This principle of humor which is, of course, the rock bottom theory of the feeling of superiority induced by the discomfiture of the other man, often pins the jest on the pedant or scholar by way of emphasizing the point.
Hierocles was an Alexandrian Neoplatonic philosopher who lived in the Fifth Century A.D.
With authorship of the usual legendary haziness the collection may not have been made by him at all, but it passes for his work.
The stories themselves came into popular knowledge among the churchmen of the Middle Ages, and in their existing form probably date about the ninth century.
As will be seen from the following examples, many of the jests are still being used as the basis of Twentieth century after dinner stories and Comic Weekly jokes.
Jests of Hierocles
A scholar meeting a physician, said, I beg your pardon for never being sick, though you are one of my best friends.
A scholar wishing to catch a mouse that eats his books, baited and set a trap, and sat by it to watch.