What is "ladder wit"?
Why can't we answer quickly?
You are not worried if you could not immediately refute a ridiculous argument or respond to a caustic joke. Or they kept silent in response to an insulting attack. Only then came the witty answers. When you have already left your opponent and time has passed. How stupid it turned out! How could you knock a joker or a debater on the spot with your answer! But don't come back ... The train left. And great people were able to answer - how many aphorisms remained from their disputes, in which they always put!
Nothing of the kind. The philosopher Diderot, the luminary of reason, came up with a name for this phenomenon: "ladder wit". In the living room he could not answer his opponent in an argument. And so he left, stupidly silent. It was only on the stairs, when he was descending, that a witty answer came to his head. But it was ridiculous to go back to the apartment and blurt out my argument. And Diderot bitterly admitted it. The philosopher Rousseau generally became a misanthrope; he wrote well, but could not respond quickly with a witty remark. And he often looked stupid in an argument. Therefore, I gave good advice: it is better to answer in writing. More time for reflection!
This is how the brain of smart people works. The fool immediately blurts out whatever comes into his head. And does not waste energy thinking about an argument or insult. The smarter a person is, the longer he delves into the essence of another's words. And then he looks for the most correct answer out of hundreds of options. Plus, he's polite! And, of course, he wastes time to answer. When the developed brain finally found the best option, we were already down the stairs. We got out of the situation. And then our developed brain begins to simply bombard us with brilliant remarks and witty arguments. Only after a fight they don't wave their fists, do they? So it has been proven: all the most witty jokes and arguments of great people were invented by them and written later. So do it - describe the situation in writing or tell a friend, and then add your excellent answer. Complete the story correctly! So one little girl told her mother how the nanny rudely scolded her in the kindergarten or the teacher made an unfair remark. And then, so that my mother would not be upset, she added: “And then I said to Nina Ivanovna like this! And everyone laughed, and she blushed! ". Mom admired her daughter's resourcefulness and praised her for her witty and polite answer. Therefore, this girl has achieved a lot in life. Although, all the same, her wit remained "ladder" - this is the lot of all smart people.
Don't be upset. "Ladder wit" is inherent in smart and well-mannered people. And we can come up with an answer later. Maybe he will become an aphorism, a catch phrase. And it will help someone out in a difficult situation ...