"We do not joke," said Nessus. "My species has no sense of humor." "Strange. I would have thought that humor was an aspect of intelligence." "No. Humor is assoc

"We do not joke," said Nessus. "My species has no sense of humor." "Strange. I would have thought that humor was an aspect of intelligence." "No. Humor is associated with an interrupted defense mechanism." "All the same--" "Speaker, no sapient being ever interrupts a defense mechanism." -- Ringworld