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Jest Quote by George Herbert

“When thou dost tell another's jest, therein Omit the oaths, which true wit cannot need; Pick out of tales the mirth, but not the sin.” quote by George Herbert
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“When thou dost tell another's jest, therein Omit the oaths, which true wit cannot need; Pick out of tales the mirth, but not the sin.”

George Herbert

About This Quote

Source Poem: The Temple, 1633

When sharing humor, omit profanity; true wit is clean and focuses on joy, not offense.

In simple terms: Share jokes without swearing; keep wit pure.

Key Takeaway

Use clean humor.

Themes

ethics humor language

Mood

reflective thoughtful

Type

literary didactic

When to use this quote

  • social gatherings
  • online memes
  • public speaking

Key Concepts

literary criticism moral philosophy

Questions to Reflect On

  • What makes a joke truly funny?
  • Can humor be both clean and sharp?
A Different Perspective

Humor may lose edge without edginess.

3.3 out of 5 (7 ratings)

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