icion in regard to a
Circumstance, shall act towards each other upon this Occasion, in the
same _odd whimsical_ manner, as _queer_ Persons.

If a _Person_ in real Life, discovers any odd and remarkable
_Features_ of Temper or Conduct, I call such a Person in the _Book_
of _Mankind_, a _Character_. So that the chief Subjects of HUMOUR are
Persons in real Life, who are _Characters_.

It is easy to be perceived, that HUMOUR, and WIT are extremely
different.

HUMOUR appears only in the _Foibles_ and _whimsical Conduct_ of
_Persons_ in real Life; WIT appears in _Comparisons_, either between
_Persons_ in real Life, or between _other Subjects_.

HUMOUR is the _whimsical Oddity_, or _Foible_, which fairly appears in
its Subject, of itself; whereas WIT, is the _Lustre_ which is thrown upon
_one_ Subject, by the _sudden Introduction_ of another Subject.

To constitute HUMOUR, there need be no more than _one_ Object
concern'd, and this must be always some _Person_ in _real Life_;--
whereas to produce WIT, there must be always _two_ Objects _arranged_
together, and either or both of these may be _inanimate_.

However, though HUMOUR and WIT are thus absolutely different in
themselves, yet we frequently see them blended together.

Thus if any _Foible_ of a _Character_ in real Life is _directly_
attacked, by pointing out the unexpected and ridiculous _Affinity_ it
bears to some _inanimate_ Circumstances, this Foible is then ridiculed
with WIT, from the _Comparison_ which is made.--At the same time, as
the _whimsical Oddity_ of a _Character_ in real Life is the _Ground_
of the whole, there is also _Humour_ contain'd in the Attack.

If instead of referring the _Foible_ of a Person to any _inanimate_
Circumstance, the _Allusion_ had been made to any other ridiculous
_Person_ in _real Life_; As a _conceited Fellow_, perpetually
recommending his own Whims, to a _Quack-Doctor_;--This _Foible_
will then be ridiculed with HUMOUR; which is likewise the original
_Ground_: At the same Time, from the _Comparison_ which is made, there
is apparently WIT in the Description.

So that where-ever the _Foible_ of a _Character_ in real Life is
concern'd, there HUMOUR comes in; and wherever a sprightly unexpected
_Arrangement_ is presented of two _similar_, or _opposite_ Subjects,
whether animate or inanimate, there WIT is exhibited.

HUMOUR and WIT, as they may thus both be united in the same Subject,
may also separately appear without the le