Go to What I SHOULD Have Said... main page
Here is one story retold,
albeit with a pithier ending:
From Reddy:
Mrs. Edwards
What happened: Anne Coulter was doing her usual blab while on Larry King. John edwards wife called in and spoke to her about her lack of manners in bringing up personal issues. Mrs. edwards made some comment about how the people in her life would react. Mrs. Coulter replied that she could not be in that crowd because she didn't have enough money.
What I said: Mrs. edwards made no comment.
What I SHOULD have said: What Mrs. Edwards should have said, was, I wasn't referring to money, I was referring to class, and yes, you are right, you don't have enough
L'esprit d'escalier
The French call it l'esprit d'escalier, "the wit of the staircase," those biting ripostes that are thought of just seconds too late, on the way out of the room-or even, to tell the truth, days later. It's happened to you: you've suddenly thought of just what would put your foe in his or her place, but past the time when the arrow could sting its victim. You've stewed in your own juice ever since, and the chance for singeing repartee is gone forever.
Or is it?
Dorothy Parker or Oscar Wilde may have had the rapier wit to tweak their tormentors on the spot, but for the rest of us, we offer the Internet's only L'esprit d'escalier web site!
