Some are wise, and some are otherwise.

Understand the thought

Meaning in plain English

People differ in the judgement they bring to a situation. The wordplay contrasts wise with otherwise, without providing a fair way to divide everyone permanently into two kinds of person.

What the words are saying

Otherwise normally points to a different way or condition; here it also allows the speaker to imply the opposite of wise without stating it directly. The joke can comment on a poorly considered choice or a difference in how people approach a task. Its neat division is rhetorical rather than a reliable classification of individuals. A person may handle one question well and need help with another. The useful reading attends to the particular decision and what would improve it, rather than making a witty label substitute for evidence. Humour can expose a problem, but it can also dismiss someone who deserves a hearing.

Everyday example

A group jokes about an impractical picnic plan, then checks the forecast and venue options rather than writing off the person who suggested it.

When to use it

Use it lightly about a particular choice, with care for the person being discussed.

Agent-assisted editorial interpretation. This explains the words; it does not by itself verify their author or earliest origin.