Great wits and valours, like great states,
Do sometimes sink with their own weights.

Great wits and valours, like great states,
Do sometimes sink with their own weights.

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.

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.

Great wits are sure to madness near allied,
And thin partitions do their bounds divide.

Great wits are sure to madness near allied,
And thin partitions do their bounds divide.

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.

Wit is cultured insolence.

Wit is cultured insolence.

Wit is the clash and reconcilement of incongruities; the meeting
of extremes round a corner.

Wit is the clash and reconcilement of incongruities; the meeting
of extremes round a corner.

The distrust of wit is the beginning of tyranny.

The distrust of wit is the beginning of tyranny.

Wit is the epitaph of an emotion

Wit is the epitaph of an emotion