--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit, but…" description: "\"“Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit, but the highest form of intelligence.”\" — Oscar Wilde" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/824/oscar-wilde-16_intelligence_sarcasm-is-the-lowest-form-of-wit-but-th_392501.jpg" --- # Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit, but the highest form of… ![“Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit, but the highest form of intelligence.” quote by Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/824/oscar-wilde-16_intelligence_sarcasm-is-the-lowest-form-of-wit-but-th_392501.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/824/oscar-wilde-16_intelligence_sarcasm-is-the-lowest-form-of-wit-but-th_392501.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/824/oscar-wilde-16_intelligence_sarcasm-is-the-lowest-form-of-wit-but-th_392501.jpg) > ““Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit, but the highest form of intelligence.”” [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Sarcasm is a cheap wit but can reveal sharp intelligence when used skillfully. **In simple terms:** Sarcasm is low wit, high intelligence. Key Takeaway Use wit wisely, not merely to mock. Themes wit intelligence humor communication social critique Mood playful critical Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - social gatherings - debates - writing workshops - online commentary Key Concepts literary criticism philosophy of language Questions to Reflect On - When does sarcasm enhance a point? - How can humor be both sharp and kind? A Different Perspective Sarcasm can alienate and damage relationships if overused. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence/) [Sarcasm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sarcasm/) ## Related quotes > [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/) > [“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/) > [They say sarcasm is the lowest form of wit," Valkyrie said. China glanced at her. "They've obviously never met me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/they-say-sarcasm-is-the-lowest-form-of-wit-valkyrie-said-china/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [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/) > [Pun: A form of wit, to which wise men stoop and fools aspire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/pun-a-form-of-wit-to-which-wise-men-stoop-and-fools-aspire/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [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/) > [You know, sarcasm is the lowest form of wit.' 'And yet it is still extremely funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecelia-ahern/you-know-sarcasm-is-the-lowest-form-of-wit-and-yet-it-is-still/) [Cecelia Ahern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecelia-ahern/) > [Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit. So said by the idiot who can't understand it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramandeep-singh/sarcasm-is-the-lowest-form-of-wit-so-said-by-the-idiot-who-can-t/) [Ramandeep Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramandeep-singh/) > [Sarcasm is the lowest form of humor but the highest form of flattery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/sarcasm-is-the-lowest-form-of-humor-but-the-highest-form-of-flattery/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Kindness is the highest form of intelligence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-teasdale/kindness-is-the-highest-form-of-intelligence/) [Wayne Teasdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-teasdale/) > [Compassion is the highest form of intelligence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/compassion-is-the-highest-form-of-intelligence/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Love is the highest form of intelligence we can experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pierrakos/love-is-the-highest-form-of-intelligence-we-can-experience/) [John Pierrakos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pierrakos/) > [The ability to observe without evaluating is the highest form of intelligence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-ability-to-observe-without-evaluating-is-the-highest-form-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“All of us have access to a higher form of intelligence, one that can allow us to see more of the world, to anticipate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/all-of-us-have-access-to-a-higher-form-of-intelligence-one-that-can/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [“Science suggests that intuition or whole-body learning is a real form of intelligence, and it works on a far larger scale than most of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcia-conner/science-suggests-that-intuition-or-whole-body-learning-is-a-real-form/) [Marcia Conner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcia-conner/) ## More by Oscar Wilde > [How else but through a broken heart may Lord Christ enter in?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/how-else-but-through-a-broken-heart-may-lord-christ-enter-in/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [The books that the world calls immoral are the books that show the world its own shame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/the-books-that-the-world-calls-immoral-are-the-books-that-show-the/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Bachelors should be heavily taxed. It is not fair that some men should be happier than others](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/bachelors-should-be-heavily-taxed-it-is-not-fair-that-some-men-should/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Who, being loved, is poor?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/who-being-loved-is-poor/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Basil my dear boy puts everything that is charming in him into his work. The consequence is that he has nothing left for life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/basil-my-dear-boy-puts-everything-that-is-charming-in-him-into-his/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Anybody can be good in the country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/anybody-can-be-good-in-the-country/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [I don't at all like knowing what people say of me behind my back. 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