Wit and Humor -- if any difference, it is in duration -- lightning and electric light. Same material, apparently; but one is vivid, and can do damage -- the other fools along and enjoys elaboration.
Thunder is good, thunder is impressive; but it is lightning that does all the work
Thunder is impressive, but it is lightning that does the work.
The lightning there is peculiar; it is so convincing, that when it strikes a thing it doesn't leave enough of that thing behind for you to tell whether-Well, you'd think it was something valuable, and a Congressman had been there.
The difference between the right word and almost the right word is the difference between lightning and thelightning bug.