Seeming wise men may make shift to get opinion; but let no man choose them for employment; for certainly you were better take for business, a man somewhat absurd, than over-formal.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Seeming wise men gain opinion but fail in practice; choose the slightly absurd over the overly formal.
- In plain terms
- Pick slightly flawed people over overly formal ones for work.
- What can you take from it?
- Value practical ability over rigid formality.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How do you spot seeming wisdom?
- When is formality useful?
Another view
Some formality is necessary in certain roles.
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