Wit & Observation Vocabulary

Self-aware confession of human weakness

“Wilde's wit: the admission is the joke.”

Origin: Oscar Wilde, Lady Windermere's Fan

Premature announcements of one's demise are wrong

“Twain's response to a newspaper's false obituary.”

Origin: Mark Twain (paraphrased from his actual statement)

Formal education is not the only—or best—form of learning

“Twain's distinction between credentials and actual knowledge.”

Origin: Mark Twain

Repetition without change produces no change

“Popular wisdom often attributed to Einstein.”

Origin: Unknown (commonly misattributed to Einstein)

Crises create openings for those who see them

“Einstein's insight on the productive side of problems.”

Origin: Albert Einstein

Good judgment is rarer than we assume

“Voltaire's wry observation on human foolishness.”

Origin: Voltaire

Authenticity is the only viable option

“Wilde's playful logic for originality.”

Origin: Oscar Wilde

Cynicism mistakes cost for worth

“Wilde on the impoverishment of purely economic thinking.”

Origin: Oscar Wilde, Lady Windermere's Fan