Project Gutenberg 2004-09-17 Public domain in the USA. 128 Blackmore, Richard, Sir 1654 1729 Blackmore, Sir Richard Blacmorus, Richardus Boys, Richard C. (Richard Charles) 1912 1975 Boys, Richard Charles Addison, Joseph 1672 1719 Bickerstaff, Isaac 48004102 Essay upon Wit Los Angeles : $b The Augustan Reprint Society, $c 1946 Augustan Reprint Society, publication number 01 Date of origin 1716 Commentary by Addison from Freeholder, No. 45, 1716 E-text prepared by S. R. Ellison, David Starner, and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team "Essay upon Wit" by Sir Richard Blackmore is a philosophical treatise written in the early 18th century during the Augustan period. This essay delves into the nature of wit, its implications for morality, and its role in society, reflecting the tensions of the time between intellectual pursuits and moral considerations. The book aims to explore how wit can be both a delightful ornament in conversation and a potential source of vice if misapplied. In this essay, Blackmore presents a detailed analysis of wit, defining it as a quality that enlivens thoughts and adds an enjoyable flair to otherwise mundane subjects. He discusses the dual nature of wit, acknowledging its capacity to bring joy and alacrity while also cautioning against its misuse, which can lead to immoral or irreverent behavior. Blackmore criticizes the tendency of some wits to ridicule serious subjects and advocates for a responsible application of wit that uplifts and instructs rather than demeans or corrupts. Through various examples, including the influence of comedies and societal norms, the author argues for a more conscientious use of this talent, emphasizing that true value lies not in mere amusement but in the moral upliftment of society. (This is an automatically generated summary.) Reading ease score: 27.4 (College graduate level). Very difficult to read. en Wit and humor PR Text Browsing: Humour Browsing: Literature Category: Essays, Letters & Speeches Category: Philosophy & Ethics 99043 2025-06-21T21:25:43.020237 text/html 99041 98864 2024-11-06T08:13:52.235373 2023-10-06T09:21:49.838774 text/html text/html 109236 2025-06-21T21:25:57.754162 application/epub+zip 108089 2025-06-21T21:25:51.400192 application/epub+zip 104833 2025-06-21T21:25:46.370215 application/epub+zip 194690 2025-06-21T21:26:03.470142 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 185943 2025-06-21T21:25:57.057171 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 157986 2022-09-07T02:24:51.364967 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 88872 2025-06-21T21:25:42.644229 text/plain; charset=us-ascii 68919 2024-10-28T20:26:41 text/plain; charset=us-ascii 12816 2025-06-21T21:26:03.632128 application/rdf+xml 11890 2025-06-21T21:25:50.787192 image/jpeg 3225 2025-06-21T21:25:50.504195 image/jpeg 106864 2025-06-21T21:25:43.031223 application/octet-stream application/zip Archives containing the RDF files for *all* our books can be downloaded at https://book.klll.cc/wiki/Gutenberg:Feeds#The_Complete_Project_Gutenberg_Catalog en.wikipedia en.wikipedia