No man is so much a fool as not to have wit enough sometimes to be a knave; nor any so cunning a knave as not to have the weakness sometimes to play the fool.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Even fools can be cunning when they want to be. Even crafty people sometimes act foolishly due to weakness.
- In plain terms
- Fools can be smart to hurt people and smart people can be foolish.
- What can you take from it?
- Expect inconsistency in human behavior and intelligence.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Can the smartest fool?
- Does the wise fail?
Another view
Some people are consistently predictable.
More from George Savile
Most men make little use of their speech than to give evidence against their own understanding.
Permalink to quote #25 Nothing has an uglier look to us than reason, when it is not on our side.
Permalink to quote #27 Men who borrow their opinions can never repay their debts.
Permalink to quote #24
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