--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Poor fool! in whose petty estimation all…" description: "\"Poor fool! in whose petty estimation all things are little.\" — Johann Wolfgang von Goethe" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/269/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_all-things_poor-fool-in-whose-petty-estimation-all_1577638.jpg" --- # Poor fool! in whose petty estimation all things are little. ![“Poor fool! in whose petty estimation all things are little.” quote by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/269/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_all-things_poor-fool-in-whose-petty-estimation-all_1577638.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/269/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_all-things_poor-fool-in-whose-petty-estimation-all_1577638.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/269/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-36_all-things_poor-fool-in-whose-petty-estimation-all_1577638.jpg) > “Poor fool! in whose petty estimation all things are little.” [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Criticizes a narrow perspective that diminishes the significance of all things. **In simple terms:** Small-minded view undervalues everything. Key Takeaway Broaden your perspective to appreciate all matters. Themes perspective humility valuation Mood thoughtful serious Type philosophical educational When to use this quote - daily decisions - leadership - art criticism Key Concepts myopia self-importance philosophy Questions to Reflect On - How does expanding your view change your judgments? - What practices help you see the bigger picture? A Different Perspective May ignore nuanced differences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fool/) [Pettiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pettiness/) ## Related quotes > [And here, poor fool, with all my lore I stand no wiser than before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/and-here-poor-fool-with-all-my-lore-i-stand-no-wiser-than-before/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [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/) > [I have, alas! Philosophy, Medicine, Jurisprudence too, And to my cost Theology, With ardent labor, studied through. And here I stand, with all my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-have-alas-philosophy-medicine-jurisprudence-too-and-to-my-cost/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Yet here poor fool for all my lore, I stand no wiser than before”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/goethe/yet-here-poor-fool-for-all-my-lore-i-stand-no-wiser-than-before/) [Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/goethe/) > [One came to the war all over gold, like a girl. Poor fool! it did not save him from cruel death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-iliad/one-came-to-the-war-all-over-gold-like-a-girl-poor-fool-it-did-not/) [The Iliad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-iliad/) > [“But no, Potticary, poor fool, brushed his boots for love of it. He probably had a slave mentality; but had never read enough for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-tey/but-no-potticary-poor-fool-brushed-his-boots-for-love-of-it-he/) [Josephine Tey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-tey/) > [“He won the war on the battlefield and lost it in a bedchamber, poor fool.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/he-won-the-war-on-the-battlefield-and-lost-it-in-a-bedchamber-poor/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [“The Yorubas have a saying, here, my translation in English--a poor fool is a bigger fool rich. In other words, money only allows and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dew-platt/the-yorubas-have-a-saying-here-my-translation-in-english-a-poor-fool/) [Dew Platt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dew-platt/) > [“Lord, why can't the women let you alone? Just because once or twice, seven hundred million years ago, you were a poor fool, why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sinclair-lewis/lord-why-can-t-the-women-let-you-alone-just-because-once-or-twice/) [Sinclair Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sinclair-lewis/) > [“That's man's way. To prove something. Day in, day out he must prove he is a man. Poor Fool.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-j-gaines/that-s-man-s-way-to-prove-something-day-in-day-out-he-must-prove-he/) [Ernest J. Gaines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-j-gaines/) > [“The poor fool hadn't realized that if all mankind shares a folly or an illusion, and likes to share it even knowing what it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dickson-carr/the-poor-fool-hadn-t-realized-that-if-all-mankind-shares-a-folly-or/) [John Dickson Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dickson-carr/) > [My manner of thinking, so you say, cannot be approved. Do you suppose I care? 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Whatever I set out to do I found I had already accomplished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/i-never-believed-in-trying-to-do-anything-whatever-i-set-out-to-do-i/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [All lyrical work must, as a whole, be perfectly intelligible, but in some particulars a little unintelligible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/all-lyrical-work-must-as-a-whole-be-perfectly-intelligible-but-in/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [We know accurately only when we know little, with knowledge doubt increases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/we-know-accurately-only-when-we-know-little-with-knowledge-doubt/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [It is easier to perceive error than to find truth, for the former lies on the surface and is easily seen, while the latter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/it-is-easier-to-perceive-error-than-to-find-truth-for-the-former-lies/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [There is no patriotic art and no patriotic science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/there-is-no-patriotic-art-and-no-patriotic-science/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [The connoisseur of art must be able to appreciate what is simply beautiful, but the common run of people is satisfied with ornament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/the-connoisseur-of-art-must-be-able-to-appreciate-what-is-simply/) [Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Nothing is worse than active ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/nothing-is-worse-than-active-ignorance/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Let us not dream that reason can ever be popular. Passions, emotions, may be made popular; but reason remains ever the property of an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/let-us-not-dream-that-reason-can-ever-be-popular-passions-emotions/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Our foibles are really what make us lovable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/our-foibles-are-really-what-make-us-lovable/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Instruction does much, but encouragement everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/instruction-does-much-but-encouragement-everything/) [Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Giving is the business of the rich.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/giving-is-the-business-of-the-rich/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Just begin and the mind grows heated; continue, and the task will be completed!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/just-begin-and-the-mind-grows-heated-continue-and-the-task-will-be/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [I look upon all four Gospels as thoroughly genuine, for there shines forth from them the reflected splendor of a sublimity proceeding from Jesus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/i-look-upon-all-four-gospels-as-thoroughly-genuine-for-there-shines/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Whatever we may say against collections, which present authors in a disjointed form, they nevertheless bring about many excellent results. We are not always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/whatever-we-may-say-against-collections-which-present-authors-in-a/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) [Explore all 2,052 Johann Wolfgang von Goethe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) ## More All things quotes > [Those whose life is long still strive for gain, and for all mortals all things take second place to money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/those-whose-life-is-long-still-strive-for-gain-and-for-all-mortals/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [To explicate the uses of the Brain seems as difficult a task as to paint the Soul, of which it is commonly said, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-willis/to-explicate-the-uses-of-the-brain-seems-as-difficult-a-task-as-to/) [Thomas Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-willis/) > [A tree is a self: it is 'unseen shaping' more than it is leaves or bark, roots or cellulose or fruit ... 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That's my motto.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-bretton/moderation-honey-in-all-things-but-love-and-chocolate-that-s-my-motto/) [Barbara Bretton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-bretton/) > [There is a spirit which I feel that delights to do no evil, nor to revenge any wrong, but delights to endure all things,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-nayler/there-is-a-spirit-which-i-feel-that-delights-to-do-no-evil-nor-to/) James Nayler > [What greater weakness can there be than not to know what is the source of one's being, of one's life, of one's senses, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/what-greater-weakness-can-there-be-than-not-to-know-what-is-the/) [Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) > [When I was in my teens I had a series of intensely religious experiences. They deepened my sense of God as the creator of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-linzey/when-i-was-in-my-teens-i-had-a-series-of-intensely-religious/) [Andrew Linzey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-linzey/) > [It is more than a little ironic that "capital accumulation" once a rather tendentious Marxian view of a supposed capitalist obsession, should have become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kuttner/it-is-more-than-a-little-ironic-that-capital-accumulation-once-a/) [Robert Kuttner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kuttner/) > [The Lord gives and the Lord takes away, as it pleases him, for he can do all things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/the-lord-gives-and-the-lord-takes-away-as-it-pleases-him-for-he-can/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [Time, which wears down and diminishes all things, augments and increases good deeds, because a good turn liberally offered to a reasonable man grows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-rabelais/time-which-wears-down-and-diminishes-all-things-augments-and/) [Francois Rabelais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-rabelais/) > [Standing as a witness in all things means being kind in all things, being the first to say hello, being the first to smile,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-d-nadauld/standing-as-a-witness-in-all-things-means-being-kind-in-all-things/) [Margaret D. 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