"A wit with dunces, and a dunce with wits"

This quote by Alexander Pope is a suggestion that intelligence and wit are not constantly discovered in the very same location. A wit is someone who is smart and has a sharp mind, while a dunce is someone who is not very smart. Pope is suggesting that an individual who is intelligent may not constantly be surrounded by other smart people, and likewise, somebody who is not really smart might not constantly be surrounded by other individuals who are not really smart. This quote is a reminder that intelligence and wit are not always found in the exact same place, and that it is essential to be aware of individuals we surround ourselves with. It is essential to be conscious of the company we keep, and to be familiar with the effect that our peers can have on our own intelligence and wit.