Humour is consistent with pathos, whilst wit is not.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Humour can coexist with deep emotion or sadness, but wit often cannot because it relies on cleverness that distances from feeling. Humour allows for emotional depth where wit does not.
- In plain terms
- Humour works with sadness but wit usually does not.
- What can you take from it?
- Use humour when you need to balance levity with emotion.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- When is wit appropriate versus humour?
- How do you blend tones?
Another view
Some forms of wit can be deeply emotional depending on context.
More from Samuel Taylor Coleridge
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