--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Answer not a fool according to his…" description: "\"Answer not a fool according to his folly,lest thou also be like unto him.\" — Solomon" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbe/solomon-9530_advice_answer-not-a-fool-according-to-his-folly_2296071.jpg" --- # Answer not a fool according to his folly,lest thou also be… ![“Answer not a fool according to his folly,lest thou also be like unto him.” quote by Solomon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbe/solomon-9530_advice_answer-not-a-fool-according-to-his-folly_2296071.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbe/solomon-9530_advice_answer-not-a-fool-according-to-his-folly_2296071.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbe/solomon-9530_advice_answer-not-a-fool-according-to-his-folly_2296071.jpg) > “Answer not a fool according to his folly,lest thou also be like unto him.” [Solomon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solomon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Do not respond to a fool in kind, or you become like him. **In simple terms:** Avoid mirroring foolishness. Key Takeaway Respond wisely, not reactively. Themes wisdom self‑control communication Mood cautious thoughtful Type ethical practical When to use this quote - conflict resolution - online discourse - family arguments Key Concepts Stoicism ethical behavior Questions to Reflect On - When is it appropriate to engage a fool? - How can you maintain dignity in heated debates? A Different Perspective May be hard to apply when emotions run high. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Advice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advice/) [Folly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/folly/) [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/) > [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/) > [“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 > [“Answer a fool according to his folly lest he be wise in his own conceit. Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/answer-a-fool-according-to-his-folly-lest-he-be-wise-in-his-own/) [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) > [“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/) > [My soul, never laugh at sin's fooleries, lest thou come to smile at sin itself. It is thine enemy, and thy Lord's enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-soul-never-laugh-at-sin-s-fooleries-lest-thou-come-to-smile-at-sin/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [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/) > [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 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/) > [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/) > [The suburbs of folly is vain mirth, and profuseness of laughter is the city of fools.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/the-suburbs-of-folly-is-vain-mirth-and-profuseness-of-laughter-is-the/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [I hold him but a fool that will endanger His body for a girl that loves him not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-hold-him-but-a-fool-that-will-endanger-his-body-for-a-girl-that/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremiah/even-a-fool-when-he-holdeth-his-peace-is-counted-wise/) [Jeremiah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremiah/) ## More by Solomon > [That, who keeps his mouth, keeps his Soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solomon/that-who-keeps-his-mouth-keeps-his-soul/) [Solomon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solomon/) > [What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solomon/what-has-been-will-be-again-what-has-been-done-will-be-done-again/) [Solomon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solomon/) > [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/) > [The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solomon/the-fear-of-the-lord-is-the-beginning-of-wisdom/) [Solomon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solomon/) > [Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solomon/then-the-dust-will-return-to-the-earth-as-it-was-and-the-spirit-will/) [Solomon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solomon/) > [Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solomon/lazy-hands-make-a-man-poor-but-diligent-hands-bring-wealth/) [Solomon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solomon/) > [Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a fattened ox and hatred with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solomon/better-is-a-dinner-of-herbs-where-love-is-than-a-fattened-ox-and/) [Solomon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solomon/) > [To gain riches is wise; to pay for riches with happiness is foolish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solomon/to-gain-riches-is-wise-to-pay-for-riches-with-happiness-is-foolish/) [Solomon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solomon/) > [Whoever stubbornly refuses to accept criticism will suddenly be broken beyond repair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solomon/whoever-stubbornly-refuses-to-accept-criticism-will-suddenly-be/) [Solomon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solomon/) > [Love is strong as the Death; jealousies are as cruel as the tomb.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solomon/love-is-strong-as-the-death-jealousies-are-as-cruel-as-the-tomb/) [Solomon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solomon/) > [A good name is better than precious ointment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solomon/a-good-name-is-better-than-precious-ointment/) [Solomon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solomon/) > [The man who walks with wise men becomes wise himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solomon/the-man-who-walks-with-wise-men-becomes-wise-himself/) [Solomon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solomon/) > [There is a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solomon/there-is-a-time-to-weep-and-a-time-to-laugh-a-time-to-mourn-and-a/) [Solomon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solomon/) > [Jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame. \[Therefore do not compare your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solomon/jealousy-is-cruel-as-the-grave-the-coals-thereof-are-coals-of-fire/) [Solomon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solomon/) > [The rich is the one that rules over those of little means, and the borrower is servant to the man doing the lending.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solomon/the-rich-is-the-one-that-rules-over-those-of-little-means-and-the/) [Solomon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solomon/) [Explore all 72 Solomon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solomon/) ## More Advice quotes > [The sensible person is always serious about sensible advice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/the-sensible-person-is-always-serious-about-sensible-advice/) Mak\_786 > [I ask for tips, for advice. What I have also learnt is that I need to do things that are good for me. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthijs-de-ligt/i-ask-for-tips-for-advice-what-i-have-also-learnt-is-that-i-need-to/) [Matthijs de Ligt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthijs-de-ligt/) > [Don't get too attached to someone you know you can't be together with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/don-t-get-too-attached-to-someone-you-know-you-can-t-be-together-with/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [A low-minded person should not be given good advice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chanakya/a-low-minded-person-should-not-be-given-good-advice/) [Chanakya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chanakya/) > [The worst advice? 'Don't listen to the critics.' I think that you really ought to listen to the critics, because sometimes they're telling you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/the-worst-advice-don-t-listen-to-the-critics-i-think-that-you-really/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [When I was in my twenties and just so sexually prolific, the first time I went to Machu Picchu, this guy, a spiritual teacher,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-harrelson/when-i-was-in-my-twenties-and-just-so-sexually-prolific-the-first/) [Woody Harrelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-harrelson/) > [The best way to succeed in this world is to act on the advice you give to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/the-best-way-to-succeed-in-this-world-is-to-act-on-the-advice-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Time is priceless. You have it, but you don't own it. You spend it, but you can't keep it. And once it's gone, there's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/time-is-priceless-you-have-it-but-you-don-t-own-it-you-spend-it-but/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You don't need to take a persons advice to make him feel good, just ask him for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-j-peter/you-don-t-need-to-take-a-persons-advice-to-make-him-feel-good-just/) [Laurence J. Peter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-j-peter/) > [Some of the things that we hold onto the most, are the things that we need to let go of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryaj-ablando-catayas/some-of-the-things-that-we-hold-onto-the-most-are-the-things-that-we/) [Ryaj Ablando Catayas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryaj-ablando-catayas/) > [“If your clothes are enough to drive would-be friends away, they're not the kind of friends you want." Typical mother advice. Sweet, honest, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aprilynne-pike/if-your-clothes-are-enough-to-drive-would-be-friends-away-they-re-not/) [Aprilynne Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aprilynne-pike/) > [“My kingdom not for a horse, but for a good piece of advice!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/my-kingdom-not-for-a-horse-but-for-a-good-piece-of-advice/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [I always advise people not to act upon the advice that I give them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/i-always-advise-people-not-to-act-upon-the-advice-that-i-give-them/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [ \[A\]s you partake of the world's bill of fare, that's darned good advice to follow. Do a lot of spitting out the hot air.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-seuss/a-s-you-partake-of-the-world-s-bill-of-fare-that-s-darned-good-advice/) [Dr. Seuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-seuss/) > [My relationship with Ibrahimovic was completely neutral. He is not the type of player to approach the younger players and give them advice. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kingsley-coman/my-relationship-with-ibrahimovic-was-completely-neutral-he-is-not-the/) [Kingsley Coman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kingsley-coman/) [Browse all 8,535 Advice quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advice/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Answer not a fool according to his folly,lest thou also be like unto him.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Solomon" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solomon/answer-not-a-fool-according-to-his-folly-lest-thou-also-be-like-unto-2/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Advice" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solomon/answer-not-a-fool-according-to-his-folly-lest-thou-also-be-like-unto-2/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbe/solomon-9530_advice_answer-not-a-fool-according-to-his-folly_2296071.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbe/solomon-9530_advice_answer-not-a-fool-according-to-his-folly_2296071.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbe/solomon-9530_advice_answer-not-a-fool-according-to-his-folly_2296071.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Answer not a fool according to his folly,lest thou also be like unto him.” — Solomon", "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": "Solomon", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solomon/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Answer not a fool according to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solomon/answer-not-a-fool-according-to-his-folly-lest-thou-also-be-like-unto-2/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solomon/answer-not-a-fool-according-to-his-folly-lest-thou-also-be-like-unto-2/#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 } } ] } ```