---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sometimes we meet a fool with wit, never…"
description: "\"Sometimes we meet a fool with wit, never one with discretion.\" — Francois de La Rochefoucauld"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b19/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_discretion_sometimes-we-meet-a-fool-with-wit-never_1327163.png"
---

#  Sometimes we meet a fool with wit, never one with…

![“Sometimes we meet a fool with wit, never one with discretion.” quote by Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b19/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_discretion_sometimes-we-meet-a-fool-with-wit-never_1327163.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b19/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_discretion_sometimes-we-meet-a-fool-with-wit-never_1327163.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b19/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_discretion_sometimes-we-meet-a-fool-with-wit-never_1327163.png)

> “Sometimes we meet a fool with wit, never one with discretion.”

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

## About This Quote

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

Wit can be present without wisdom; true discretion is rarer than cleverness.

**In simple terms:** Cleverness without judgment is common.

Key Takeaway

Value discretion over mere wit.

Themes

wisdom discretion wit human nature

Mood

thoughtful critical

Type

aphilosophical advisory

When to use this quote

- leadership
- personal relationships
- conflict resolution

Key Concepts

philosophy morality social critique

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you balance humor with responsibility?
- When does cleverness become folly?

A Different Perspective

Wit without discretion can cause harm.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Discretion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discretion/) [Fool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fool/) [Wit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wit/)

## Related quotes

> [Drunkenness is the very sepulcher Of man's wit and his discretion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-chaucer/drunkenness-is-the-very-sepulcher-of-man-s-wit-and-his-discretion/)

[Geoffrey Chaucer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-chaucer/)

> [He's a fool that marries, but he's a greater that does not marry a fool; what is wit in a wife good for, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wycherley/he-s-a-fool-that-marries-but-he-s-a-greater-that-does-not-marry-a/)

[William Wycherley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wycherley/)

> [No man is so much a fool as not to have wit enough sometimes to be a knave; nor any so cunning a knave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-savile/no-man-is-so-much-a-fool-as-not-to-have-wit-enough-sometimes-to-be-a/)

[George Savile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-savile/)

> [Yet here I stand poor fool what more, not one wit wiser than before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/yet-here-i-stand-poor-fool-what-more-not-one-wit-wiser-than-before/)

[Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/)

> [Cunning is only the mimic of discretion, and may pass upon weak men in the same manner as vivacity is often mistaken for wit,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/cunning-is-only-the-mimic-of-discretion-and-may-pass-upon-weak-men-in/)

[Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/)

> [Being a blockhead is sometimes the best security against being cheated by a man of wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/being-a-blockhead-is-sometimes-the-best-security-against-being/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [Wit sometimes enables us to act rudely with impunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/wit-sometimes-enables-us-to-act-rudely-with-impunity/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [A man's wits are better employed in bearing up under the misfortunes that lie upon him at present than in foreseeing those that may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/a-man-s-wits-are-better-employed-in-bearing-up-under-the-misfortunes/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [The desire which urges us to deserve praise strengthens our good qualities, and praise given to wit, valour, and beauty, tends to increase them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/the-desire-which-urges-us-to-deserve-praise-strengthens-our-good/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [It is sometimes necessary to play the fool to avoid being deceived by cunning men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/it-is-sometimes-necessary-to-play-the-fool-to-avoid-being-deceived-by/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [Cannot you tell that? Every fool can tell that. It was the very day that young Hamlet was born, he that is mad and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/cannot-you-tell-that-every-fool-can-tell-that-it-was-the-very-day/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [A whetstone is no carving instrument, And yet it maketh sharp the carving tool; And if you see my efforts wrongly spent, Eschew that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-chaucer/a-whetstone-is-no-carving-instrument-and-yet-it-maketh-sharp-the/)

[Geoffrey Chaucer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-chaucer/)

> [The greatest advantage I know of being thought a wit by the world is, that it gives one the greater freedom of playing the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/the-greatest-advantage-i-know-of-being-thought-a-wit-by-the-world-is/)

[Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/)

> [A fool may scrawl on a slate and if no one has the wit to wipe it clean for a thousand years, the scrawl…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-lawrence/a-fool-may-scrawl-on-a-slate-and-if-no-one-has-the-wit-to-wipe-it/)

[Mark Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-lawrence/)

> [The policeman on the beat or in the patrol car makes more decisions and exercises broader discretion affecting the daily lives of people every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-e-burger/the-policeman-on-the-beat-or-in-the-patrol-car-makes-more-decisions/)

[Warren E. Burger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-e-burger/)

## More by Francois de La Rochefoucauld

> [Our own distrust gives a fair pretence for the knavery of other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/our-own-distrust-gives-a-fair-pretence-for-the-knavery-of-other-people/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [Behind many acts that are thought ridiculous there lie wise and weighty motives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/behind-many-acts-that-are-thought-ridiculous-there-lie-wise-and/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [“Passion often makes a madman of the cleverest man, and renders the greatest fools clever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/passion-often-makes-a-madman-of-the-cleverest-man-and-renders-the/)

[François de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [Perseverance is neither praiseworthy nor blameworthy; for it seems to be only the enduring of certain inclinations and opinions which men neither give themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/perseverance-is-neither-praiseworthy-nor-blameworthy-for-it-seems-to/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [A woman is faithful to her first lover for a long time - unless she happens to take a second.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/a-woman-is-faithful-to-her-first-lover-for-a-long-time-unless-she/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [We are almost always wearied in the company of persons with whom we are not permitted to be weary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/we-are-almost-always-wearied-in-the-company-of-persons-with-whom-we/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [The love of new acquaintance comes not so much from being weary of what we had before, or from any satisfaction there is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/the-love-of-new-acquaintance-comes-not-so-much-from-being-weary-of/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [It is sometimes necessary to play the fool to avoid being deceived by cunning men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/it-is-sometimes-necessary-to-play-the-fool-to-avoid-being-deceived-by/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [The intention of never deceiving often exposes us to deception.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/the-intention-of-never-deceiving-often-exposes-us-to-deception/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [Jealousy springs more from love of self than from love of another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/jealousy-springs-more-from-love-of-self-than-from-love-of-another/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [Our distrust of another justifies his deceit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/our-distrust-of-another-justifies-his-deceit/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [No persons are more frequently wrong, than those who will not admit they are wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/no-persons-are-more-frequently-wrong-than-those-who-will-not-admit/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [Jealousy is always born with love, but does not die with it. In jealousy there is more of self-love than of love to another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/jealousy-is-always-born-with-love-but-does-not-die-with-it-in/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [The greatest of all gifts is the power to estimate things at their true worth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/the-greatest-of-all-gifts-is-the-power-to-estimate-things-at-their/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [We have not strength enough to follow our reason so far as it would carry us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/we-have-not-strength-enough-to-follow-our-reason-so-far-as-it-would/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

[Explore all 1,134 Francois de La Rochefoucauld quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

## More Discretion quotes

> [The policeman on the beat or in the patrol car makes more decisions and exercises broader discretion affecting the daily lives of people every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-e-burger/the-policeman-on-the-beat-or-in-the-patrol-car-makes-more-decisions/)

[Warren E. Burger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-e-burger/)

> [Aishwarya, my parent's daughter, has been brought up with enough values inculcated where I will use my discretion in my choices. At the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aishwarya-rai-bachchan/aishwarya-my-parent-s-daughter-has-been-brought-up-with-enough-values/)

[Aishwarya Rai Bachchan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aishwarya-rai-bachchan/)

> [The fleet sailed to its war base in the North Sea, headed not so much for some rendezvous with glory as for rendezvous with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-tuchman/the-fleet-sailed-to-its-war-base-in-the-north-sea-headed-not-so-much/)

[Barbara Tuchman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-tuchman/)

> [“All sexual activity performed is at the discretion of the participants and is confined to only one hour.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-a-miles/all-sexual-activity-performed-is-at-the-discretion-of-the/)

Karen A.Miles

> [The first principle of solid wisdom is discretion, without it all the erudition of life is merely bagatelle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/the-first-principle-of-solid-wisdom-is-discretion-without-it-all-the/)

[Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/)

> [ Forgiveness is the best part of valor...Discretion is easy. It's finding the courage to forgive yourself and others that is hard. \[Acheron\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/forgiveness-is-the-best-part-of-valor-discretion-is-easy-it-s-finding/)

[Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/)

> [Instead of a perpetual and perfect measure of the divine will, the fragments of the Koran were produced at the discretion of Mahomet; each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/instead-of-a-perpetual-and-perfect-measure-of-the-divine-will-the/)

[Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/)

> [“Commonality & Camaraderie. By identifying, developing, and connecting powerful points of reference to others, you will have a rich resource of information from which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/commonality-camaraderie-by-identifying-developing-and-connecting/)

[Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/)

> [We lay aside letters never to read them again, and at last we destroy them out discretion, and so disappears the most immediate breath…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/we-lay-aside-letters-never-to-read-them-again-and-at-last-we-destroy/)

[Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/)

> [Drunkenness is the very sepulcher Of man's wit and his discretion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-chaucer/drunkenness-is-the-very-sepulcher-of-man-s-wit-and-his-discretion/)

[Geoffrey Chaucer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-chaucer/)

> [Great is our admiration of the orator who speaks with fluency and discretion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/great-is-our-admiration-of-the-orator-who-speaks-with-fluency-and/)

[Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/)

> [Be not too tame neither, but let your own Discretion be your tutor; suit the action to the word, the word to the action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/be-not-too-tame-neither-but-let-your-own-discretion-be-your-tutor/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [O sir, you are old; nature in you stands on the very verge of her confine; you should be ruled and led by some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/o-sir-you-are-old-nature-in-you-stands-on-the-very-verge-of-her/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [I have tales to tell, but I don't tell them. Discretion. Discretion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-peck/i-have-tales-to-tell-but-i-don-t-tell-them-discretion-discretion/)

[Gregory Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-peck/)

> [When you learn to discipline your tongue, you'll stop scrutinizing, judging and condemning others. You'll then focus on your own weaknesses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mufti-ismail-menk/when-you-learn-to-discipline-your-tongue-you-ll-stop-scrutinizing/)

[Mufti Ismail Menk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mufti-ismail-menk/)

[Browse all 364 Discretion quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discretion/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Sometimes we meet a fool with wit, never one with discretion.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Francois de La Rochefoucauld"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/sometimes-we-meet-a-fool-with-wit-never-one-with-discretion/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Discretion"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/sometimes-we-meet-a-fool-with-wit-never-one-with-discretion/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b19/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_discretion_sometimes-we-meet-a-fool-with-wit-never_1327163.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b19/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_discretion_sometimes-we-meet-a-fool-with-wit-never_1327163.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b19/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_discretion_sometimes-we-meet-a-fool-with-wit-never_1327163.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Sometimes we meet a fool with wit, never one with discretion.” — Francois de La Rochefoucauld",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Francois de La Rochefoucauld",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Sometimes we meet a fool with...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/sometimes-we-meet-a-fool-with-wit-never-one-with-discretion/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/sometimes-we-meet-a-fool-with-wit-never-one-with-discretion/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```