--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Let fools the studious despise, There's…" description: "\"Let fools the studious despise, There's nothing lost by being wise.\" — Jean de La Fontaine" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2d/jean-de-la-fontaine-2320_being-wise_let-fools-the-studious-despise-there-s-n_1244068.jpg" --- # Let fools the studious despise, There's nothing lost by… ![“Let fools the studious despise, There's nothing lost by being wise.” quote by Jean de La Fontaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2d/jean-de-la-fontaine-2320_being-wise_let-fools-the-studious-despise-there-s-n_1244068.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2d/jean-de-la-fontaine-2320_being-wise_let-fools-the-studious-despise-there-s-n_1244068.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2d/jean-de-la-fontaine-2320_being-wise_let-fools-the-studious-despise-there-s-n_1244068.jpg) > “Let fools the studious despise, There's nothing lost by being wise.” [Jean de La Fontaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-fontaine/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Encourages wisdom over foolishness, implying that being wise never results in loss. **In simple terms:** Wisdom never hurts. Key Takeaway Seek wisdom. Themes wisdom foolishness values Mood thoughtful inspirational Type didactic moral When to use this quote - education - decision making Key Concepts morality practicality Questions to Reflect On - Why might people fear being wise? - What does “nothing lost” imply? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-wise/) [Fool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fool/) [Fools](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fools/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) [Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise/) ## Related quotes > [Throw it up y'all, throw it up, Throw it up, Let's show these fools how we do this on that west side. Cause you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/throw-it-up-y-all-throw-it-up-throw-it-up-let-s-show-these-fools-how/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [For Forms of Government let fools contest; whatever is best administered is best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/for-forms-of-government-let-fools-contest-whatever-is-best/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Let fools believe what fools believe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-morris/let-fools-believe-what-fools-believe/) [Janet Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-morris/) > [In soft deluding lies let fools delight. A shadow marks our days, which end in Night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilaire-belloc/in-soft-deluding-lies-let-fools-delight-a-shadow-marks-our-days-which/) [Hilaire Belloc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilaire-belloc/) > [For forms of government let fools contest; Whate'er is best administer'd is best. For modes of faith let graceless zealots fight; His can't be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/for-forms-of-government-let-fools-contest-whate-er-is-best-administer/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [For forms of government, let fools contest; Whate'er is best administered, is best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/for-forms-of-government-let-fools-contest-whate-er-is-best/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [As a man of pleasure, by a vain attempt to be more happy than any man can be, is often more miserable than most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/as-a-man-of-pleasure-by-a-vain-attempt-to-be-more-happy-than-any-man/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [Walk in this faithless grass with studious tread, Lest mice, weasels, germane beasts, too soon The tall hat and eyes, the fierce feet, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-tate/walk-in-this-faithless-grass-with-studious-tread-lest-mice-weasels/) [Allen Tate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-tate/) > [Today, luxury resides in everything that is becoming rare: communion with nature, silence, meditation, slowness rediscovered, the pleasure of living out of step with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pascal-bruckner/today-luxury-resides-in-everything-that-is-becoming-rare-communion/) [Pascal Bruckner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pascal-bruckner/) > [“The learned and the studious of thought have no monopoly of wisdom. Their violence of direction in some degree disqualifies them to think truly.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-learned-and-the-studious-of-thought-have-no-monopoly-of-wisdom/) [ralph waldo emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Steinitz was a thinker worthy of a seat in the halls of a university. A player, as the world believed he was, he was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-lasker/steinitz-was-a-thinker-worthy-of-a-seat-in-the-halls-of-a-university/) [Emanuel Lasker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-lasker/) > [I was studious and bookish. Not just as a child but also as a teenager. I took myself too seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-sturgeon/i-was-studious-and-bookish-not-just-as-a-child-but-also-as-a-teenager/) [Nicola Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-sturgeon/) > [I'm quite a studious person, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-higgins/i-m-quite-a-studious-person-i-think/) [Alex Higgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-higgins/) > [The studious silence of the library ... Thought is the thought of thought. Tranquil brightness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/the-studious-silence-of-the-library-thought-is-the-thought-of-thought/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [I was very studious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-was-very-studious/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Jean de La Fontaine > [Nothing is so oppressive as a secret: women find it difficult to keep one long; and I know a goodly number of men who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-fontaine/nothing-is-so-oppressive-as-a-secret-women-find-it-difficult-to-keep/) [Jean de La Fontaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-fontaine/) > [One should stick to the sort of thing for which one was made; I tried to be an herbalist, Whereas I should keep to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-fontaine/one-should-stick-to-the-sort-of-thing-for-which-one-was-made-i-tried/) [Jean de La Fontaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-fontaine/) > [ No flowery road leads to glory. \[Fr., Aucun chemin de fleurs ne conduit a la gloire.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-fontaine/no-flowery-road-leads-to-glory-fr-aucun-chemin-de-fleurs-ne-conduit-a/) [Jean de La Fontaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-fontaine/) > [Nothing is as dangerous as an ignorant friend; a wise enemy is to be preferred.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-fontaine/nothing-is-as-dangerous-as-an-ignorant-friend-a-wise-enemy-is-to-be/) [Jean de La Fontaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-fontaine/) > [“Everyone believes very easily whatever he fears or desires.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-fontaine/everyone-believes-very-easily-whatever-he-fears-or-desires/) [Jean de La Fontaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-fontaine/) > [Example is a dangerous lure: where the wasp got through the gnat sticks fast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-fontaine/example-is-a-dangerous-lure-where-the-wasp-got-through-the-gnat/) [Jean de La Fontaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-fontaine/) > [Neither wealth or greatness render us happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-fontaine/neither-wealth-or-greatness-render-us-happy/) [Jean de La Fontaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-fontaine/) > [No favor can win gratitude from a cat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-fontaine/no-favor-can-win-gratitude-from-a-cat/) [Jean de La Fontaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-fontaine/) > [Love cries victory when the tears of a woman become the sole defence of her virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-fontaine/love-cries-victory-when-the-tears-of-a-woman-become-the-sole-defence/) [Jean de La Fontaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-fontaine/) > [A person often meets his destiny on the road he took to avoid it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-fontaine/a-person-often-meets-his-destiny-on-the-road-he-took-to-avoid-it/) [Jean de La Fontaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-fontaine/) > [You've tried to reform what will not learn. Shut doors on traits that you wish were dead; They will open a window and return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-fontaine/you-ve-tried-to-reform-what-will-not-learn-shut-doors-on-traits-that/) [Jean de La Fontaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-fontaine/) > [We ought never to scoff at the wretched, for who can be sure of continued happiness?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-fontaine/we-ought-never-to-scoff-at-the-wretched-for-who-can-be-sure-of/) [Jean de La Fontaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-fontaine/) > [Such gluttony second to none Almost ended fatally When a bone choked a wolf as he gulped what he ate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-fontaine/such-gluttony-second-to-none-almost-ended-fatally-when-a-bone-choked/) [Jean de La Fontaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-fontaine/) > [Every flatterer lives at the expense of him who listens to him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-fontaine/every-flatterer-lives-at-the-expense-of-him-who-listens-to-him/) [Jean de La Fontaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-fontaine/) > [Cats know not how to pardon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-fontaine/cats-know-not-how-to-pardon/) [Jean de La Fontaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-fontaine/) [Explore all 166 Jean de La Fontaine quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-fontaine/) ## More Being wise quotes > [You can never be wise unless you love reading.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/you-can-never-be-wise-unless-you-love-reading/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [To be smart, spend carefully. To be wise, save regularly. To be genius, give extravagantly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chip-ingram/to-be-smart-spend-carefully-to-be-wise-save-regularly-to-be-genius/) [Chip Ingram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chip-ingram/) > [Acknowledging foolishness is a very powerful and important experience. We could almost say that being willing to be a fool is one of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/acknowledging-foolishness-is-a-very-powerful-and-important-experience/) [Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/) > [To be wise was to be above joy and sorrow, fear and pity, ambition and humiliation. It was to hate nothing and to love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ende/to-be-wise-was-to-be-above-joy-and-sorrow-fear-and-pity-ambition-and/) [Michael Ende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ende/) > [Deign on the passing world to turn thine eyes, And pause awhile from letters, to be wise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/deign-on-the-passing-world-to-turn-thine-eyes-and-pause-awhile-from/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [I feel I want to be wise with white hair in a tall library in a deep chair by a fireplace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-corso/i-feel-i-want-to-be-wise-with-white-hair-in-a-tall-library-in-a-deep/) [Gregory Corso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-corso/) > [Were anyone wondering how Sen. Harry Reid intended to manage life in the minority, it took one day of the 114th Congress to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberley-strassel/were-anyone-wondering-how-sen-harry-reid-intended-to-manage-life-in/) Kimberley Strassel > [If we are going to be wise, spiritual people prepared to meet the crises of our age, we must be a studying, learning community…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-p-moreland/if-we-are-going-to-be-wise-spiritual-people-prepared-to-meet-the/) [J.P. Moreland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-p-moreland/) > [Literature provides us with experiences it would not be wise or possible to introduce into our own world and thus enlarges our understanding of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-rosenblatt/literature-provides-us-with-experiences-it-would-not-be-wise-or/) [Louise Rosenblatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-rosenblatt/) > [Learned we may be with another man's learning: we can only be wise with wisdom of our own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/learned-we-may-be-with-another-man-s-learning-we-can-only-be-wise/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [None of the modes by which a magistrate is appointed, popular election, the accident of the lot, or the accident of birth, affords, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-b-macaulay/none-of-the-modes-by-which-a-magistrate-is-appointed-popular-election/) [Thomas B. Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-b-macaulay/) > [The goal of a passionate artist is to try and make a masterpiece each and every time, yet be wise enough to know you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donato-giancola/the-goal-of-a-passionate-artist-is-to-try-and-make-a-masterpiece-each/) Donato Giancola > [License they mean when they cry Liberty; For who loves that, must first be wise and good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/license-they-mean-when-they-cry-liberty-for-who-loves-that-must-first/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [It almost seems as though this roiling world is conspiring to test our patience at every turn. In fact, it is. With this in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-almost-seems-as-though-this-roiling-world-is-conspiring-to-test/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's always better to be wise than to be smart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-alda/it-s-always-better-to-be-wise-than-to-be-smart/) [Alan Alda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-alda/) [Browse all 310 Being wise quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-wise/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Let fools the studious despise, There's nothing lost by being wise.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jean de La Fontaine" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-fontaine/let-fools-the-studious-despise-there-s-nothing-lost-by-being-wise/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Being wise" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-fontaine/let-fools-the-studious-despise-there-s-nothing-lost-by-being-wise/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2d/jean-de-la-fontaine-2320_being-wise_let-fools-the-studious-despise-there-s-n_1244068.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2d/jean-de-la-fontaine-2320_being-wise_let-fools-the-studious-despise-there-s-n_1244068.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2d/jean-de-la-fontaine-2320_being-wise_let-fools-the-studious-despise-there-s-n_1244068.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Let fools the studious despise, There's nothing lost by being wise.” — Jean de La Fontaine", "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": "Jean de La Fontaine", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-fontaine/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Let fools the studious despise, There's...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-fontaine/let-fools-the-studious-despise-there-s-nothing-lost-by-being-wise/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-fontaine/let-fools-the-studious-despise-there-s-nothing-lost-by-being-wise/#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 } } ] } ```