Skip to content

A knave thinks himself a fool, all the time he is not…

“A knave thinks himself a fool, all the time he is not making a fool of some other person.” quote by William Hazlitt
Download Open image
“A knave thinks himself a fool, all the time he is not making a fool of some other person.”

William Hazlitt

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A fool believes himself clever while actually deceiving others, highlighting self‑deception and hypocrisy.

In simple terms: Self‑deceived fools think they’re clever but fool others.

Key Takeaway

Beware self‑deception.

Themes

humor self‑awareness hypocrisy intelligence social perception

Mood

critical reflective

Type

philosophical satirical

When to use this quote

  • leadership
  • teaching
  • political discourse
  • personal relationships

Key Concepts

philosophy of self cognitive bias

Questions to Reflect On

  • What signs reveal self‑deception?
  • How can we foster humility in others?
A Different Perspective

Self‑awareness can be hard to achieve.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet

More by William Hazlitt

Explore all 671 William Hazlitt quotes

More Fool quotes

Browse all 5,535 Fool quotes