„By Silence, the discretion of a man is known: and a fool, keeping Silence, seemeth to be wise.“
— Pythagoras ancient Greek mathematician and philosopher -585 - -495 BC
The Sayings of the Wise (1555)
Quotes about fools
A collection of quotes on the topic of fools.
Related topicsTotal 1602 quotes fools, filter:
„Only once in your life, I truly believe, you find someone who can completely turn your world around. You tell them things that you’ve never shared with another soul and they absorb everything you say and actually want to hear more. You share hopes for the future, dreams that will never come true, goals that were never achieved and the many disappointments life has thrown at you. When something wonderful happens, you can’t wait to tell them about it, knowing they will share in your excitement. They are not embarrassed to cry with you when you are hurting or laugh with you when you make a fool of yourself. Never do they hurt your feelings or make you feel like you are not good enough, but rather they build you up and show you the things about yourself that make you special and even beautiful. There is never any pressure, jealousy or competition but only a quiet calmness when they are around. You can be yourself and not worry about what they will think of you because they love you for who you are. The things that seem insignificant to most people such as a note, song or walk become invaluable treasures kept safe in your heart to cherish forever. Memories of your childhood come back and are so clear and vivid it’s like being young again. Colours seem brighter and more brilliant. Laughter seems part of daily life where before it was infrequent or didn’t exist at all. A phone call or two during the day helps to get you through a long day’s work and always brings a smile to your face. In their presence, there’s no need for continuous conversation, but you find you’re quite content in just having them nearby. Things that never interested you before become fascinating because you know they are important to this person who is so special to you. You think of this person on every occasion and in everything you do. Simple things bring them to mind like a pale blue sky, gentle wind or even a storm cloud on the horizon. You open your heart knowing that there’s a chance it may be broken one day and in opening your heart, you experience a love and joy that you never dreamed possible. You find that being vulnerable is the only way to allow your heart to feel true pleasure that’s so real it scares you. You find strength in knowing you have a true friend and possibly a soul mate who will remain loyal to the end. Life seems completely different, exciting and worthwhile. Your only hope and security is in knowing that they are a part of your life.“
— Bob Marley Jamaican singer, songwriter, musician 1945 - 1981
„Any fool can make something complicated. It takes a genius to make it simple.“
— Woody Guthrie American singer-songwriter and folk musician 1912 - 1967
„Any fool knows men and women think differently at times, but the biggest difference is this. Men forget, but never forgive; women forgive, but never forget.“
— Robert Jordan American writer 1948 - 2007
Thom Merrilin
(15 October 1991)
„The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts.“
— Bertrand Russell logician, one of the first analytic philosophers and political activist 1872 - 1970
Variant: The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts.
„And love
and, love
I'll be a fool
For you,
I'm sure.
You know I don't mind…“
— Lionel Richie American singer-songwriter, musician, record producer and actor 1949
Endless Love (1981).
Song lyrics
„I have been a damn fool all my life, searching for something which does not exist. My search is at an end.“
— U.G. Krishnamurti, book Mind is a Myth
Quoted in Introduction by Terry Newland
Mind is a Myth (1987)
Context: I have assumed that the goal, enlightenment, exists. I have had to search and it is the search itself which has been choking me and keeping me out of my natural state. There is no such thing as spiritual or psychological enlightenment because there is no such thing as spirit or psyche. I have been a damn fool all my life, searching for something which does not exist. My search is at an end.
„The great thing about people with intellectual disabilities is that they’re not people who discuss philosophy… What they want is fun and laughter, to do things together and fool around, and laughter is at the heart of community.“
— Jean Vanier Canadian humanitarian 1928 - 2019
The Gift of Living With the Not Gifted http://www.wsj.com/articles/the-gift-of-living-with-the-not-gifted-1428103079 Wall Street Journal, April 3, 2015
From interviews and talks
„Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius—and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction.“
— Albert Einstein German-born physicist and founder of the theory of relativity 1879 - 1955
Actually written by E. F. Schumacher in a 1973 essay titled "Small is Beautiful" which appeared in The Radical Humanist: volume 37, p. 22 http://books.google.com/books?id=oA0IAQAAIAAJ&q=%22more+violent%22#search_anchor. Earliest published source found on Google Books attributing this to Einstein is BMJ: The British Medical Journal, volume 319, 23 October 1999, p. 1102 http://books.google.com/books?id=bQk7AQAAIAAJ&q=%22more+violent%22#search_anchor. It was attributed to Einstein on the internet somewhat before that, for example in this 1997 post http://groups.google.com/group/alt.weemba/msg/2bbf56ab8f4f757d?hl=en.
Misattributed
„Wise men speak when they have something to say, fools speak because they have to say something“
— Aristotle Classical Greek philosopher, student of Plato and founder of Western philosophy -384 - -321 BC
„Chill out, what're you yelling for? Lay back. It's all been done before, and if? You could only let it be? You will see, I like you the way you are. When we're driving in your car and you're talking to me one and one. But you've become somebody else, like everyone else! You're watching your back, like you can't relax. You're trying to be cool; you look like a fool to me.“
— Avril Lavigne Canadian singer-songwriter and actress 1984
"Complicated"
Let Go (2002)
„Not justice, please, not justice. We would all be fools to pray for justice.“
— Lois McMaster Bujold, The Curse of Chalion
The Curse of Chalion (2000)
Context: "Mercy from the Father and the Mother, mercy from the Sister and the Brother, Mercy from the Bastard, five times mercy, High Ones, we beseech you."… Mercy, High Ones. Not justice, please, not justice. We would all be fools to pray for justice.
„If I make a fool of myself, who cares? I'm not frightened by anyone's perception of me.“
— Angelina Jolie American actress, film director, and screenwriter 1975
„Look at me, see if I am poor, or my people either. The whites may get me at last, as you say, but I will have good times till then. You are fools to make yourselves slaves to a piece of fat bacon, some hard-tack, and a little sugar and coffee.“
— Sitting Bull Hunkpapa Lakota medicine man and holy man 1831 - 1890
Also told to Charles Larpenteur at Fort Union in 1867. Published in Utley, Robert M. The Lance and the Shield. New York: Henry Holt and Co., 1993. p. 73.
„I made a change from a common thief, to up-close and personal with Robin Leach, and I'm far from cheap. I smoke skunk with my peeps all day, spread love it's the Brooklyn way. The moet and alize keeps me pissy. Girls used to diss me, now they write letters cuz they miss me. I never thought it could happen this rapping stuff. I was too used to packing gats and stuff. Now honeys play me close like butter played toast, from the Mississippi down to the East Coast. Condos in queens, indoor for weeks. sold out seats to hear Biggy Smalls speak. Living life without fear, putting 5 carats in my baby girls ears. Lunchies, brunchies. Interviews by the pool, considered a fool 'cause I dropped out of high school. Stereotypes of a black male misunderstood and it's still all good.“
— The Notorious B.I.G. American rapper 1972 - 1997
Song lyrics, Ready to Die (1994), "Juicy"
„It is such an uncomfortable feeling to know one is a fool.“
— L. Frank Baum, book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
Source: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
„When I knew but a little, I was blinded by pride as an elephant is blinded by rut from excitement, and my mind was puffed up with the idea that I knew everything. When, however, I gradually gained knowledge through the contact of the wise I found I was a fool; and the pride, which had possessed me like a fever, left me.“
— Bhartrihari Indian linguist, poet and writer 570
Nītiśataka 8; translation of K.M. Joglekar
Śatakatraya
Original: (sa) यदा किञ्चिज्ज्ञोऽहं द्विप इव मदान्ध: समभवम्
तदा सर्वज्ञोऽस्मीत्यभवदवलिप्तं मम मन:।
यदा किञ्चित्किञ्चिद्बुधजनसकाशादवगतं
तदा मूर्खोऽस्मीति ज्वर इव मदो मे व्यपगत:॥
