The clever response can win attention while leaving the original problem untouched.

Wit gets rewarded immediately and precisely, which is why it so often replaces the slower work of answering. A sharp line ends the exchange, gets remembered and moves the room, and none of that requires the underlying question to have been addressed. Whoever was clever usually feels they did well. The problem sits exactly where it was, with the added difficulty that everybody has moved on.

When you notice yourself reaching for the good line, check whether you also have the plain answer. And if a clever reply closed a discussion you cared about, reopening it later without an audience is usually possible.