Pope Alexander VII. asking the celebrated Greek, Leo Allatius, why he did not enter into orders? he answered, Because I desire to have it in my power to marry if I chuse. The pope adding, And why do you not marry? Leo replied, Because I desire to have it in my power to enter into orders if I chuse.
Erasmus, himself a Satirist, collected thousands of the jests of the Greeks and Romans. These more often noted the wit than the witlessness of the speakers and include all degrees of wit from mere whimsicality to sharpest satire.
Some of the best ones follow.
GREEK
A friend asking him how great glory was procured, Agesilaus answered, By contempt of death.
Being asked the boundaries of the Spartan state, he answered, The points of our spears.