Literature

10 Great Quotes from Writers about Fools

Funny and witty sourced quotes from writers – about fools, folly, and foolishness

Here cometh April again, and as far as I can see the world hath more fools in it than ever. – Charles Lamb, cited in Wordsworth Book of Humorous Quotations

A common mistake that people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools. – Douglas Adams, Mostly Harmless

My nose itch’d, and I knew I should drink wine, or kiss a fool. – Jonathan Swift, ‘Polite Conversation’

In university they don’t tell you that the greater part of the law is learning to tolerate fools. – Doris Lessing, Martha Quest

If fifty million people say a foolish thing, it is still a foolish thing. – Anatole France, cited in Listening and Speaking: A Guide to Effective Oral Communication

Fool2

Surprises are foolish things. The pleasure is not enhanced, and the inconvenience is often considerable. – Jane Austen, Emma

He who lives without folly is not as wise as he thinks. – François de la Rochefoucauld, Maximes

Education: That which discloses to the wise and disguises from the foolish their lack of understanding. – Ambrose Bierce, The Devil’s Dictionary

I have great faith in fools — self-confidence my friends will call it.  Edgar Allan Poe, Marginalia

In politics, what begins in fear usually ends in folly. – Samuel Taylor Coleridge, cited in Little Oxford Dictionary of Quotations

Image: An original card from the tarot deck of Jean Dodal of Lyon, early eighteenth century; Wikimedia Commons; public domain.

24 Comments

  1. Reblogged this on ArtFreak.

  2. I like it! All the author I learned during high school days are quoted here…

  3. Reblogged this on indiantaylor.

  4. I really enjoyed this. A wonderfully appropriate post. Well done and thanks!
    http://www.awritersden.wordpress.com

  5. Have you missed out Nasrudin? A philosopher had an appointment and called at Nasrudin’s door but found he was out. So he wrote Stupid Fool on the door in a fit of bad temper. Nasrudin came home and realised he had missed an opportunity for a philosophical debate so rushed to the philosopher’s house. When he met the old sage he said. “Sorry I missed you but it was kind of you to leave your name.”

  6. “Sir, I admit your general rule,
    That every poet is a fool,
    But you yourself may serve to show it,
    That every fool is not a poet.”
    Samuel Taylor Coleridge

  7. A great read to prepare for April Fool’s Day.

  8. “A fool thinks himself to be wise, but a wise man knows himself to be a fool.”
    – William Shakespeare

    Good stuff :)

  9. I love the Edgar Allan Poe quote.

  10. Thanks for giving a reason to smile.

  11. Reblogged this on logging entries in my life and commented:
    Something to lighten the mood…

  12. You forgot the best one! “The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool.” – Shakespeare. Thanks for the wonderful list though! If you’re ever interested in some awesome book reviews and musings, be sure to follow! Thanks!

  13. Oh God save me from playing a fool one too many in April, May be I shall try May.

  14. Reblogged this on Vauquer Boarding House and commented:
    Don’t be an April Fool. Read and learn.

  15. These are great, especially the Douglas Adams quote. Now that was a frood who always knew where his towel was!

  16. Very apt and timely post!

  17. That Douglas Adams quote is AWESOME.

  18. Reblogged this on Word Shamble and commented:
    In anticipation of April Fool’s Day, another inspiring list of quotes from Inspiring Literature

  19. Thank you my friend :-)

  20. Brilliant! I love the variety in the wit and wisdom!

  21. Super! As a happily confirmed fool, I enjoyed these.