humor on Wittiness

The story is told of a (true) encounter that took place between the Chief Rabbi of London, a Mr. Hermann Adler, and the Catholic Cardinal Herbert Vaughan at some formal luncheon. According to accounts...

Caesar Augustus, the first Roman emperor, had quite the sharp wit. After hearing about a Roman nobleman who had passed away with enormous debts (which were kept private throughout his lifetime), he se...

In 1867, the great American writer Mark Twain embarked on what he wryly called his “Great Pleasure Excursion,” a journey through Europe that would later inspire his travelogue, The Innocents Abroad...

As a committed Southern Baptist, president Jimmy Carter was often questioned by reporters on a variety of moral issues. One day, a reporter asked, “How would you feel if you were told that your daught...

You have as much laughter as you have faith.

After a great act by the comedian George Ade, a renowned lawyer took his turn to speak. He began by commenting on Ade’s performance: “Doesn’t it strike the company as a little unusual that a professio...

As we wait, it is critical that we keep our sense of humor in the fullest meaning of that word. When laughter goes, so does hope. When God reaffirms his promise to Abraham and Sarah, he restores not o...

Being omniscient, God knew Murphy’s Law. On the Eighth day of creation, God said, “Okay Murphy, take over." (for humor)

I often quote myself. It adds spice to my conversation.

It is requisite for the relaxation of the mind that we make use, from time to time, of playful deeds and jokes.

Scott Weems, author of Ha! The Science of When We Laugh and Why, explains that humor stems from our brains being confused about how to respond, which is why we often laugh at inappropriate times. “Wha...

When we remember we are all mad, the mysteries disappear and life stands explained.

Bureaucracy is the art of making the possible impossible.

Humor points to faith in that both humor and faith spring up in response to the reality of the paradox and the incongruities at the heart of human experience. But while humor responds well to the lowe...

Humor is, in fact, a prelude to faith; and laughter is the beginning of prayer.

Common sense and a sense of humor are the same thing, moving at different speeds. A sense of humor is just common sense, dancing.

From there to here, from here to there, funny things are everywhere.

Behind every great man is a woman rolling her eyes.

The powers of a man's mind are directly proportioned to the quantity of coffee he drinks.

Sometimes moments of forgiveness and friendship come from unexpected places. In 2018, the comedian Pete Davidson appeared on the “Weekend Update” segment of Saturday Night Live (SNL). Davidson made a ...

Archelaus the 5th century (BC) king of Macedon, was once having his hair cut. His barber, quite verbose like many others in his profession, asked King Archelaus how he would like his hair cut. His res...

The atheists have produced a Christmas play. It’s called Coincidence on Thirty-Fourth Street.

Analyzing humor is like dissecting a frog. Few people are interested and the frog dies of it.

Peter Ustinov, the British actor, director, and playwright, once received an indignant letter from the headmaster of his son’s school. The letter complained that his son frequently disrupted lessons b...

Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go

I don't make jokes. I just watch the government and report the facts.

Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson are going camping. They pitch their tent under the stars and go to sleep. In the middle of the night Holmes wakes Watson up: “Watson, look up at the stars, and tell me wh...

They say that in Martin Luther’s class on Genesis, a smart aleck student asked, “Dr. Luther, since you know so much about the book of Genesis, tell us: what was God doing all that time before God crea...

I married my wife for her looks, but not the kind she’s giving me lately.

In the beginning, the universe was created. This has been widely regarded as a bad move. (for contrast, and humor)