--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Pun: A form of wit, to which wise men…" description: "\"Pun: A form of wit, to which wise men stoop and fools aspire\" — Ambrose Bierce" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07e/ambrose-bierce-140_aspire_pun-a-form-of-wit-to-which-wise-men-stoo_896083.jpg" --- # Pun: A form of wit, to which wise men stoop and fools aspire ![“Pun: A form of wit, to which wise men stoop and fools aspire” quote by Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07e/ambrose-bierce-140_aspire_pun-a-form-of-wit-to-which-wise-men-stoo_896083.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07e/ambrose-bierce-140_aspire_pun-a-form-of-wit-to-which-wise-men-stoo_896083.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07e/ambrose-bierce-140_aspire_pun-a-form-of-wit-to-which-wise-men-stoo_896083.jpg) > “Pun: A form of wit, to which wise men stoop and fools aspire” [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Wit is a clever, sharp form of humor that intelligent people use, while foolish people try to imitate it without understanding. **In simple terms:** Wit is clever humor for the wise, not for the foolish. Key Takeaway Cultivate true wit, not imitation. Themes humor intelligence communication Mood playful critical Type aphilosophical observational When to use this quote - public speaking - writing - social interaction - teaching Key Concepts satire linguistic nuance Questions to Reflect On - Do you use wit to clarify or to belittle? - How can you recognize genuine wit? A Different Perspective Wit can be misunderstood or seen as sarcastic. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aspire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aspire/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Fool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fool/) [Fools Aspire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fools-aspire-1196119/) [Form](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/form/) [Form Wit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/form-wit-1196118/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Pun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pun/) [Pun Form](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pun-form-1196116/) [Stoops](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stoops/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) [Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise/) [Wise men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise-men/) [Wit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wit/) [Wit Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wit-wise-1196117/) ## Related quotes > [I think puns are not just the lowest form of wit, but the lowest form of human behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-oliver/i-think-puns-are-not-just-the-lowest-form-of-wit-but-the-lowest-form/) [John Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-oliver/) > [The Good and Great must ever shun That reckless and abandoned one Who stoops to perpetrate a pun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/the-good-and-great-must-ever-shun-that-reckless-and-abandoned-one-who/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [“You know, sarcasm is the lowest form of wit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecelia-ahern/you-know-sarcasm-is-the-lowest-form-of-wit/) [Cecelia Ahern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecelia-ahern/) > [You know, Gilan, sarcasm isn't the lowest form of wit. It's not even wit at all." -Halt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flanagan/you-know-gilan-sarcasm-isn-t-the-lowest-form-of-wit-it-s-not-even-wit/) [John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/) > [Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/sarcasm-is-the-lowest-form-of-wit/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit, but the highest form of intelligence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/sarcasm-is-the-lowest-form-of-wit-but-the-highest-form-of-intelligence/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [LAST, n. A shoemaker's implement, named by a frowning Providence as opportunity to the maker of puns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/last-n-a-shoemaker-s-implement-named-by-a-frowning-providence-as/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [ Just when you think \[Donald Trump\] can stoop no lower, he does. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-flake/just-when-you-think-donald-trump-can-stoop-no-lower-he-does/) [Jeff Flake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-flake/) > [Reformers have long observed city people loitering on busy corners, hanging around in candy stores and bars and drinking soda popon stoops, and have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-jacobs/reformers-have-long-observed-city-people-loitering-on-busy-corners/) [Jane Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-jacobs/) > [Just let matters slide. How much better to accept each sweet drop of the honey that was Time, than to stoop to the vulgarity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yukio-mishima/just-let-matters-slide-how-much-better-to-accept-each-sweet-drop-of/) [Yukio Mishima](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yukio-mishima/) > [Wealth accumulates, and men decay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/wealth-accumulates-and-men-decay/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [A man never stoops so low as when he rises to the challenge of politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/a-man-never-stoops-so-low-as-when-he-rises-to-the-challenge-of/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [A Christian in his surroundings should encourage everyone to be better, instead of being the one who stoops to be like everyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/a-christian-in-his-surroundings-should-encourage-everyone-to-be/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [To what will love not stoop!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-beckett/to-what-will-love-not-stoop/) [Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/) > [I think the public doesn't understand that one of the reasons I haven't stood up for myself is because in order to do that,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-broadwell/i-think-the-public-doesn-t-understand-that-one-of-the-reasons-i-haven/) [Paula Broadwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-broadwell/) ## More by Ambrose Bierce > [OBSESSED, p.p. Vexed by an evil spirit, like the Gadarene swine and other critics. Obsession was once more common than it is now. Arasthus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/obsessed-p-p-vexed-by-an-evil-spirit-like-the-gadarene-swine-and/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [DECIDE, v.i. To succumb to the preponderance of one set of influences over another set.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/decide-v-i-to-succumb-to-the-preponderance-of-one-set-of-influences/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [IMMORAL, adj. Inexpedient. Whatever in the long run and with regard to the greater number of instances men find to be generally inexpedient comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/immoral-adj-inexpedient-whatever-in-the-long-run-and-with-regard-to/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [REVIEW, v.t. To set your wisdom (holding not a doubt of it./ Although in truth there's neither bone nor skin to it)/ At work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/review-v-t-to-set-your-wisdom-holding-not-a-doubt-of-it-although-in/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [CLOCK, n. A machine of great moral value to man, allaying his concern for the future by reminding him what a lot of time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/clock-n-a-machine-of-great-moral-value-to-man-allaying-his-concern/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [RUBBISH, n. Worthless matter, such as the religions, philosophies, literatures, arts and sciences of the tribes infesting the regions lying due south from Boreaplas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/rubbish-n-worthless-matter-such-as-the-religions-philosophies/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [There was never a genius who was not thought a fool until he disclosed himself; whereas he is a fool then only.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/there-was-never-a-genius-who-was-not-thought-a-fool-until-he/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Telephone, n. An invention of the devil which abrogates some of the advantages of making a disagreeable person keep his distance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/telephone-n-an-invention-of-the-devil-which-abrogates-some-of-the/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [WHANGDEPOOTENAWAH, n. In the Ojibwa tongue, disaster; an unexpected affliction that strikes hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/whangdepootenawah-n-in-the-ojibwa-tongue-disaster-an-unexpected/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Jealous, adj. Unduly concerned about the preservation of that which can be lost only if not worth keeping.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/jealous-adj-unduly-concerned-about-the-preservation-of-that-which-can/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [RIDICULE, n. Words designed to show that the person of whom they are uttered is devoid of the dignity of character distinguishing him who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/ridicule-n-words-designed-to-show-that-the-person-of-whom-they-are/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Think twice before you speak to a friend in need](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/think-twice-before-you-speak-to-a-friend-in-need/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [HERMIT, n. A person whose vices and follies are not sociable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/hermit-n-a-person-whose-vices-and-follies-are-not-sociable/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [TARIFF, n. A scale of taxes on imports, designed to protect the domestic producer against the greed of his consumer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/tariff-n-a-scale-of-taxes-on-imports-designed-to-protect-the-domestic/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [A bad marriage is like an electrical thrilling machine: it makes you dance, but you can't let go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/a-bad-marriage-is-like-an-electrical-thrilling-machine-it-makes-you/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) [Explore all 1,157 Ambrose Bierce quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) ## More Aspire quotes > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [Vow to be valiant. Resolve to be radiant. Determine to be dynamic. Strive to be sincere. Aspire to be attuned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/vow-to-be-valiant-resolve-to-be-radiant-determine-to-be-dynamic/) [William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/) > [“No one has any right to tell you that the way you perceive yourself is wrong. Because by doing so, they also discourage the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamand-kojouri/no-one-has-any-right-to-tell-you-that-the-way-you-perceive-yourself/) [Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/) > [I love it when television is shot in a cinematic way and I think to aspire to that is no bad thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-rhys/i-love-it-when-television-is-shot-in-a-cinematic-way-and-i-think-to/) [Matthew Rhys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-rhys/) > [At the end of the day, everyone knows what it is to be loved and to aspire to love someone, to want to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-oyelowo/at-the-end-of-the-day-everyone-knows-what-it-is-to-be-loved-and-to/) [David Oyelowo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-oyelowo/) > [I didn't aspire to be a good sport; 'champion' was good enough for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-perry/i-didn-t-aspire-to-be-a-good-sport-champion-was-good-enough-for-me/) [Fred Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-perry/) > [We should all aspire in life to do a multitude of things well - to be a great father, to be a good husband,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-modine/we-should-all-aspire-in-life-to-do-a-multitude-of-things-well-to-be-a/) [Matthew Modine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-modine/) > [We try, we fail, we posture, we aspire, we pontificate - and then we age, shrink, die, and vanish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/we-try-we-fail-we-posture-we-aspire-we-pontificate-and-then-we-age/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [I aspire my country eventually has a league where all players play 50 games.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunil-chhetri/i-aspire-my-country-eventually-has-a-league-where-all-players-play-50/) [Sunil Chhetri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunil-chhetri/) > [I'm exceptional in everything that I do and I aspire to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omarosa-manigault-newman/i-m-exceptional-in-everything-that-i-do-and-i-aspire-to-do/) [Omarosa Manigault Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omarosa-manigault-newman/) > [One of the reasons you study at great institutions or aspire to work in great corporations is that you hope to acquire the values…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harsha-bhogle/one-of-the-reasons-you-study-at-great-institutions-or-aspire-to-work/) [Harsha Bhogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harsha-bhogle/) > [So if you aspire to be a good conversationali st, be an attentive listener. To be interesting, be interested. Ask questions that other persons…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/so-if-you-aspire-to-be-a-good-conversationali-st-be-an-attentive/) [Dale Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-carnegie/) > [... the majority of colored men do not yet think it worth while that women aspire to higher education… The three R's, a littlemusic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-julia-cooper/the-majority-of-colored-men-do-not-yet-think-it-worth-while-that/) [Anna Julia Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-julia-cooper/) > [For me, there has always been a disconnect with the sort of elitist structure of the high-art world - and my distaste for that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shepard-fairey/for-me-there-has-always-been-a-disconnect-with-the-sort-of-elitist/) [Shepard Fairey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shepard-fairey/) > [There is not a right too long denied to which we do not aspire in order to achieve; there is not a wrong too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-gompers/there-is-not-a-right-too-long-denied-to-which-we-do-not-aspire-in/) [Samuel Gompers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-gompers/) [Browse all 650 Aspire quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aspire/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Pun: A form of wit, to which wise men stoop and fools aspire", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ambrose Bierce" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/pun-a-form-of-wit-to-which-wise-men-stoop-and-fools-aspire/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Aspire" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/pun-a-form-of-wit-to-which-wise-men-stoop-and-fools-aspire/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07e/ambrose-bierce-140_aspire_pun-a-form-of-wit-to-which-wise-men-stoo_896083.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07e/ambrose-bierce-140_aspire_pun-a-form-of-wit-to-which-wise-men-stoo_896083.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07e/ambrose-bierce-140_aspire_pun-a-form-of-wit-to-which-wise-men-stoo_896083.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Pun: A form of wit, to which wise men stoop and fools aspire” — Ambrose Bierce", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ambrose Bierce", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Pun: A form of wit, to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/pun-a-form-of-wit-to-which-wise-men-stoop-and-fools-aspire/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/pun-a-form-of-wit-to-which-wise-men-stoop-and-fools-aspire/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```