WIST Quotations

Montesquieu -- Persian Letters [Lettres Persanes], Letter 66, Rica to *** (1721) [tr. MacKenzie (2014), No. 64]

Dave — Tue, 19 Mar 2024 19:43:55 +0000

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]

Aristotle -- Rhetoric [Ῥητορική; Ars Rhetorica], Book 2, ch. 12, sec. 16 (2.12.16) / 1389b.11 (350 BC) [tr. Freese (1926)]

Dave — Fri, 05 Mar 2021 22:34:19 +0000

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:

"Wit is a refined petulance." [Source (1847)]

"Facetiousness is chastened forwardness of manner." [tr. Buckley (1850)]

"Wit is educated insolence." [tr. Jebb (1873)]

"Wit being well-bred insolence." [tr. Roberts (1924)]

"Wittiness is educated insolence." [tr. Bartlett (2019)]

Bovee, Christian Nestell -- Intuitions and Summaries of Thought, Vol. 2 (1862)

Dave — Wed, 27 Nov 2013 14:00:36 +0000

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)

La Bruyere, Jean de -- The Characters [Les Caractères], ch. 5 “Of Society and Conversation [De la Société et de la Conversation],” § 16 (5.16) (1688) [tr. Van Laun (1885)]

Dave — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 18:37:20 +0000

The true spirit of conversation consists more in bringing out the cleverness of others than in showing a great deal of it yourself.

[L’esprit de la conversation consiste bien moins à en montrer beaucoup qu’à en faire trouver aux autres.]

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],” § 16 (5.16) (1688) [tr. Van Laun (1885)]
(Source)

(Source (French)). Other translations:

The Wit of conversation consists more in finding it in others than shewing a great deal your self.
[Bullord ed. (1696)]

The Wit of Conversation consists more in finding it in others, than in shewing a great deal your self.
[Curll ed. (1713)]

Conversation-Wit consists more in pointing out that of others, than in shewing a great deal yourself.
[Browne ed. (1752)]

The art of conversation consists far less in displaying much wit oneself than in helping others to be witty.
[tr. Stewart (1970)]