Inspirational Quotations

Inspirational Quotations on Foolishness

A fool and his money are soon parted. The rest of us wait for tax time.
Common Proverb

Only a fool expects to be happy all the time.
Robertson Davies (1913–95) Canadian Novelist, Playwright, Essayist

Don’t approach a goat from the front, a horse from the back, or a fool from any side.
Yiddish Proverb

Who loves not wine, woman and song, remains a fool his whole life long.
Martin Luther (1483–1546) German Protestant Theologian

In view of the fact that God limited the intelligence of man, it seems unfair that He did not also limit his stupidity.
Konrad Adenauer (1876–1967) German Statesman

Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.
Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929–68) American Civil Rights Leader, Clergyman

The entire world is my temple, and a very fine one too, if I’m not mistaken, and I’ll never lack priests to serve it as long as there are men.
Desiderius Erasmus (c.1469–1536) Dutch Humanist, Scholar

There are no foolish questions, and no man becomes a fool until he has stopped asking questions.
Charles Proteus Steinmetz (1865–1923) German-born American Mathematician, Engineer

When in doubt, make a fool of yourself. There is a microscopically thin line between being brilliantly creative and acting like the most gigantic idiot on earth. So what the hell, leap.
Cynthia Heimel (1947–2018) American Humor Columnist, Feminist

It is the peculiar quality of a fool to perceive the faults of others, and to forget his own.
Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer

A learned fool is more foolish than an ignorant one.
Moliere (1622–73) French Playwright

It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open your mouth and prove it.
Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State

A common mistake that people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools.
Douglas Adams (1952–2001) English Novelist, Scriptwriter

The best way to convince a fool that he is wrong is to let him have his way.
Josh Billings (Henry Wheeler Shaw) (1818–85) American Humorist, Author, Lecturer

The world is full of fools and faint hearts; and yet everyone has courage enough to bear the misfortunes, and wisdom enough to manage the affairs of his neighbor.
Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat

Whenever a man does a thoroughly stupid thing, it is always from the noblest motives.
Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright

Only a fool tests the depth of the water with both feet.
African Proverb

Mix a little foolishness with your serious plans: it’s lovely to be silly at the right moment.
Horace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus) (65–8 BCE) Roman Poet

However big the fool, there is always a bigger fool to admire him.
Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux (1636–1711) French Poet, Satirist, Literary Critic

The biggest fool in the world is he who merely does his work supremely well, without attending to appearance.
Michael Korda (b.1933) English-born Writer, Novelist

Fools build houses, and wise men buy them.
English Proverb

I was young and foolish then; now I am old and foolisher.
Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist

The fool is always beginning to live.
Common Proverb

Fools rush in where Angels fear to tread.
Alexander Pope (1688–1744) English Poet

A fool often fails because he thinks what is difficult is easy.
John Churton Collins (1848–1908) British Literary Critic, Writer

A spoon does not know the taste of soup, nor a learned fool the taste of wisdom.
Welsh Proverb

The wise make proverbs, and fools repeat them.
Isaac D’Israeli (1766–1848) English Writer, Scholar

The folly of all follies is to be love sick for a shadow.
Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809–92) British Poet

In the vain laughter of folly, wisdom hears half its applause.
George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans) (1819–80) English Novelist

The company of fools may first make us smile, but in the end we always feel melancholy.
Oliver Goldsmith (1730–74) Irish Novelist, Playwright, Poet

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