Foolishness

used to warn that excessive drinking impairs a person's judgment and ability to think clearly

The partygoer learned the hard way that when the wine is in, wit is out, after making a series of embarrassing remarks.

used to imply that a foolish person can have more knowledge in their own area of expertise than a wise person who is unfamiliar with that area

John may not have a college degree, but he knows more about fixing cars than his neighbor who has a PhD in physics, proving that a fool knows more in his own house than a wise man in another.

used to imply that some people may ask questions without thinking deeply, while a wise person considers the subject matter before responding

As a teacher, I encourage my students to think deeply and critically before asking questions, reminding them that 'a fool may ask more questions in an hour than a wise man can answer in seven years.'

used to imply that it is generally unwise for someone to act as their own advocate or counselor in matters that require objectivity and specialized knowledge

Mary hired a lawyer to represent her in court, but she kept second-guessing his advice and tried to argue her own case.She lost the case and wasted her money.A lawyer who represents himself has a fool for a client.

used to suggest that wise individuals make practical choices by considering various factors and avoiding unnecessary risks, while fools may make hasty or unwise decisions

The CEO of the company was known for making hasty decisions without consulting his team.As a result, the employees had to deal with the consequences of his poor choices.It was a classic case of fools build houses and wise men live in them.

used to imply that someone is completely ignorant or uneducated

When the new employee started working, it was clear that they didn't know B from a battledore when it came to the company's products.They had to undergo extensive training to catch up with their colleagues.

used to emphasize that people have varying levels of intelligence, knowledge, or common sense

The students in this school range greatly in terms of academic ability and maturity; some are wise, some are otherwise.

used to imply that a person's actions and behavior are a better indicator of their intelligence or lack thereof than their words or appearance

Mary keeps lending money to her unreliable friend, even though she never gets paid back.Stupid is as stupid does.

used to imply that there are always gullible or naive people who can be easily deceived or taken advantage of by others

The fortune teller convinced the young woman to pay her a large sum of money to remove a curse that didn't exist.There is a sucker born every minute.

used to suggest that an older person who behaves foolishly is especially deserving of criticism for not having learned from their past experiences

My grandfather keeps falling for online scams and giving away his personal information.There is no fool like an old fool.

used to imply that young people tend to underestimate the wisdom and experience of older people, while older people are aware of the shortcomings and lack of experience of younger people

The teenager scoffed at the advice of his elder brother, thinking him an old fool, little realizing that young folks think old folks to be fools, but old folks know young folks to be fools from their own memories of youth.

used to suggest that the quality of a question influences the quality of the answer, and that a poorly thought-out or irrelevant question is unlikely to result in a useful answer

The reporter asked the politician a ridiculous question about building a tunnel to the moon, and the politician responded with some nonsense about pink elephants.It was a classic example of the saying 'ask a silly question and get a silly answer.'

used to imply that dishonest and foolish people often create conflict and division in society, as both intentionally or unintentionally are enemies of truth

The corrupt politicians and the gullible voters are the reason our country is in such a mess.As the saying goes, knaves and fools divide the world.

used to imply that people with limited intellect or imagination find satisfaction in small and trivial things, while those with greater intelligence seek more meaningful experiences

John is always excited about small and insignificant things, like winning a free keychain or getting a coupon for a dollar off.Little things please little minds, I suppose.

used to imply that people tend to imitate the actions of others, especially those they admire or consider as role models, without necessarily understanding the reasons behind those actions

The toddler imitated his mother's habit of biting her nails.Monkey see, monkey do.

used to imply that a single foolish action can have significant and sometimes irreversible consequences that may require much effort and wisdom to fix

The inexperienced DIY enthusiast tried to fix a complex plumbing problem, and caused a flood in the house.A fool may throw a stone into a well which a hundred wise men cannot get out.

used to say that when a person remains foolish and lacks wisdom even after reaching the age of forty, it strongly signifies their inherent foolishness that is unlikely to be corrected

Despite having decades of experience, the employee still makes the same basic mistakes over and over again.A fool at forty is a fool indeed.