Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 3: A little theory
• Method 2 of 3: Expressing your wit
• Method 3 of 3: Thinking Creatively

Many would like to become more witty, but hesitate to develop such a skill. Some people believe that the ability to issue sharp remarks is innate and not amenable to development. Undoubtedly, wit is given to some more naturally than others, but like most skills, it can be improved.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: A little theory

1. 1 Types of wit. There are a couple of close but different ideas about wit, as well as many ways of expressing it. Before you get down to business, you should decide what it means to "develop wit".
   • An amazingly funny way of speaking, which is distinguished by a skillful and unexpected expression of thought: Perhaps the most common meaning of the word today, which most people put into the concept of "being witty."
   • General mental abilities of a person; ability to reason; intelligence: It is implied in the phrases “not to lose your head”, “to be discerning”, “to figure out to do something” or, on the contrary, “to be narrow-minded”.
   • The art of juggling words; dexterous language skills: As in the epithet “wit”.
   • Aphorism: A short phrase that succinctly expresses a well-known truth. Here are some examples: “Sages do not seek advice, and fools do not heed them” (Benjamin Franklin), “Beauty is superficial, but ugliness is deep” (Dorothy Parker).
   • Epigram: A short, deep, usually sarcastic remark; a short poem on one topic, the ending of which is often accompanied by an unexpected or subtle twist. Here is a famous epigram by Dorothy Parker about Oscar Wilde: “You are tormented in trying to express yourself brightly, but Oscar has already invented the necessary one with brilliance”.
   • Sharpness: A short, mocking answer or remark. For example, in response to a witty remark by the artist James McNeill Whistler, Oscar Wilde remarked: “It's a shame it wasn't me who said that”; to which Whistler retorted: "You will say more, Oscar, you will say more."
   • Tightness: A common word for any witty remark; synonym for "mockery".
2. 2 Watch witty people. Think about which of your acquaintances you think is witty, and then try to understand why you think so. What personal traits make them interesting or surprising conversationalists? Highlight specific points; When learning something new, you first need to break it down into small parts for better understanding and reproduction.
3. 3 Be curious. Witty people continually ask questions and constantly learn - if you accept everything as it is and do not use curiosity, then you will not know the talent of sharp remarks.As Dorothy Parker wrote: “Wit carries truth; sharp remarks are just skillful juggling with words. "To say interesting things, a person must be an interesting and interested interlocutor.
   • Indulge in your obsessions. Identify your passions and dive into them. Learn new things constantly. The better you understand the subject, the richer your arsenal of apt remarks.
   • Listen and show genuine interest in the people around you. Surely you have acquaintances who are so absorbed in pondering the next joke that they often even drop out of the conversation. Is such a person perceived as witty? Hardly. Most witty people are keen observers of the world around them. In fact, your interlocutors are partners in improvisation - without proper attention to them, you will not be able to find a resourceful answer.
   • Use critical and creative thinking. Aristotle called wit "learned arrogance." Thinking about people like Louis CK, George Carlin, Sarah Silverman and Richard Pryor, it's hard to disagree with the Greek philosopher. These free-thinking comedians use unexpected, prickly critiques of the status quo as the basis of their humor. Think about the injustice of this world that torments you and try to find an original way to present this problem.
4. 4 Immerse yourself in wit. As Oscar Wilde observed, "Quoting is a powerful substitute for wit." Ideally, immersing yourself in a wide variety of examples of wit will help you gradually understand it from the inside out; in case of failure, you can always take advantage of Wilde's advice and stock up on other people's sharp quotes.
   • Read books. The story goes that many fine examples of wit are born in literature. Start reading by authors such as Dorothy Parker, Vladimir Nabokov, P.J. Woodhouse, William Shakespeare, Jane Austen, Kurt Vonnegut, James Joyce, Voltaire, Gertrude Stein, George Eliot, May West, and Oscar Wilde.
   • Watch pop comedies. Comedians make a living with their wit, so you can learn a lot from them. The most prominent comedians are George Carlin, Lenny Bruce, Richard Pryor, Sarah Silverman, Jerry Seinfeld, Mitch Hedberg, Maria Bamford, Ellen DeGeneres and Greg Prups.
   • Watch movies and TV series. You can learn a lot of witty things from comedy films and TV shows. Examples include TV Host, The Princess Bride, Monty Python, Studio 30, Fraser, The Office, Colbert Report, Daily Show, Last Week's Events, Doctor Strangelove, Strangers with Candy, The Importance of Being Earnest, In The Loop, and any Woody Allen movie.

Method 2 of 3: Expressing your wit

1. 1 Respect others. Some people think that wit implies rudeness and acrimony. Undoubtedly, there are many examples of witty remarks based on ridiculing others, but wit has nothing to do with cruelty. Therefore, everything has its time and place, including ambiguous remarks with sharp revelations. If you are going to make fun of others, then make it a rule to make fun of yourself. Diluting sarcastic comments about other people with self-critical jokes about yourself seems fair and not so offensive. After all, if you distance yourself from people, no one can appreciate your wit.
2. 2 Express your confidence. Of course, genuine confidence is always preferable to any pretense, but many witty people constantly doubt themselves. If you dissolve into the background or not believe in your own jokes, it will be difficult for people to relax and appreciate your wit.It is also easy to become a repulsively arrogant person, although a lot of witty people (Woody Allen, Mitch Hedberg, David Sedaris) deliberately create a reputation for being neurotic to achieve comedic effect. That being said, they know how to deliver their jokes with enough confidence that their viewers will laugh and not feel embarrassed by the words they hear. There is no need to be afraid. If you pretend for a long time, then you yourself will believe it; By expressing feigned confidence, over time you will have real courage. Stand up straight, smile, speak clearly and slowly. These moments play an important role in the perception of your jokes.
3. 3 Don't talk too much. Perhaps the most famous quote about wit is found in Shakespeare's Hamlet: "Brevity is the soul of wit." Contemporary writing George Saunders has developed this idea a little: "Humor is when we speak the truth faster and more frankly than usual." The best taunts are characterized by brevity and concentration of meaning; no need to drown a thought in a sea of ​​words. Wit is a nice addition to a conversation, not a key part of it.
4. 4 Expand your vocabulary. Wit is largely based on dexterity, so expanding your vocabulary is vital. There are many vocabulary learning apps to help you. You can also open a regular dictionary of synonyms and make a list of words that you want to add to your active vocabulary (“active vocabulary” is the words that you use in everyday speech, and the opposite of “passive vocabulary” means words that you recognize when reading or speaking, but do not use it in speech).

Method 3 of 3: Thinking Creatively

1. 1 Play lateral thinking games. This type of thinking is the ability to solve problems by making connections between seemingly incoherent things; it is the foundation of all creativity. Not everyone is capable of thinking outside the box, but this skill can be developed.
   • Stock up on pen and paper and come up with five random, unrelated nouns. In about 30 seconds, jot down a list of actions for each word. Give freedom to creativity; dispense with the obvious. Now select two items from your list and use the following possible steps to compose an original joke. Here is an example of a joke that comedian Max Matterson created in this way: “What do a pencil and a judge have in common? They always have the last word. ” It can be difficult at first, but the skill of the master is challenging.
   • Make a list of random items with a friend. Write one word on one leaf, fold each leaf and place them in a vase. Take out a random leaf and note one minute. During this time, you need to come up with as many uses of this word as possible. Read from aloud, crossing out overlapping options. The winner is the one whose list of remaining options is longer.
   • Come up with a random word and ask a friend to do the same. On the count of three, say the invented word at the same time. Then, on the count of three, you need to say a word that has something to do with the two words from the first round. Continue until, at the end, you come to a common word. So you will learn to find non-obvious connections between concepts and objects.
2. 2 Thinking outside the box. They are also designed to improve your ability to see connections between seemingly incoherent ideas, and in addition to develop your improvisational skills. They are usually a “yes” or “no” dialogue between the questioner and the responder, but you can add your own rules and use the clues you understand to find answers. Do not hurry; the questions have a double bottom and should be confusing. You can read the question in the morning and then ponder during the day.If you find a suitable answer that does not match the answer of the author of the question, then that's just fine! Undoubtedly a creative solution (many similar problems can be found on the Internet).
   • The man lives on the tenth floor. Every day he takes the elevator downstairs to go to work or to the store. Returning, he takes the elevator to the seventh floor and then goes on foot. He doesn't like to walk, so why is he acting like that? Find the answer yourself.
   • A man walks into a bar and asks the bartender for a glass of water. The bartender takes a gun and aims at the man. The man says "thank you" and leaves. Why? Find the answer yourself.
   • The large wooden shed is empty except for a dead man hanged in the middle of the central rafter. The rope around his neck is 3 meters long and his legs are one meter above the floor. The nearest wall is 6 meters away. You cannot climb walls or rafters. The man hanged himself. How did he do it? Find the answer yourself.
3. 3 Games for improvisation. They are designed to make you think on the go, without having time to consider options. If you have not managed to find like-minded friends, then such games can be played over the Internet. Remember, the most important rule of improvisation is to say “yes, and ...” If your partner starts a scene in which they are trying to return something to the vault, then you don’t need to say, “What are you talking about? This is not a repository! ”. This may sound ridiculous at first, but your partner may feel uncomfortable and the phrase will not allow the situation to develop. Instead, accept the premise and keep building on that foundation.
   • Park bench: Place two chairs next to each other. First, a person sits on one of the chairs. Then the second person enters, sits on a chair next to the first, and the scene on the park bench begins. The task of the second person is to scare away the one who first sat down on the bench. When the deed is done, the second is transplanted to the place of the first, and a new person enters the room, who must also scare away the one sitting on the bench.
   • Only questions: This is a very simple game in which two participants act out a scene using only questions. When one gets confused and answers not in the form of a question, he flies out, and a new participant takes his place.
   • Alphabet: It is also a very simple game in which two people act out a scene where the first word of each sentence must begin with the next letter of the alphabet. The first one can say: “Today is good weather”, to which the second one can answer: “It would be better without the wind”. The answer to the first player is: “You are constantly complaining”, and the second answers: “I say it as it is”. When someone gets confused or confused, a new player takes his place and everything starts all over again.
   • From truth to untruth: Start with a known fact like “the pizza is delicious” or “the cats are cute,” and then act out a scene where the fact is no longer true.
   • Boredom: Come up with a boring challenge, then act out a scene in which she turns into the goal of an epic adventure.
4. 4 Pour yourself a drink: This is not a requirement and should not be emphasized, but a little alcohol can help you relax by encouraging creative thinking. According to Benjamin Errett, author of The Ingredients of Wit: How to Be an Interesting Person, a couple of glasses won't hurt if you know how to stop. “I have done some research and I have come to the conclusion that people become wittiest after two drinks. If you drink more, you stop seeing yourself from the outside ”.