diverses et la différence des choses semblables.]
Germaine de Staël (1766–1817) Swiss-French writer, woman of letters, critic, salonist [Anne Louise Germaine de Staël-Holstein, Madame de Staël, Madame Necker]
Germany [De l’Allemagne], Part 3, ch. 8 (1813)
Alas, irreverence has been subsumed by mere grossness, at least in the so-called mass media. What we have now — to quote myself at my most pretentious — is a nimiety of scurrility with a concomitant exiguity of taste. For example, the freedom (hooray!) to say almost anything you want on television about society’s problems has been co-opted (alas!) by the freedom to talk instead about flatulence, orgasms, genitalia, masturbation, etc., etc., and to replace real comment with pop-culture references and so-called “adult” language. Irreverence is easy — what’s hard is wit.
Tom Lehrer (b. 1928) American mathematician, satirist, songwriter
Rhino Records online chat (17 Jun 1997)
Men are contented to be laughed at for their wit, but not for their folly.
Jonathan Swift (1667–1745) English writer and churchman
“Thoughts on Various Subjects” (1706)
(Source)
As nothing is more provoking to some tempers than raillery, a prudent person will not always be satirically witty where he can, but only where he may without offence. For he will consider the that the finest stroke of raillery is but a witticism; and that there is hardly any person so mean, whose good will is not preferable to the pleasure of a horse-laugh.
James Burgh (1714–1775) British politician and writer
The Dignity of Human Nature, Sec. 5 “Miscellaneous Thoughts on Prudence in Conversation” (1754)
(Source)
Wit without humanity degenerates into bitterness. Learning without prudence into pedantry.
James Burgh (1714–1775) British politician and writer
The Dignity of Human Nature, Sec. 5 “Miscellaneous Thoughts on Prudence in Conversation” (1754)
(Source)
Digression is the soul of wit. Take the philosophic asides away from Dante, Milton or Hamlet’s father’s ghost and what stays is dry bones.
Ray Bradbury (1920–2012) American writer, futurist, fabulist
Fahrenheit 451, “Coda” Afterword (1979 ed.)
(Source)
A play on Shakespeare's words.
At all events, the next best thing to being witty one’s self, is to be able to quote another’s wit.
Christian Nestell Bovee (1820–1904) American epigrammatist, writer, publisher
Intuitions and Summaries of Thought, Vol. 2 (1862)
It is of no use to possess a lively wit if it is not of the right proportion: the perfection of a clock is not to go fast, but to be accurate.
Luc de Clapiers, Marquis de Vauvenargues (1715–1747) French moralist, essayist, soldier
Reflections and Maxims [Réflexions et maximes] (1746) [tr. Lee (1903)]
(Source)
Rehearsing my impromptu witticisms.
Winston Churchill (1874–1965) British statesman and author
(Attributed)
When asked by Harold MacMillan what he was doing.
‘Tis an old maxim in the schools,
That flattery’s the food of fools;
Yet now and then your men of wit
Will condescend to take a bit.Jonathan Swift (1667–1745) English writer and churchman
“Cadenus and Vanessa,” l. 766ff (1713)
(Source)
Cleverness is serviceable for everything, sufficient for nothing.
Henri-Frédéric Amiel (1821–1881) Swiss philosopher, poet, critic
Journal (16 Feb 1868) [tr. Ward (1887)]
It takes a clever man to hide his cleverness.
[C’est une grande habileté que de savoir cacher son habileté.]
François VI, duc de La Rochefoucauld (1613–1680) French epigrammatist, memoirist, noble
Réflexions ou sentences et maximes morales [Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims], ¶245 (1665-1678) [tr. Heard (1917), ¶253]
(Source)
In the 1665 edition, this read: Le plus grand art d’un habile homme est celui de savoir cacher son habileté.
(Source (French)). Other translations:It is a Great Act of Wisdom to be able to Conceal one's being Wise.
[tr. Stanhope (1694), ¶246]It requires no small degree of ability to know when to conceal it.
[pub. Donaldson (1783), "Ability," ¶4]It is a great ability to be able to conceal one's ability.
[ed. Gowens (1851), ¶257]There is great ability in knowing how to conceal one's ability.
[tr. Bund/Friswell (1871), ¶245]It is the height of art to conceal art.
[tr. Stevens (1939), ¶245]A very clever man will know how to hide his cleverness.
[tr. FitzGibbon (1957), ¶245]It is exceedingly clever to know how to hide your cleverness.
[tr. Kronenberger (1959), ¶245]To conceal ingenuity is ingenuity indeed.
[tr. Tancock (1959), ¶245]It is great cleverness to know how to hide our cleverness.
[tr. Whichello (2016), ¶245]
One of the lessons of history is that nothing is often a good thing to do and always a clever thing to say.
William James (Will) Durant (1885–1981) American historian, teacher, philosopher
NY World-Telegram & Sun (6 Jun 1958)
‘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.
Wit has truth in it; wisecracking is simply calisthenics with words.
Dorothy Parker (1893–1967) American writer, poet, wit
Interview (1956, Summer), “The Art of Fiction, No. 13,” by Marion Capron, The Paris Review, Issue 13
Collected in Writers at Work: The Paris Review Interviews, First Series (1958).
Tricks and Treachery are the practice of Fools that have not Wit enough to be Honest.
[Les finesses et les trahisons ne viennent que de manque d’habileté.]
François VI, duc de La Rochefoucauld (1613–1680) French epigrammatist, memoirist, noble
Réflexions ou sentences et maximes morales [Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims], ¶126 (1665-1678) [tr. Stanhope (1694), ¶127]
(Source)
Present in the 1st (1665) edition. A 1665 variant reads:Si on étoit toujours assez habile, on ne ferait jamais de finesses ni de trahisons.
[If one were sufficiently able, one would never do tricks or treasons]
Borrowed by Franklin (1740).(Source (French)). Other translations:Cunning and treachery proceed from want of capacity.
[pub. Donaldson (1783), ¶80; ed. Lepoittevin-Lacroix (1797), ¶122]Cunning and treachery proceed often from want of capacity.
[ed. Carvill (1835), ¶68]Treacheries and acts of artifice only originate in the want of ability.
[ed. Gowens (1851), ¶129]Cunning and treachery are the offspring of incapacity.
[tr. Bund/Friswell (1871), ¶126]Trickery and treachery are a mark of stupidity.
[tr. Heard (1917), ¶126]Guile and treachery are merely the result of want of talent.
[tr. Stevens (1939), ¶126]Cunning and treachery come solely from a lack of skill.
[tr. FitzGibbon (1957), ¶126]Tricks and treachery are merely proof of lack of skill.
[tr. Kronenberger (1959), ¶126]Intrigues and treasons simply come from lack of adroitness.
[tr. Tancock (1959), ¶126]Cunning and treachery are given rise to by mere incompetence.
[tr. Whichello (2016)]
ROSENCRANTZ: Many wearing rapiers are afraid of goosequills.
William Shakespeare (1564–1616) English dramatist and poet
Hamlet, Act 2, sc. 2, l. 366ff (2.2.366) (c. 1600)
(Source)
She had a pretty gift for quotation, which is a serviceable substitute for wit.
W. Somerset Maugham (1874–1965) English novelist and playwright [William Somerset Maugham]
“The Creative Impulse” (1931)
(Source)
The original version of the story in Harper's Bazaar (Aug 1926) does not include this phrase. (The story may also be the origin of the phrase "who-done-it" / "whodunit" for a mystery.)
Variant: "The ability to quote is a serviceable substitute for wit."
The even-more-brief "Quotation is a serviceable substitute for wit" is often misattributed to Oscar Wilde, George Bernard Shaw, and Voltaire; it is not found in their works.
More discussion about this quotation: Quotation Is a Serviceable Substitute for Wit – Quote Investigator.
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)). Other 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)]
