The Art of Insult: The Countess & the Clown

In William Shakespeare’s “All’s Well That End’s Well”, Act 2, Scene 2, we have the Countess and the clown, at the Count’s palace.

The Countess says, “Come on, sir; I shall now put you to the height of your breeding,” which is a subtle put down, an insult on his lowly status.

The Clown replies, “I will show myself highly fed and lowly taught: I know my business is but to the court.”  He is aping the countess, and is telling her that she is fat and stupid.

Next, time, instead of telling someone they are fat and stupid, which will get you in trouble, you could say they are highly fed, and lowly taught.