Less judgment than wit, is more sail than ballast.

Less judgment than wit, is more sail than ballast.

Wit is cultured insolence.

Wit is cultured insolence.

Ev'n wit's a burthen, when it talks too long.

Ev'n wit's a burthen, when it talks too long.

He who has provoked the shaft of wit, cannot complain that he smarts from it.

He who has provoked the shaft of wit, cannot complain that he smarts from it.

We grant, although he had much wit,
H' was very shy of using it,
As being loth read more

We grant, although he had much wit,
H' was very shy of using it,
As being loth to wear it out,
And therefore bore it not about;
Unless on holy days or so,
As men their best apparel do.

It is by such encounters that wits come to know each other.
[Ger., Les beaux esprits lernen einander durch read more

It is by such encounters that wits come to know each other.
[Ger., Les beaux esprits lernen einander durch dergleichen
recontre erkennen.]

People who can't be witty exert themselves to be devout and affectionate.

People who can't be witty exert themselves to be devout and affectionate.

Wit is the epitaph of an emotion

Wit is the epitaph of an emotion

You can pretend to be serious; you can't pretend to be witty.

You can pretend to be serious; you can't pretend to be witty.