--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There are more fools than wise men, and…" description: "\"There are more fools than wise men, and even in a wise man there is more folly than wisdom.\" — Nicolas Chamfort" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e13/nicolas-chamfort-2263_folly_there-are-more-fools-than-wise-men-and-e_1185310.png" --- # There are more fools than wise men, and even in a wise man… ![“There are more fools than wise men, and even in a wise man there is more folly than wisdom.” quote by Nicolas Chamfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e13/nicolas-chamfort-2263_folly_there-are-more-fools-than-wise-men-and-e_1185310.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e13/nicolas-chamfort-2263_folly_there-are-more-fools-than-wise-men-and-e_1185310.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e13/nicolas-chamfort-2263_folly_there-are-more-fools-than-wise-men-and-e_1185310.png) > “There are more fools than wise men, and even in a wise man there is more folly than wisdom.” [Nicolas Chamfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-chamfort/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Even wise individuals contain folly, and fools often outnumber the wise, highlighting human imperfection. **In simple terms:** Wisdom coexists with folly; fools are many. Key Takeaway Recognize and temper your own folly. Themes wisdom folly human nature humility Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - decision making - leadership - education - personal development Key Concepts philosophy self-awareness critical thinking Questions to Reflect On - What does your own folly teach you? - How can you cultivate wisdom despite inherent flaws? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on folly can lead to cynicism. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Folly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/folly/) [Folly Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/folly-wisdom-843610/) [Fool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fool/) [Intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence/) [Man Folly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-folly-521538/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Men Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-wise/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) [Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise/) [Wise man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise-man/) [Wise men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise-men/) ## Related quotes > [The why is plain as way to parish church: He that a fool doth very wisely hit Doth very foolishly, although he smart, Not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/the-why-is-plain-as-way-to-parish-church-he-that-a-fool-doth-very/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Every man has his folly, but the greatest folly of all … is not to have one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikos-kazantzakis/every-man-has-his-folly-but-the-greatest-folly-of-all-is-not-to-have/) [Nikos Kazantzakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikos-kazantzakis/) > [To become Christ-like is the only thing in the whole world worth caring for, the thing before which every ambition of man is folly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-drummond/to-become-christ-like-is-the-only-thing-in-the-whole-world-worth/) [Henry Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-drummond/) > [“A man may indeed be an honest man; 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still less did she say: Be rich; her cry to me was always: Be independent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-chamfort/nature-never-said-to-me-do-not-be-poor-still-less-did-she-say-be-rich/) [Nicolas Chamfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-chamfort/) > [It is commonly supposed that the art of pleasing is a wonderful aid in the pursuit of fortune; but the art of being bored…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-chamfort/it-is-commonly-supposed-that-the-art-of-pleasing-is-a-wonderful-aid/) [Nicolas Chamfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-chamfort/) > [How many fools does it take to make up a public?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-chamfort/how-many-fools-does-it-take-to-make-up-a-public/) [Nicolas Chamfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-chamfort/) > [The poor are the blacks of Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-chamfort/the-poor-are-the-blacks-of-europe/) [Nicolas Chamfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-chamfort/) > [It is with happiness as with watches: the less complicated, the less easily deranged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-chamfort/it-is-with-happiness-as-with-watches-the-less-complicated-the-less/) [Nicolas Chamfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-chamfort/) > [A modicum of discord is the very spice of courtship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-chamfort/a-modicum-of-discord-is-the-very-spice-of-courtship/) [Nicolas Chamfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-chamfort/) > [Tragedy has the great moral defect of giving too much importance to life and death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-chamfort/tragedy-has-the-great-moral-defect-of-giving-too-much-importance-to/) [Nicolas Chamfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-chamfort/) > [Men's hearts and faces are always wide asunder; women's are not only in close connection, but are mirror-like in the instant power of reflection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-chamfort/men-s-hearts-and-faces-are-always-wide-asunder-women-s-are-not-only/) [Nicolas Chamfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-chamfort/) > [I only study the things I like; I apply my mind only to matters that interest me. They'll be useful-or useless-to me or to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-chamfort/i-only-study-the-things-i-like-i-apply-my-mind-only-to-matters-that/) [Nicolas Chamfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-chamfort/) > [Contemptuous people are sure to be contemptible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-chamfort/contemptuous-people-are-sure-to-be-contemptible/) [Nicolas Chamfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-chamfort/) > [Do not suppose opportunity will knock twice at your door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-chamfort/do-not-suppose-opportunity-will-knock-twice-at-your-door/) [Nicolas Chamfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-chamfort/) > [Sometimes apparent resemblance of character will bring two men together and for a certain time unite them. But their mistake gradually becomes evident, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-chamfort/sometimes-apparent-resemblance-of-character-will-bring-two-men/) [Nicolas Chamfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-chamfort/) [Explore all 169 Nicolas Chamfort quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-chamfort/) ## More Folly quotes > [My folks tried to make a preacher of me and missed by a narrow margin… I would have made a good one if I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/my-folks-tried-to-make-a-preacher-of-me-and-missed-by-a-narrow-margin/) [Robert A. 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It doesn't comfort man. On the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marguerite-duras/alcohol-doesn-t-console-it-doesn-t-fill-up-anyone-s-psychological/) [Marguerite Duras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marguerite-duras/) > [Tis easy to break an idol, very easy: to regard the self as easy to subdue is folly, folly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/tis-easy-to-break-an-idol-very-easy-to-regard-the-self-as-easy-to/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [You are my inspiration and my folly. You are my light across the sea, my million nameless joys, and my day's wage. You are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/you-are-my-inspiration-and-my-folly-you-are-my-light-across-the-sea/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [What curious little corners of folly are to be found in even the sanest brain!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-of-romania/what-curious-little-corners-of-folly-are-to-be-found-in-even-the/) [Marie of Romania](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-of-romania/) > [Unnecessary hustle is one of the American follies. We hustle at both work and play, and consequently enjoy neither to the utmost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-feather/unnecessary-hustle-is-one-of-the-american-follies-we-hustle-at-both/) [William Feather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-feather/) > [HERMIT, n. A person whose vices and follies are not sociable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/hermit-n-a-person-whose-vices-and-follies-are-not-sociable/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Democracy is the worst form of government. 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