Page:Freud - Wit and its relation to the unconscious.djvu/146

 lay above all things a good foundation, and I know of no firmer than by laying immediately over every pro-layer a contra-layer.” “One man begets the thought, the second acts as its godfather, the third begets children by it, the fourth visits it on its death-bed, and the fifth buries it” (comparison with unification). “Not only did he disbelieve in ghosts, but he was not ever afraid of them.” The witticism in this case lies exclusively in the absurd representation which puts what is usually considered less important in the comparative and what is considered more important in the positive degree. If we divest it of its dress it says: it is much easier to use our reason and make light of the fear of ghosts than to defend ourselves against this fear when the occasion presents itself. But this rendering is no longer witty; it is merely a correct and still too little respected psychological fact suggesting what Lessing expresses in his well-known words: “Not all are free who mock their chains.” Harmless and Tendency Wit I shall take the opportunity presented here of clearing up what may still lead to a possible misunderstanding. “