"A wit should be no more sincere than a woman constant"

This quote by William Congreve is a tip that wit and sincerity need to not be taken too seriously. Congreve is suggesting that a wit needs to not be too genuine, as sincerity can be taken too far and lead to a lack of humor. Similarly, he is recommending that a female ought to not be too consistent, as constancy can cause a lack of spontaneity and enjoyment. Congreve is recommending that both wit and constancy need to be well balanced, which neither need to be taken too seriously. He is recommending that a sense of humor and a sense of spontaneity need to be preserved in order to keep life interesting. This quote is a reminder that life must be delighted in which we should not take ourselves too seriously.