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How did William Hazlitt distinguish humor from wit?
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The American standup comedian and author George Carlin performed a famous routine about words that cannot be said on television.
In his essay "On Wit and Humour," William Hazlitt provides a classic distinction between the two concepts based on their origins and methods:
- Humour is described as the observation of the ludicrous as it exists naturally; it is considered the growth of nature and accident.
- Wit is the act of exposing the ludicrous by comparing or contrasting it with something else; it is viewed as a product of art and fancy.
Essentially, Hazlitt suggests that while humour is found within the subject itself, wit requires a conscious, creative effort to highlight or sharpen that absurdity through external comparison.1