“Spirit of the staircase" or "Staircase inspiration”

— Denis Diderot

L'esprit de l'escalier
This phrase is a famous allusion to the witty remarks one thinks of when it is too late, as when one is leaving a meeting and going down the stairs. Paradoxe sur le Comédien (1773-1777)

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L'esprit de l'escalier

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Denis Diderot 106

French Enlightenment philosopher and encyclopædist 1713–1784

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