There's no fool like an old fool.
There's no fool like an old fool.
Meaning in plain English
The saying treats an older fool as especially foolish. It judges a mistake more harshly through the expectation that age should have brought learning.
Example
A reader asks what experience was relevant to a mistake rather than blaming it on the person’s age.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
No fool like intensifies the insult rather than measuring judgment. A critical application can discuss learning from experience without assuming that age guarantees wisdom or makes a mistake less forgivable. The label should not replace examination of what happened.
When to use it
Use it to examine an age-based expectation critically.
Keep in mind
Age does not guarantee wisdom or determine a person’s worth.
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 139; PDF page 24
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Preserved as printed; independently unverified. - Historical coordinate
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