Cutting Quote by Jonathan Swift
“It is with wits as with razors, which are never so apt to cut those they are employed on as when they have lost their edge.”
About This Quote
A metaphor comparing wit to a dull razor, suggesting it loses effectiveness when not sharp.
In simple terms: Wit loses power when it's not sharp.
Key Takeaway
Keep your mind sharp.
Themes
wit
sharpness
effectiveness
Mood
thoughtful
critical
Type
philosophical
advice
When to use this quote
- debating
- writing
- solving problems
- teaching
- learning
Key Concepts
metaphor
critical thinking
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you maintain mental sharpness?
- When is restraint more valuable than wit?
A Different Perspective
Wit can be misused if not tempered.
![“Since I worked with Danny Boyle before on Slumdog Millionaire, we have great success and everything. So, when I first got the script and the screenplay of Simon (Beaufoy) and I was reading it, even before the shoot, some kind of sounds came into my mind and I put some stuff [down] and sent it to…” quote by A. R. Rahman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/573/a-r-rahman-4481_cutting_since-i-worked-with-danny-boyle-before-o_539.jpg)
![“We have no clear ideas of the agency of [demonic] spirits, nor is it necessary. The Scripture says little to satisfy our curiosity; but tells us plainly that he is always watching us, and desiring to sift us as wheat. I believe we give him no more than his due, when we charge him with having a…” quote by John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c75/john-newton-6629_abundance_we-have-no-clear-ideas-of-the-agency-of_2907.jpg)
