Art Quote by William Shakespeare
“This fellow is wise enough to play the fool; And to do that well craves a kind of wit: He must observe their mood on whom he jests, The quality of persons, and the time, And, like the haggard, check at every feather That comes before his eye. This is a practise As full of labour as a wise man's art For folly that he wisely shows is fit; But wise men, folly-fall'n, quite taint their wit.”
About This Quote
Source Play: As You Like It, Act 2, Scene 7
A wise person must act foolishly at times, reading the audience and timing to reveal folly wisely, while true wit can be tainted by folly.
In simple terms: Wise fools read the crowd and timing.
Key Takeaway
Use wit wisely, know your audience.
Themes
wit
foolishness
observation
timing
Mood
reflective
strategic
Type
dramatic
philosophical
When to use this quote
- theatre performance
- public speaking
- leadership
- conflict resolution
Key Concepts
dramatic irony
social intelligence
Questions to Reflect On
- When have you misjudged an audience?
- How can you balance wit and humility?
A Different Perspective
Misreading the audience can backfire.
![“But, indeed, words are very rascals, since bonds [vows] disgraced them." Viola: "Thy reason, man?" Feste: "Troth [Truthfully], sir, I can yield you none without words, and words are grown so false, I am loathe to prove reason with them.” quote by William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/621/william-shakespeare-4_men_but-indeed-words-are-very-rascals-since_1266764.jpg)
