I'm currently reading Quentin Crisp's radiant autobiography, "The Naked Civil Servant", which I strongly recommend. Here's an example of purloined wit.

After a while this mixture was enriched by a touch of social realism. A coloured gentleman was added. The announcement of his arrival was made with a flourish to the inner circle as we sat in the basement awaiting our scrambled-egg supper.

Landlord: I want you all to know that there is a coal-black Negro living at the top of the house. Lodger: Oh dear! And there's no lock on my door. Landlord: In that case, Mrs Thomas, you will have to think of some other method of preventing his escape.