proverb · Words worth keeping
No one is a fool always; every one sometimes.
No one is a fool always; every one sometimes.
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
No one is incapable of sound judgement all the time, and everyone can make a foolish choice sometimes. Assess the particular action rather than turning one mistake into a complete account of the person.
Example
A team considers a useful suggestion from someone who made an earlier mistake instead of rejecting it solely because of that mistake.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
The two halves challenge a fixed division between fools and everyone else. Someone dismissed as foolish may offer a sensible observation, while someone usually trusted may make an unwise decision. The proverb supports humility and a willingness to judge what actually happened. It does not make every idea equally good or remove responsibility for a repeated harmful pattern. The useful distinction is between evaluating a choice and assigning an entire identity from it. That distinction leaves room for learning and fair criticism without pretending that an established reputation makes every future action either right or wrong.
When to use it
Use it to separate judgement of a particular choice from a sweeping label about a person.
Keep in mind
Repeated harmful conduct still matters; recognising human fallibility does not require ignoring evidence or abandoning accountability.
An interpretation of the words, not a claim about their earliest origin.
Attribution & collection notes
- Author or tradition
- Traditional
Attribution: traditional - Country attributed
- Not established
A country attribution does not establish the earliest origin. - Historical period
- Date unknown
- Culture
- English