The nature of wit is such that its bite must be like that of a sheep rather than a dog, for if it were to bite the listener like a dog, it would no longer be wit but abuse.
Essere la natura de' motti cotale, che essi come la pecora morde deono cosi mordere l'uditore, e non come 'l cane: percio che, se come cane mordesse il motto, non sarebbe motto, ma villania.
Original text (Italian)
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Notes from Wikiquote
The nature of a witticism is this, that it nips the hearer like a sheep, does not bite him like a dog: for if a witticism were to bite like a dog, it would no longer be witty, but malicious. (tr. Harbottle and Dalbiac)