The dulness of the fool
is the whetstone of the wits.
(Shakespeare: As You Like It.)
La Bruyère, «If proverty…»
If poverty is the mother of crime,
stupidity is its father.
(La Bruyère: Of Mankind.)
Ben Johnson, «No precepts…»
No precepts will profit a fool.
(Ben Jonson: Timber; or Discoveries.)
John Gay, «Who knows a fool…»
Who knows a fool must know his brother;
One fop will recommend another.
(John Gay: Fables.)
Benjamin Franklin, «Most fools…»
Most fools think they are only ignorant.
(Benjamin Franklin: Poor Richard’s Almanack.)
Blake, «A fool…»
A fool sees not the same tree
that a wise man sees.
(Blake: The Marriage of Heaven and Hell.)
William James, «The art of being wise…»
The art of being wise
is the art of knowing
what to overlook.
(William james: Principles of Psychology.)
Jules Renard, «To think is not enough…»
To think is not enough;
you must think of something.
(Jules Renard: Journal.)
Herman Melville, «Faith and philosophy…»
Faith and philosophy are air,
but events are brass.
(Herman Μelville: Pierre.)
Bishop Berkeley, «Truth…»
Truth is the cry of all,
but the game of the few.
(Bishop Berkeley: Sins.)