Intelligence Quotes
Quotation is a serviceable substitute for wit.
"Quotation is a serviceable substitute for wit."— Oscar Wilde
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Meaning of this quote
Borrowing an effective line can create an appearance of cleverness. The observation distinguishes quoting well from generating original wit.
Key takeaway:
Use quotations thoughtfully while developing your own expression.
Origin of the quote
Adapted from W. Somerset Maugham’s revised The Creative Impulse (1931).
Who actually said this?
Likely misattributedQuote Investigator traces the underlying phrase to Maugham and finds no substantive Wilde evidence. The posted aphorism shortens the original narrative sentence.
