Dn. Raphael Literally translated, it means “staircase wit.” As a French idiom it means to come up with an answer or think of a better answer to a question or comment after you left a conversation. The term was coined in the 1770s by Denis Diderot, philosopher, writer, and art critic.
If you are a fan of Jane Austin, you might be familiar with parties of the Enlightenment period. A favorite party pastime was exchanging witty comments, questions, and insults to others at the party. A reply was expected.
Diderot was unable to field a witty reply at a fashionable French party, so he left. It was then he started thinking of the perfect response. He gave it a name, l’esprit de l’escalier.
In that period of time the parlor, a favorite room for parties, was on the second floor. Staircase Wit begins as you descend downstairs and out the door.
English has no corresponding word or idiom for this concept. The closest is “hindsight.” But “staircase wit” is more focused. It is what could have been said.
And as evangelists, we will have many conversations where it is natural to think of a better response at a later time.
From time to time, you will have difficult conversations where you might think you said the wrong thing. I have written before that you probably did not say anything wrong. Nonetheless, it is natural to consider a better response. Thus, l’esprit de l’escalier.
Romans 8:28 says, “All things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose.”
Matthew 10:19 says, “…don’t worry about how to respond or what to say. God will give you the right words at the right time.”
As evangelists, let’s take these two verses to mean that you did not say the wrong thing. God will use your words to His glory. Could you have made a better reply? Maybe. Go ahead and ponder your staircase wit. It’s a good idea to be more prepared the next time the topic arises.
Don’t lose confidence. The Lord is behind your words as you plant seeds and proclaim the gospel.