Pastoral Resources

Far less envy in America than in France, and far less wit.

Don't set your wit against a child.

The first ingredient in conversation is truth, the next good sense, the third good humor, and the fourth wit.

In Paris, you learn wit, in London you learn to crush your social rivals, and in Florence you learn poise.

Comedy has to be done en clair. You can't blunt the edge of wit or the point of satire with obscurity. Try to imagine a famous witty saying that is not immediately clear.

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.

The wit knows that his place is at the tail of a procession.

Wit is the sudden marriage of ideas which before their union were not perceived to have any relation.

My dad's sense of humor was direct and sometimes surreal - his quick wit is well known amongst our family and friends. He raised me on Spike Jones records and W.C. Fields movies, and his sense of humor fell somewhere in between.

A witty saying proves nothing.

Though lust do masque in ne'er so strange disguise she's oft found witty, but is never wise.

Quotation is a serviceable substitute for wit.

Those who are born of parents broken with old age, or of such as are not yet ripe or are too young, or of drunkards, soft or effeminate men, want a great and liberal ingenuity or wit.

Wit is more necessary than beauty; and I think no young woman ugly that has it, and no handsome woman agreeable without it.

He's a fool that marries, but he's a greater that does not marry a fool; what is wit in a wife good for, but to make a man a cuckold?

What is this powerful have over my tub? Surely, I am transfixed by your firecracker charm and your suspended electrified wit.

You have a ready wit. Tell me when it's ready.

I have wit in my work and a sense of humor, but I do not use irony in any way.