At 20 years of age the will reigns; at 30, the wit; at 40, the judgment.

At 20 years of age the will reigns; at 30, the wit; at 40, the judgment.

Wit is the salt of conversation, not the food.

Wit is the salt of conversation, not the food.

Wit is far more often a shield than a lance

Wit is far more often a shield than a lance

Wit is the lowest form of humor.

Wit is the lowest form of humor.

The distrust of wit is the beginning of tyranny.

The distrust of wit is the beginning of tyranny.

An ounce of wit is worth a pound of sorrow.

An ounce of wit is worth a pound of sorrow.

With little wit and ease to suit them,
They whirl in narrow circling trails,
Like kittens playing read more

With little wit and ease to suit them,
They whirl in narrow circling trails,
Like kittens playing with their tails.
[Ger., Mit wenig Witz und viel Behagen
Dreht jeder sich im engen Zirkeltanz
Wie junge Katzen mit dem Schwanz.]

The next best thing to being witty one's self, is to be able to quote another's wit.

The next best thing to being witty one's self, is to be able to quote another's wit.

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.