proverb · Words worth keeping
Though the speaker be a fool, let the hearer be wise.
Though the speaker be a fool, let the hearer be wise.
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
The hearer can exercise judgement even when the speaker does not. The saying places responsibility for a response with the listener rather than making another person’s manner dictate it.
Example
A learner checks a useful suggestion from a clumsy explanation instead of copying the speaker’s mistakes or dismissing every part of it.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
The speaker’s foolishness and the hearer’s wisdom are deliberately separated. A listener need not imitate the tone, accept every claim or reject everything without examination. Ask what is being said, what supports it and what response is useful. Calling the speaker a fool is not evidence that a statement is false. The image allows careful listening while preserving independent judgement. It does not require enduring abuse or giving unlimited attention to an unproductive exchange.
When to use it
Use it to preserve independent judgement when listening to an unsatisfactory explanation.
Keep in mind
Assess the actual claim; a judgement about the speaker does not prove it true or false.
An interpretation of the words, not a claim about their earliest origin.
Attribution & collection notes
- Author or tradition
- Traditional (Spanish-language collection)
Attribution: traditional - Country attributed
- Not established
A country attribution does not establish the earliest origin. - Historical period
- Date unknown