--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's an old Elizabethan idea. The fool is…" description: "\"It's an old Elizabethan idea. The fool is the only one who is allowed to make fun of the king because he is a fool. I can say whatever I want about any..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc1/harry-anderson-21205_fool_it-s-an-old-elizabethan-idea-the-fool-is_2978461.jpg" --- # It's an old Elizabethan idea. The fool is the only one who… ![“It's an old Elizabethan idea. The fool is the only one who is allowed to make fun of the king because he is a fool. I can say whatever I want about anybody else because I'm just an idiot talking - I'm not insisting that I'm any smarter than anyone else. It's satire.” quote by Harry Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc1/harry-anderson-21205_fool_it-s-an-old-elizabethan-idea-the-fool-is_2978461.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc1/harry-anderson-21205_fool_it-s-an-old-elizabethan-idea-the-fool-is_2978461.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc1/harry-anderson-21205_fool_it-s-an-old-elizabethan-idea-the-fool-is_2978461.jpg) > “It's an old Elizabethan idea. The fool is the only one who is allowed to make fun of the king because he is a fool. I can say whatever I want about anybody else because I'm just an idiot talking - I'm not insisting that I'm any smarter than anyone else. It's satire.” [Harry Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-anderson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Fools can safely mock authority, revealing truth through humor. **In simple terms:** Fools mock kings safely. Key Takeaway Use humor to critique power. Themes satire authority humor Mood playful critical Type satirical entertaining When to use this quote - stand‑up comedy - political cartoons - media commentary - public speaking Key Concepts political theory social critique Questions to Reflect On - What limits satire’s effectiveness? - How can humor foster constructive dialogue? A Different Perspective Humor can be misinterpreted as disrespect. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fool/) [Fool Allowed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fool-allowed-4620845/) [Fool Say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fool-say-987897/) [Fun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fun/) [Idiot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idiot/) [King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/king/) [King Fool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/king-fool-3007733/) [Satire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/satire/) ## Related quotes > [Scratch a king and find a fool!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-parker/scratch-a-king-and-find-a-fool/) [Dorothy Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-parker/) > [It is well to be born either a king or a fool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/it-is-well-to-be-born-either-a-king-or-a-fool/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [I am the King's Fool. He is the King-In-Wating. Let him wait.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/i-am-the-king-s-fool-he-is-the-king-in-wating-let-him-wait/) [Robin Hobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/) > [A Every man has a king and a fool in him and the one you talk to reacts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-murdock/a-every-man-has-a-king-and-a-fool-in-him-and-the-one-you-talk-to/) [Mike Murdock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-murdock/) > [If a man is born, he should be born either a king or a fool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/if-a-man-is-born-he-should-be-born-either-a-king-or-a-fool/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [It is the part of a fool to say, I should not have thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scipio-africanus/it-is-the-part-of-a-fool-to-say-i-should-not-have-thought/) [Scipio Africanus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scipio-africanus/) > [The fool say there is no God; why? because they are foolish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clerecup/the-fool-say-there-is-no-god-why-because-they-are-foolish/) [Clerecup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clerecup/) > [All things and all people in life have to sink or swim on their own merits, not their reputation; that just as a wise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-bugliosi/all-things-and-all-people-in-life-have-to-sink-or-swim-on-their-own/) [Vincent Bugliosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-bugliosi/) > [“So what did you think the devil would look like? If he were red with a tail, horns, and cloven hooves, any fool could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-c-foster/so-what-did-you-think-the-devil-would-look-like-if-he-were-red-with-a/) [Thomas C. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-c-foster/) > [Just as a wise man can say something foolish, a fool can say something wise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-bugliosi/just-as-a-wise-man-can-say-something-foolish-a-fool-can-say-something/) [Vincent Bugliosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-bugliosi/) > [It takes a courageous fool to say things that have not been said and to do things that have not been done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/it-takes-a-courageous-fool-to-say-things-that-have-not-been-said-and/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [A lot of people like to fool you and say that you're not smart if you never went to college, but common sense rules…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/a-lot-of-people-like-to-fool-you-and-say-that-you-re-not-smart-if-you/) [Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/) > [You thought you could fool me with what you say but just remember, actions speak louder than words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-thought-you-could-fool-me-with-what-you-say-but-just-remember/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Any fool can say he is wise but only someone wise can admit he is a fool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-reed/any-fool-can-say-he-is-wise-but-only-someone-wise-can-admit-he-is-a/) [Michael Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-reed/) > [A wise man speaks because he has something to say; a fool because he has to say something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/a-wise-man-speaks-because-he-has-something-to-say-a-fool-because-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) ## More by Harry Anderson > [Even a fool knows you can't touch the stars, but it won't keep the wise from trying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-anderson/even-a-fool-knows-you-can-t-touch-the-stars-but-it-won-t-keep-the/) [Harry Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-anderson/) > [We treated all of the dead with dignity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-anderson/we-treated-all-of-the-dead-with-dignity/) [Harry Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-anderson/) > [Did I run real swindles? Oh, yeah. I mean, I started as a - on the street. I did not begin as a performer.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-anderson/did-i-run-real-swindles-oh-yeah-i-mean-i-started-as-a-on-the-street-i/) [Harry Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-anderson/) > [If you do sleight of hand without trying to cheat someone, that's what magic is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-anderson/if-you-do-sleight-of-hand-without-trying-to-cheat-someone-that-s-what/) [Harry Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-anderson/) > [Somebody saw me on 'Cheers' and thought that I was an actor playing a part as opposed to a guy just doing what he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-anderson/somebody-saw-me-on-cheers-and-thought-that-i-was-an-actor-playing-a/) [Harry Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-anderson/) > [I'm not Hollywood. I'm a Quarter Rat. I belong here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-anderson/i-m-not-hollywood-i-m-a-quarter-rat-i-belong-here/) [Harry Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-anderson/) > [Neckties satisfy modern man's desire to dress in art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-anderson/neckties-satisfy-modern-man-s-desire-to-dress-in-art/) [Harry Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-anderson/) > [I'll give it a shot. But I don't know that a year from now I'm going to be here. Nobody does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-anderson/i-ll-give-it-a-shot-but-i-don-t-know-that-a-year-from-now-i-m-going/) [Harry Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-anderson/) > [I used to make my living by understanding people. And the way I learned to understand them was by observing them. I would sit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-anderson/i-used-to-make-my-living-by-understanding-people-and-the-way-i/) [Harry Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-anderson/) > [I did rough hustling, what they call 'playing against the wall.' I just played myself with the players, so I would pay; I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-anderson/i-did-rough-hustling-what-they-call-playing-against-the-wall-i-just/) [Harry Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-anderson/) > [I created this character that I still have of a guy who is a little bit of a nincompoop - I'm poking fun at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-anderson/i-created-this-character-that-i-still-have-of-a-guy-who-is-a-little/) [Harry Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-anderson/) > [Old muleskinners told how the mules were waiting at the shaft when they arrived each morning. They wanted relief from the heat, deerflies and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-anderson/old-muleskinners-told-how-the-mules-were-waiting-at-the-shaft-when/) [Harry Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-anderson/) > [There's this perception sometimes around here that I'm this Hollywood guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-anderson/there-s-this-perception-sometimes-around-here-that-i-m-this-hollywood/) [Harry Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-anderson/) > [Chicago is a big town for magicians and card hustlers. So when I was very young, a fellow sat me down and taught me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-anderson/chicago-is-a-big-town-for-magicians-and-card-hustlers-so-when-i-was/) [Harry Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-anderson/) > [I'm certainly no victim in this. I don't want to come off as a sad sack; I pissed a lot of people off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-anderson/i-m-certainly-no-victim-in-this-i-don-t-want-to-come-off-as-a-sad/) [Harry Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-anderson/) [Explore all 29 Harry Anderson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-anderson/) ## More Fool quotes > [Do I look like a fool to you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamika-leeigh/do-i-look-like-a-fool-to-you/) [Tamika-leeigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamika-leeigh/) > [So the fool, as distinct from the scoundrel, is completely self- satisfied; in fact, he can easily become dangerous, as it does not take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/so-the-fool-as-distinct-from-the-scoundrel-is-completely-self/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [There are various orders of beauty, causing men to make fools of themselves in various styles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/there-are-various-orders-of-beauty-causing-men-to-make-fools-of/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [“Not wise, perhaps, to be rude to the Pope's favorite son, but my viper tongue still required a fool now and then on which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-quinn/not-wise-perhaps-to-be-rude-to-the-pope-s-favorite-son-but-my-viper/) [Kate Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-quinn/) > [He's a fool that marries; but he's a greater fool that does not marry a fool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wycherley/he-s-a-fool-that-marries-but-he-s-a-greater-fool-that-does-not-marry/) [William Wycherley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wycherley/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [A fool and his money get a lot of publicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-bernstein/a-fool-and-his-money-get-a-lot-of-publicity/) [Al Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-bernstein/) > [There are different kinds of fire; there is false fire. No one knows this better than we do, but we are not such fools…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-booth/there-are-different-kinds-of-fire-there-is-false-fire-no-one-knows/) [William Booth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-booth/) > [Every man must wear out at least one pair of fools shoes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-derr-biggers/every-man-must-wear-out-at-least-one-pair-of-fools-shoes/) [Earl Derr Biggers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-derr-biggers/) > [If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. Then quit. No use being a damn fool about it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wc-fields/if-at-first-you-don-t-succeed-try-try-again-then-quit-no-use-being-a/) [WC Fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wc-fields/) > [There is nothing that we can properly call our own but our time, and yet everybody fools us out of it who has a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/there-is-nothing-that-we-can-properly-call-our-own-but-our-time-and/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [I'd be a fool to be in this for the money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benny-hinn/i-d-be-a-fool-to-be-in-this-for-the-money/) [Benny Hinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benny-hinn/) > [It is a fool of a shepherd who culls his dogs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jefferson-smith/it-is-a-fool-of-a-shepherd-who-culls-his-dogs/) [Jefferson Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jefferson-smith/) > [Prefer to be defeated in the presence of the wise than to excel among fools.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/prefer-to-be-defeated-in-the-presence-of-the-wise-than-to-excel-among/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A mistake doesnt make you a fool, but denying it surely makes you one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/a-mistake-doesnt-make-you-a-fool-but-denying-it-surely-makes-you-one/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) [Browse all 5,535 Fool quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fool/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's an old Elizabethan idea. 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