Instead of automatically reacting with sarcasm 

or trying to be clever, think again.

Will our wit ridicule another?

Will our sarcasm harm the listener? 

For varied reasons, ranging from wanting to make others laugh to being considered witty, or simply being frustrated with a situation, we can find ourselves using sarcasm. But what is sarcasm? It is yet another manifestation of anger. We may view ourselves as amusing, but we’re heedlessly belittling another person or some situation. There’s a valid reason why the Greeks defined sarcasm as “tearing flesh.” 

Before glibly tossing out another sarcastic quip, we need to figure out why we feel inclined to do so.

So that others will laugh? 

So that they think we’re sophisticated with our rapier wit? 

Surely, we can manage to make others laugh without resorting to disrespect or ridicule. We also need to remind ourselves that our sharp remarks subtly nurture tension in others and plant seeds for our own future belittlement.