“Accept a miracle instead of wit,—
See two dull lines with Stanhope's pencil writ.”
Lines written with the Diamond Pencil of Lord Chesterfield; reported in Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. (1919).
Help us to complete the source, original and additional information
Edward Young 110
English poet 1683–1765Related quotes

“Manner is all in all, whate'er is writ,
The substitute for genius, sense, and wit.”
Source: Table Talk (1782), Line 542.

The Rubaiyat (1120)

“Who can prove
Wit to be witty when with deeper ground
Dulness intuitive declares wit dull?”
A College Breakfast-party, reported in Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. (1919)
Scenes of Clerical Life (1858)

“O learn to read what silent love hath writ: To hear with eyes belongs to love´s fine wit.”
Source: Sonnet XXIII
Context: As an unperfect actor on the stage,
Who with his fear is put besides his part,
Or some fierce thing replete with too much rage,
Whose strength’s abundance weakens his own heart;
So I, for fear of trust, forget to say
The perfect ceremony of love’s right,
And in mine own love’s strength seem to decay,
O’ercharged with burthen of mine own love’s might.
O, let my books be then the eloquence
And dumb presagers of my speaking breast;
Who plead for love, and look for recompense,
More than that tongue that more hath more express’d.
O, learn to read what silent love hath writ:
To hear with eyes belongs to love’s fine wit.
“Are you slow-witted? I'm so sorry for you. It's terrible to be dull and stupid.”
Source: The Book of Three

“As a wit, if not first, in the very first line.”
Source: Retaliation (1774), Line 96.