I just remembered a reply by George Bernard Shaw to someone who said to him: "Your latest play stinks." To which GBS replied:"True, but fortunately only you and I think so."
What rhetoric devices are used in the retort. (I have no idea.)
That reminds me of a Winston Churchill story
Whilst at some extremely posh function WC was indulging in his usual heroic consumption of brandy and weaving around the place a bit , upon seeing this the hostess Lady something-or -other strolled up to WC
and said loudly and disapprovingly "YOU SIR ARE DRUNK!" to which WC replied "AND YOU MADAM ARE UGLY BUT I WILL BE SOBER IN THE MORNING"
the Duncster
Which reminds me of another Churchill, W riposte.
Lady Astor to WC: Sir, if you were my husband, I'd put poison in your tea.
To which WC replied: Madam, if you were my wife, I would drink it.
When Winston Churchill, whose mother was American, visited in Virginia in the early 1920s, an arrogant FFV hostess corrected him when he asked for "some of the breast meat." She frostily informed him that in Virginia, that item was referred to as "the white meat."
The next day he sent the hostess a corsage, with a note expressing the hope that she would pin it over her white meat.
In reply to:
Whilst at some extremely posh function WC was indulging in his usual heroic consumption of brandy and weaving around the place a bit , upon seeing this the hostess Lady something-or -other strolled up to WC
and said loudly and disapprovingly "YOU SIR ARE DRUNK!" to which WC replied "AND YOU MADAM ARE UGLY BUT I WILL BE SOBER IN THE MORNING"
If I remember rightly, the lady in question was called Lady Bossom. On another of their run-ins Churchill said:
"Bossom, Bossom? What kind of a name is that? Neither one thing nor the other."
Bingley
This ability at riposte must come from practice in the House of Commons.
The classic rejoinder in House of Commons debate was,
"Sir, you will meet your end either from the pox or on the gallows!"
[Instantaneous response] "Sir, that depends on whether I embrace your mistress or your principles."
I forget who the participants in that one were, [who will enlighten us?] but it's hard to beat.
Above response was to John Montagu, Earl of Sandwich, by the political reformer John Wilkes.
As to Churchill:
Dowager at dinner party: Lieutenant, I care for neither your politics nor your moustache!
Young Lieutenant Churchill: Madame, you are unlikely to come into contact with either.
George Bernard Shaw: Am reserving two tickets for you for my premiere. Come and bring a friend - if you have one.
Churchill: Impossible to be present for the first performance. Will attend second - if there is one.