Allowance Quote by Virginia Woolf
“Old Madame du Deffand and her friends talked for fifty years without stopping. And of it all, what remains? Perhaps three witty sayings. So that we are at liberty to suppose either that nothing was said, or that nothing witty was said, or that the fraction of three witty sayings lasted eighteen thousand two hundred and fifty nights, which does not leave a liberal allowance of wit for any one of them.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: Mrs Dalloway, Virginia Woolf, 1925
Even after decades of conversation, only a few witty remarks endure, highlighting the fleeting nature of wit.
In simple terms: Only a few witty lines survive long talks.
Key Takeaway
Value and remember the sharpest insights.
Themes
conversation
wit
memory
longevity
Mood
thoughtful
nostalgic
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- social gatherings
- literary analysis
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
Ephemerality
Cultural legacy
Humor
Questions to Reflect On
- Which witty moments have shaped your life?
- How do you preserve fleeting ideas?
A Different Perspective
Wit can be lost without preservation.
