
“Ambush'd in grass, a deadly Serpent lyes.”
The Works of Publius Virgilius Maro (2nd ed. 1654), Virgil's Bucolicks
Part I, chapter 11.
Proverbs (1546), Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. (1919)
Variant: Children and fooles cannot lye.
“Ambush'd in grass, a deadly Serpent lyes.”
The Works of Publius Virgilius Maro (2nd ed. 1654), Virgil's Bucolicks
“763. Better speake truth rudely then lye covertly.”
Jacula Prudentum (1651)
“Half the Truth is often as arrant a Lye, as can be made.”
Political, Moral, and Miscellaneous Reflections (1750), Miscellaneous Thoughts and Reflections
“1092. Children and Fools tell Truth.”
Introductio ad prudentiam: Part II (1727), Gnomologia (1732)
“Men may live fools, but fools they cannot die.”
Source: Night-Thoughts (1742–1745), Night IV, Line 843.
“Trojans beware, within some Mischief lyes;
Be what it will, Greeks bringing Gifts I fear.”
The Works of Publius Virgilius Maro (2nd ed. 1654), Virgil's Æneis
“Children and fools speak the truth; and somehow they find happiness in their sincerity.”
Source: Fallen Leaves (2014), Ch. 1 : Our life begins
“Misfortunes cannot suffice to make a fool into an intelligent man.”
This Business of Living (1935-1950)
“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.”
Journal excerpt from Shadow of the Almighty (1989) by Elisabeth Elliot, Jim Elliot, 1949
This quote is a paraphrase of Elliot's from the original quote (below) by English nonconformist clergyman Philip Henry (1631-1696)
Misattributed
“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”