Humor Quote by Robertson Davies
““Subtle wits like to refresh themselves with a whiff of mild indecency.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Fifth Business, 1970
A witty observation that clever people often indulge in mild, harmless mischief to keep their minds sharp.
In simple terms: Smart people enjoy small, playful mischief.
Key Takeaway
Allow yourself harmless fun to stay mentally agile.
Themes
humor
creativity
human nature
playfulness
self‑care
Mood
lighthearted
insightful
reflective
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- creative work
- social gatherings
- personal downtime
- learning environments
Key Concepts
mischief
intellectual curiosity
mental refreshment
Questions to Reflect On
- When does playful behavior cross a line?
- How can humor be used constructively?
A Different Perspective
Excessive mischief may become disruptive.
![“As an actor, if you step to the side and you look at [Thornton's performance] technically, and you try to imagine doing what he was doing, most people would panic. Most people would be on the set, and they would be panicking, going, "I'm not doing anything!" All the ham instincts in you would be…” quote by Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f09/edward-norton-2203_actors_as-an-actor-if-you-step-to-the-side-and_15751.jpg)
![“[S]ometimes, when you are a food person, the possible irrelevance of what you are doing doesn’t cross your mind until it’s too late. (Once, for example, when I was just starting out in the food business, I was hired by the caper people to develop a lot of recipes using capers, and it was weeks of…” quote by Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d79/nora-ephron-1217_business_s-ometimes-when-you-are-a-food-person-th_980.jpg)
