--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: REPARTEE, n. Prudent insult in retort…" description: "\"REPARTEE, n. Prudent insult in retort. Practiced by gentlemen with a constitutional aversion to violence, but a strong disposition to offend. In a war ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/445/ambrose-bierce-140_american-indian_repartee-n-prudent-insult-in-retort-prac_402919.jpg" --- # REPARTEE, n. Prudent insult in retort. Practiced by… ![“REPARTEE, n. Prudent insult in retort. Practiced by gentlemen with a constitutional aversion to violence, but a strong disposition to offend. In a war of words, the tactics of the North American Indian.” quote by Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/445/ambrose-bierce-140_american-indian_repartee-n-prudent-insult-in-retort-prac_402919.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/445/ambrose-bierce-140_american-indian_repartee-n-prudent-insult-in-retort-prac_402919.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/445/ambrose-bierce-140_american-indian_repartee-n-prudent-insult-in-retort-prac_402919.jpg) > “REPARTEE, n. Prudent insult in retort. Practiced by gentlemen with a constitutional aversion to violence, but a strong disposition to offend. In a war of words, the tactics of the North American Indian.” [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. A clever, restrained insult used in witty exchanges, reflecting a preference for verbal sparring over physical conflict. **In simple terms:** A smart, polite insult in a debate. Key Takeaway Use wit, not force, to defend your point. Themes wit verbal sparring gentlemanly conduct conflict resolution Mood playful sharp Type aphilosophical humorous When to use this quote - political debates - social gatherings - online forums - literary salons Key Concepts rhetoric social etiquette cultural tradition Questions to Reflect On - How can you ensure your repartee is received as humor? - When does wit cross into hostility? A Different Perspective May be misunderstood as aggression in cultures valuing directness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American indian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-indian/) [Aversion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aversion/) [Gentleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gentleman/) [Indian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indian/) [Repartee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/repartee/) [Retort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/retort/) [Retorts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/retorts/) [Tactics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tactics/) [Violence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violence/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [Civilization does not engross all the virtues of humanity: she has not even her full share of them. They flourish in greater abundance and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/civilization-does-not-engross-all-the-virtues-of-humanity-she-has-not/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“It is a mistake to suppose that, in a country where the usual evidences of civilization exist, the condition of a very large body…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/it-is-a-mistake-to-suppose-that-in-a-country-where-the-usual/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [While public school history courses in the United States stress the horrors of the German Nazi murder of 6 million Jews and Josef Stalin's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-ott/while-public-school-history-courses-in-the-united-states-stress-the/) Jonathan Ott > [“When the explorer and the settler started to invade the forests, mountains, and streams of the Indian, they soon found that their hard-soled, heavy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-ben-hunt/when-the-explorer-and-the-settler-started-to-invade-the-forests/) [W. Ben Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-ben-hunt/) > [With respect to the doctrine of a future life, a North American Indian knows just as much as any ancient or modern philosopher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-b-macaulay/with-respect-to-the-doctrine-of-a-future-life-a-north-american-indian/) [Thomas B. Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-b-macaulay/) > [A talent for repartee is one that increases with practice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lothrop-motley/a-talent-for-repartee-is-one-that-increases-with-practice/) [John Lothrop Motley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lothrop-motley/) > [If we ever established contact with intelligent life on another world, there would be barriers to communication. First, they would be many light years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-rees/if-we-ever-established-contact-with-intelligent-life-on-another-world/) [Martin Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-rees/) > [Repartee is perfect when it effects its purpose with a double edge. 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Weaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-weaver/) > [The impromptu reply is precisely the touchstone of the man of wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moliere/the-impromptu-reply-is-precisely-the-touchstone-of-the-man-of-wit/) [Moliere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moliere/) > [Repartee is altogether a natural endowment, and is the lightning of the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-de-musset/repartee-is-altogether-a-natural-endowment-and-is-the-lightning-of/) [Alfred de Musset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-de-musset/) > [He has never been known to use a word that might send a reader to the dictionary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/he-has-never-been-known-to-use-a-word-that-might-send-a-reader-to-the/) [William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/) > [Repartee is the soul of conversation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/repartee-is-the-soul-of-conversation/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Cannot possibly attend first night, will attend second... if there is one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/cannot-possibly-attend-first-night-will-attend-second-if-there-is-one/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) ## 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 American indian quotes > [I told my friend - we were working on a movie together - and he gave me a script and asked me to give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karla-souza/i-told-my-friend-we-were-working-on-a-movie-together-and-he-gave-me-a/) [Karla Souza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karla-souza/) > [Language is decanted and shared. 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Indian gatherings are marked by laughter and jokes, many directed at the horrors of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-gunn-allen/humor-is-widely-used-by-indians-to-deal-with-life-indian-gatherings/) [Paula Gunn Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-gunn-allen/) > [I am tired of talk that comes to nothing It makes my heart sick when I remember all the good words and all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chief-joseph/i-am-tired-of-talk-that-comes-to-nothing-it-makes-my-heart-sick-when/) [Chief Joseph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chief-joseph/) > [There are more American Indians alive today than there were when Columbus arrived or at any other time in history. Does this sound like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/there-are-more-american-indians-alive-today-than-there-were-when/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Next time!' 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