--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Answer a fool according to his folly lest…" description: "\"“Answer a fool according to his folly lest he be wise in his own conceit. Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou be like unto him. Choose ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/455/saul-bellow-558_fool_answer-a-fool-according-to-his-folly-les_235136.png" --- # Answer a fool according to his folly lest he be wise in… ![“Answer a fool according to his folly lest he be wise in his own conceit. Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou be like unto him. Choose one.” quote by Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/455/saul-bellow-558_fool_answer-a-fool-according-to-his-folly-les_235136.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/455/saul-bellow-558_fool_answer-a-fool-according-to-his-folly-les_235136.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/455/saul-bellow-558_fool_answer-a-fool-according-to-his-folly-les_235136.png) > ““Answer a fool according to his folly lest he be wise in his own conceit. Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou be like unto him. Choose one.”” [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advice to avoid mirroring a fool's behavior when responding, lest you adopt their folly. **In simple terms:** Don't reply to a fool like a fool. Key Takeaway Respond wisely, not in kind. Themes wisdom communication self-control Mood thoughtful reflective Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - debates - online arguments - conflict resolution Key Concepts philosophy ethics rhetoric Questions to Reflect On - When should you ignore a fool? - How can you stay true to your values? A Different Perspective Matching a fool's logic can trap you in their mindset. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fool/) ## Related quotes > [Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he be wise in his own eyes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solomon/answer-a-fool-according-to-his-folly-lest-he-be-wise-in-his-own-eyes/) [Solomon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solomon/) > [“Where in the Bible are we told in one verse not to do a thing and in the next to do it? ‘Answer not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-grant-oliphant/where-in-the-bible-are-we-told-in-one-verse-not-to-do-a-thing-and-in/) Samuel Grant Oliphant > [You sometimes have to answer a woman according to her womanliness, just as you have to answer a fool according to his folly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/you-sometimes-have-to-answer-a-woman-according-to-her-womanliness/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [Answer not a fool according to his folly,lest thou also be like unto him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solomon/answer-not-a-fool-according-to-his-folly-lest-thou-also-be-like-unto-2/) [Solomon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solomon/) > [“Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him." ( Proverbs 26:4 )”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holy-bible/answer-not-a-fool-according-to-his-folly-lest-thou-also-be-like-unto/) [Holy Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holy-bible/) > [The man of system is apt to be very wise in his own conceit. In the great chess board of human society, every single…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/the-man-of-system-is-apt-to-be-very-wise-in-his-own-conceit-in-the/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [The man of system, on the contrary, is apt to be very wise in his own conceit; and is often so enamoured with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/the-man-of-system-on-the-contrary-is-apt-to-be-very-wise-in-his-own/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [Let a fool be made serviceable according to his folly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-conrad/let-a-fool-be-made-serviceable-according-to-his-folly/) [Joseph Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-conrad/) > [“The answer to a fool is silence. (Proverb)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/the-answer-to-a-fool-is-silence-proverb/) [Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) > [Silence is the best answer to a fool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/silence-is-the-best-answer-to-a-fool/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The best answer for a fool, tell em what they need to hear but be cool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaze-olamiday/the-best-answer-for-a-fool-tell-em-what-they-need-to-hear-but-be-cool/) [Blaze Olamiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaze-olamiday/) > [The proverb says that 'The answer to a fool is silence'. Observation, however, indicates that almost any other answer will have the same effect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/the-proverb-says-that-the-answer-to-a-fool-is-silence-observation/) [Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) > [The best way to answer a fool is to keep mute.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-best-way-to-answer-a-fool-is-to-keep-mute/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A fool can throw a stone in a pond that 100 wise men can not get out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/a-fool-can-throw-a-stone-in-a-pond-that-100-wise-men-can-not-get-out/) [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) > [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/) ## More by Saul Bellow > [... a fellow can't predict what he will pick up in the form of influence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/a-fellow-can-t-predict-what-he-will-pick-up-in-the-form-of-influence/) [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) > [If I'm out of my mind, it's all right with me, thought Moses Herzog.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/if-i-m-out-of-my-mind-it-s-all-right-with-me-thought-moses-herzog/) [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) > [I have begun in old age to understand just how oddly we are all put together. We are so proud of our autonomy that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/i-have-begun-in-old-age-to-understand-just-how-oddly-we-are-all-put/) [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) > [“On Broadway it was still bright afternoon and the gassy air was almost motionless under the leaden spokes of sunlight, and sawdust footprints lay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/on-broadway-it-was-still-bright-afternoon-and-the-gassy-air-was/) [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) > [There are evils that have the ability to survive identification and go on for ever... money, for instance, or war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/there-are-evils-that-have-the-ability-to-survive-identification-and/) [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) > [Myself is thus and so, and will continue thus and so. And why fight it? My balance comes from instability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/myself-is-thus-and-so-and-will-continue-thus-and-so-and-why-fight-it/) [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) > [“A strange heart. I myself can't account for it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/a-strange-heart-i-myself-can-t-account-for-it/) [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) > [The late philosopher Morris R. Cohen of CCNY was asked by a student in the metaphysics course, Professor Cohen, how do I know that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/the-late-philosopher-morris-r-cohen-of-ccny-was-asked-by-a-student-in/) [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) > [“Therefore we didn't talk of genuine things.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/therefore-we-didn-t-talk-of-genuine-things/) [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) > [Is our species crazy? Plenty of evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/is-our-species-crazy-plenty-of-evidence/) [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) > [“But now the emphasis has shifted to making it. People have surrendered their personal moral objectives to government or schools or psychologists. It’s a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/but-now-the-emphasis-has-shifted-to-making-it-people-have-surrendered/) [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) > [There's a kind of emptiness at the center of life ... nothing to form your life on, or by.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/there-s-a-kind-of-emptiness-at-the-center-of-life-nothing-to-form/) [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) > [“I don't know how it all at once came to me to talk a lot, tell jokes, kick up, and suddenly have views. 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And this is the root of the struggle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/for-knowledge-of-death-makes-us-wish-to-extend-our-lives-at-the/) [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) [Explore all 464 Saul Bellow quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) ## 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": "“Answer a fool according to his folly lest he be wise in his own conceit. 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