--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Wise people are foolish if they cannot…" description: "\"Wise people are foolish if they cannot adapt to foolish people.\" — Michel de Montaigne" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/616/michel-de-montaigne-142_adaptability_wise-people-are-foolish-if-they-cannot-a_742533.jpg" --- # Wise people are foolish if they cannot adapt to foolish… ![“Wise people are foolish if they cannot adapt to foolish people.” quote by Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/616/michel-de-montaigne-142_adaptability_wise-people-are-foolish-if-they-cannot-a_742533.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/616/michel-de-montaigne-142_adaptability_wise-people-are-foolish-if-they-cannot-a_742533.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/616/michel-de-montaigne-142_adaptability_wise-people-are-foolish-if-they-cannot-a_742533.jpg) > “Wise people are foolish if they cannot adapt to foolish people.” [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Intelligence is useless if it cannot navigate the absurdities of others. **In simple terms:** Smart people must learn to deal with foolishness. Key Takeaway Adapt to folly. Themes wisdom adaptability human nature humility Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - working with difficult teams - teaching - conflict resolution Key Concepts cognitive flexibility social intelligence philosophy Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance critical thinking with tolerance? - When is it okay to challenge foolishness? A Different Perspective Being too rigid can alienate you from others. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adaptability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adaptability/) [Fool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fool/) [Foolish people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foolish-people/) [Foolishness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foolishness/) [Fools and wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fools-and-wise/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Humility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humility/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) [Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise/) [Wise people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise-people/) ## Related quotes > [Greatness of soul consists not so much in soaring high and in pressing forward, as in knowing how to adapt and limit oneself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/greatness-of-soul-consists-not-so-much-in-soaring-high-and-in/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [“The future is shaped by young people foolish enough to believe they can topple a mountain. And yet, when we stand among the rubble,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-rowland/the-future-is-shaped-by-young-people-foolish-enough-to-believe-they/) [Mitch Rowland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-rowland/) > [“The books, always the books. And for themselves, not to become rich or famous like sensible people. Are we not foolish? But it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ward-moore/the-books-always-the-books-and-for-themselves-not-to-become-rich-or/) [Ward Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ward-moore/) > [“A witch didn't do things because they seemed a good idea at the time! That was practically cackling. You had to deal every day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/a-witch-didn-t-do-things-because-they-seemed-a-good-idea-at-the-time/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Impatience can cause wise people to do foolish things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janette-oke/impatience-can-cause-wise-people-to-do-foolish-things/) [Janette Oke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janette-oke/) > [The Constitution was definitely and specifically designed to hobble all people who are so foolish as to think themselves capable of leading others by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-read/the-constitution-was-definitely-and-specifically-designed-to-hobble/) [Leonard Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-read/) > [Some people are so foolish that they think they can go through life without the help of the Blessed Mother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pio-of-pietrelcina/some-people-are-so-foolish-that-they-think-they-can-go-through-life/) [Pio of Pietrelcina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pio-of-pietrelcina/) > [Young people get the foolish idea that what is new for them must be new for everybody else too. No matter how unconventional they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yukio-mishima/young-people-get-the-foolish-idea-that-what-is-new-for-them-must-be/) [Yukio Mishima](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yukio-mishima/) > [You had to deal every day with people who were foolish and lazy and untruthful and downright unpleasant, and you could certainly end up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/you-had-to-deal-every-day-with-people-who-were-foolish-and-lazy-and/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Some people are foolish enough to imagine that wealth and power and fame satisfy our hearts: but they never do, unless they are used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/some-people-are-foolish-enough-to-imagine-that-wealth-and-power-and/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [Love makes people do some foolish things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/namae/love-makes-people-do-some-foolish-things/) Namae > [I simply make music, and people have always been foolish enough to pay me for it. I never told them that I would have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leopold-stokowski/i-simply-make-music-and-people-have-always-been-foolish-enough-to-pay/) [Leopold Stokowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leopold-stokowski/) > [“For My people are foolish, They know Me not; They are stupid children And have no understanding. They are shrewd to do evil, But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremiah-4-22/for-my-people-are-foolish-they-know-me-not-they-are-stupid-children/) Jeremiah 4 22 > [“Americans, in being hated, were simply paying the normal penalty for being people, and that they were foolish to think they should somehow be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut-jr/americans-in-being-hated-were-simply-paying-the-normal-penalty-for/) [Kurt Vonnegut Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut-jr/) > [People are foolish if they think I'm going to lose my head and give up anything to anyone just because someone threatens me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cam-ron/people-are-foolish-if-they-think-i-m-going-to-lose-my-head-and-give/) [Cam'ron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cam-ron/) ## More by Michel de Montaigne > [No man is exempt from saying silly things; the mischief is to say them deliberately.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/no-man-is-exempt-from-saying-silly-things-the-mischief-is-to-say-them/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [The laws keep up their credit, not by being just, but because they are laws; 'tis the mystic foundation of their authority; they have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-laws-keep-up-their-credit-not-by-being-just-but-because-they-are/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Every one rushes elsewhere and into the future, because no one wants to face one's own inner self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/every-one-rushes-elsewhere-and-into-the-future-because-no-one-wants/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Beauty is the true prerogative of women, and so peculiarly their own, that our sex, though naturally requiring another sort of feature, is never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/beauty-is-the-true-prerogative-of-women-and-so-peculiarly-their-own/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [The height and value of true virtue consists in the facility, utility, and pleasure of its exercise; so far from difficulty, that boys, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-height-and-value-of-true-virtue-consists-in-the-facility-utility/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Fie on the eloquence that leaves us craving itself, not things!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/fie-on-the-eloquence-that-leaves-us-craving-itself-not-things/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [The plainest sign of wisdom is a continual cheerfulness: her state is like that of things in the regions above the moon, always clear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-plainest-sign-of-wisdom-is-a-continual-cheerfulness-her-state-is/) [Michel De Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [The corruption of the age is made up by the particular contribution of every individual man; some contribute treachery, others injustice, atheism, tyranny, avarice,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-corruption-of-the-age-is-made-up-by-the-particular-contribution/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [If people must be talking about me, I would have it to be truthfully and justly. I would willingly return from the next world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/if-people-must-be-talking-about-me-i-would-have-it-to-be-truthfully/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Most pleasures embrace us but to strangle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/most-pleasures-embrace-us-but-to-strangle/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [In true friendship, in which I am expert, I give myself to my friend more than I draw him to me. I not only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/in-true-friendship-in-which-i-am-expert-i-give-myself-to-my-friend/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [There are as many and innumerable degrees of wit, as there are cubits between this and heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/there-are-as-many-and-innumerable-degrees-of-wit-as-there-are-cubits/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [A man has need of tough ears to hear himself fairly judged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/a-man-has-need-of-tough-ears-to-hear-himself-fairly-judged/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Lucius Arruntius killed himself, he said, to escape both the future and the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/lucius-arruntius-killed-himself-he-said-to-escape-both-the-future-and/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [I have a vocabulary all my own. I pass the time when itis wet and disagreeable. Whenit is fine I do not wish to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/i-have-a-vocabulary-all-my-own-i-pass-the-time-when-itis-wet-and/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) [Explore all 1,131 Michel de Montaigne quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) ## More Adaptability quotes > [if I can't get what I want - well, I'll want what I can get.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-maud-montgomery/if-i-can-t-get-what-i-want-well-i-ll-want-what-i-can-get/) [Lucy Maud Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-maud-montgomery/) > [ My contemplation of life and human nature in that secluded place \[cell 54 of Cairo Central Prison\] taught me that he who cannot change… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anwar-sadat/my-contemplation-of-life-and-human-nature-in-that-secluded-place-cell/) [Anwar Sadat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anwar-sadat/) > [We'll have a different set of values, and society will adapt. That doesn't mean these changes are all good, just because we will accept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reischauer/we-ll-have-a-different-set-of-values-and-society-will-adapt-that/) Robert Reischauer > [“Evolution is more about adaptivity than adaptability.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raheel-farooq/evolution-is-more-about-adaptivity-than-adaptability/) [Raheel Farooq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raheel-farooq/) > [I think that human beings have gotten as far as we've gotten because of our adaptability, our ability to adapt, and our ability to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-silva/i-think-that-human-beings-have-gotten-as-far-as-we-ve-gotten-because/) [Jason Silva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-silva/) > [“It's a fact— everyone is ignorant in some way or another. Ignorance is our deepest secret. And it is one of the scariest things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-nazarian/it-s-a-fact-everyone-is-ignorant-in-some-way-or-another-ignorance-is/) [Vera Nazarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-nazarian/) > [The fastest thing computers do is go obsolete.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-rooney/the-fastest-thing-computers-do-is-go-obsolete/) [Andy Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-rooney/) > [Thea was still under the belief that public opinion could be placated; that if you clucked often enough, the hens would mistake you for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willa-cather/thea-was-still-under-the-belief-that-public-opinion-could-be-placated/) [Willa Cather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willa-cather/) > [“adaptability coupled with readiness to flower year after year right from the first, roses are clearly”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-oster/adaptability-coupled-with-readiness-to-flower-year-after-year-right/) [Maggie Oster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-oster/) > [There's a mindset of flexibility and adaptability that comes with us. We don't mind hardship. We don't mind somebody saying, 'Go in and do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-f-amos/there-s-a-mindset-of-flexibility-and-adaptability-that-comes-with-us/) [James F. Amos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-f-amos/) > [“Change is inevitable. Wise leaders anticipate it and adapt quickly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-rivard/change-is-inevitable-wise-leaders-anticipate-it-and-adapt-quickly/) Cynthia Rivard > [“Marketing is a never-ending story. It’s about perpetual motion where innovation plays the lead role.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacey-kehoe/marketing-is-a-never-ending-story-it-s-about-perpetual-motion-where/) [Stacey Kehoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacey-kehoe/) > [“...such it is with all human sensations that people become gradually used to everything and this is truly a beneficial gift from nature, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-wagevier/such-it-is-with-all-human-sensations-that-people-become-gradually/) C. J. Wagevier > [“That was certainly a case of snowballing momentum. Who would've thought he'd succeed being that far behind?" "True. This particular assignment was designed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuto-tsukuda/that-was-certainly-a-case-of-snowballing-momentum-who-would-ve/) [Yuto Tsukuda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuto-tsukuda/) > [My point was simply that the war on global terrorism is going to be a long one, and we need to adapt as our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-myers/my-point-was-simply-that-the-war-on-global-terrorism-is-going-to-be-a/) Richard Myers [Browse all 162 Adaptability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adaptability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Wise people are foolish if they cannot adapt to foolish people.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Michel de Montaigne" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/wise-people-are-foolish-if-they-cannot-adapt-to-foolish-people/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Adaptability" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/wise-people-are-foolish-if-they-cannot-adapt-to-foolish-people/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/616/michel-de-montaigne-142_adaptability_wise-people-are-foolish-if-they-cannot-a_742533.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/616/michel-de-montaigne-142_adaptability_wise-people-are-foolish-if-they-cannot-a_742533.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/616/michel-de-montaigne-142_adaptability_wise-people-are-foolish-if-they-cannot-a_742533.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Wise people are foolish if they cannot adapt to foolish people.” — Michel de Montaigne", "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": "Michel de Montaigne", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Wise people are foolish if they...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/wise-people-are-foolish-if-they-cannot-adapt-to-foolish-people/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/wise-people-are-foolish-if-they-cannot-adapt-to-foolish-people/#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 } } ] } ```