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Punning is an art of harmonious jingling upon words, which, passing in at the ears, excites a titillary motion in those parts; and this, being conveyed by the animal spirits into the muscles of the face, raises the cockles of the heart.
Jonathan Swift
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Punning is a clever play on words that brings joy and amusement to people.

In this quote, Jonathan Swift describes punning as a creative and harmonious use of language that stimulates both the mind and emotions. He suggests that the enjoyment of puns not only entertains but also elicits physical reactions and uplifts the spirit, highlighting the profound impact that wordplay can have on our overall well-being.

Themes

PunningArtHumorLanguageJoy

In practice

Example use cases

A comedian might quote this to emphasize the joy of wordplay during a stand-up routine.

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I'm as old as my tongue and a little older than my teeth.
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