Doing wrong is like a joke to a fool.
Doing wrong is like a joke to a fool.
Meaning in plain English
The saying compares doing wrong with a joke to a fool. It criticises treating harmful conduct as entertainment rather than taking it seriously.
Example
A group addresses a damaging prank despite the claim that it was only funny.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
The comparison concerns the attitude toward an action, not all humour. A useful application can ask whether a joke excuses real consequences. The person’s conduct needs description rather than relying entirely on the fool label, and the source does not define every act of wrongdoing.
When to use it
Use it to distinguish humour from dismissal of actual consequences.
Keep in mind
Humour is not inherently wrongdoing, and the label does not replace evidence about conduct.
Edsverb editorial interpretation · agent reviewed · 2026-10-05. This explains the saying; it does not establish its historical origin.
- Source
- Contributor-provided proverb reference
Supplied reference A; unit 151; PDF page 26
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