_Puns_ and _Quibbles_ are what we call playing upon Words, or Equivocations; they are known by this, that being turned into another Language, they loose that resemblance of Sound wherein their subtilty consists; and as they affect the Ear more than the Mind, we must take care not to mistake them for true Jests. The pretended Beauty of Equivocations is only owing to Chance, which makes one and the same Word to signify several Things, and therefore their double Application is generally forc’d; but suppose it were true, _a Jest_ is still imperfect when it runs upon the Expression, and not upon the Thought. I confess an Equivocation may be allow’d of when it offers two different Ideas to our Mind, one of which is in a Proper, and the other in a Figurative Sense. But as for those miserable Puns and Quibbles, which are nothing but an empty gingle of Words, the _French_ have branded them with the infamous Name of _Turlupinades_; and they ought to be banished the Conversation of polite and well-bred Persons, as only fit to entertain the vulgar Sort. Les _Pointes_ & les _Rencontres_ sont ce qu’on appelle des _jeux de Mots_ ou des _Equivoques_; on les connoit par ceci, c’est qu’étant traduites en une autre Langue, elles perdent cette ressemblance de son dans laquelle leur subtilité consiste; & comme elles regardent plus l’Oreille que l’Esprit, nous devons prendre garde de ne pas les confondre avec les _veritables Bons Mots_. La pretenduë beauté des Equivoques n’est qu’un effet du hazard, qui fait qu’un même Mot signifie plusieurs choses; ainsi leur double application est presque toûjours forcée; mais supposé qu’elle fut juste, le Bon Mot est imparfait lors qu’il ne roule que sur l’Expression, & non par sur la Pensée. J’avouë que l’Equivoque peut être supportable lors qu’elle offre deux Idées differentes à nôtre Esprit, dont l’une est dans le sens propre & l’autre dans le sens Figuré: Mais pour ce qui est de ces mechantes Pointes, qui ne sont qu’un vain son de Mots, les _François_ les ont notées d’infamie sous le nom de _Turlupinades_, & elles doivent être bannies de la Conversation des gens polis & bien élevez, n’étant propres qu’à divertir le Vulgaire. Jests and wity Repartees have ever been more frequent among the ancient _Grecians_ than any other Nations: Which may be ascribed, first to the quickness of their Wit, their deep Learning, and good Education; secondly, to the constitution of their Government; for living for the most part in Common-wealths, they were not constrained in their Fancy by the Respect due to Sovereigns, and those whom they make sharers of their Authority in Monarchical States; wherein the different degrees establish’d among Men, do often keep Inferiours from speaking their Thoughts about the _Ridiculum_ of those above them.