Brevity is the body and soul of wit.

Brevity is the body and soul of wit.

Wit has truth in it; wisecracking is simply calisthenics with words.

Wit has truth in it; wisecracking is simply calisthenics with words.

Less judgment than wit, is more sail than ballast.

Less judgment than wit, is more sail than ballast.

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.]

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.

Wit is far more often a shield than a lance

Wit is far more often a shield than a lance

Their heads sometimes so little that there is no room for wit;
sometimes so long, that there is no read more

Their heads sometimes so little that there is no room for wit;
sometimes so long, that there is no wit for so much room.

Wit, like money, bears an extra value when rung down immediately
it is wanted. Men pay severely who require read more

Wit, like money, bears an extra value when rung down immediately
it is wanted. Men pay severely who require credit.

Don't put too fine a point to your wit for fear it should get
blunted.

Don't put too fine a point to your wit for fear it should get
blunted.