# The Author's Preface explained — The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman

> Chapter companion for The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman by Laurence Sterne.

## What happens

Tristram Shandy presents a playful preface on the relationship between wit and judgment, using the metaphor of two knobs on a chair to argue that they are meant to go together. He critiques those who claim that men of least wit have most judgment, lampooning various professions and philosophers, including John Locke, for perpetuating this fallacy.

## Themes in this chapter

### Knowledge and Philosophy

Tristram critiques philosophical systems, particularly Locke's error in accepting the false dichotomy between wit and judgment.

### The Absurdity of Systems

The preface mocks the systematic categorization of wit and judgment, using the chair knob metaphor to highlight the absurdity of separating them.

## Character check-ins

### Tristram Shandy

Narrator and author of the preface, reflecting on wit and judgment.

## Key lines

> How it comes to pass, that your men of least wit are reported to be men of most judgment.

Why are people with the least cleverness often said to have the most good sense?

_Central question of the preface, challenging a common assumption._

> Here stands wit — and there stands judgment, close beside it, just like the two knobs I'm speaking of, upon the back of this selfsame chair on which I am sitting.

Wit and judgment are like two decorative knobs on a chair, meant to be together.

_Key metaphor illustrating the interdependence of wit and judgment._

> The great Locke, who was seldom outwitted by false sounds—was nevertheless bubbled here.

Even the great philosopher John Locke was fooled by this false claim.

_Critique of Locke's acceptance of the wit-judgment dichotomy._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/the-author-s-preface
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/tristram_shandy_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters