Quotes by Philistines Witticism. A sharp and clever remark, usually quoted and seldom noted; what the Philistine is pleased to call a joke. Ambrose Bierce philistines remarks clever A country of inveterate, backwoods, thick-headed, egotistic philistines Vladimir Lenin backwoods philistines country Those Eggheadsareterrible Philistines. A realgood head is not oval but round. Vladimir Nabokov oval philistines rounds Nothing is more exhilarating than philistine vulgarity. Vladimir Nabokov vulgarity philistines vulgarity-is