We avenge intelligence when we deceive a fool.

I always feel the greatest bliss when I recollect those I have caught in my snares, for they generally are insolent, and so self-conceited that they challenge wit. We avenge intellect when we dupe a fool, and it is a victory not to be despised for a fool is covered with steel and it is often very hard to find his vulnerable part. In fact, to gull a fool seems to me an exploit worthy of a witty man.

What has infused my very blood with an unconquerable hatred of the whole tribe of fools from the day of my birth is that I become a fool myself whenever I am in their company.

You will laugh when you discover that I often had no scruples about deceiving nitwits and scoundrels and fools when I found it necessary. As for women, this sort of reciprocal deceit cancels itself out, for when love enters in, both parties are usually dupes

In the course of your life you will be continually encountering fools. There are simply too many to avoid.

We can classify people as fools by the following rubric: when it comes to practical life, what should matter is getting long term results, and getting the work done in as efficient and creative a manner as possible.

That should be the supreme value that guides people’s action. But fools carry with them a different scale of values.

They place more importance on short-term matters – grabbing immediate money, getting attention from the public or media, and looking good. They are ruled by their ego and insecurities.

They tend to enjoy drama and political intrigue for their own sake. When they criticize, they always emphasize matters that are irrelevant to the overall picture or argument.

They are more interested in their career and position than in the truth. You can distinguish them by how little they get done, or by how hard they make it for others to get results.

They lack a certain common sense, getting worked up about things that are not really important while ignoring problems that will spell doom in the long term.

The natural tendency with fools is to lower yourself to their level.

They annoy you, get under your skin, and draw you into a battle.

In the process, you feel petty and confused. You lose a sense of what is really important.

You can’t win an argument or get them to see your side or change their behavior, because rationality and results don’t matter to them.

You simply waste valuable time and emotional energy.

In dealing with fools you must adopt the following philosophy: they are simply a part of life, like rocks or furniture.

All of us have foolish sides, moments in which we lose our heads and think more of our ego or short-term goals.

It is human nature. Seeing this foolishness within you, you can then accept it in others.

This will allow you to smile at their antics, to tolerate their presence as you would a silly child, and to av

350. — Why we hate with so much bitterness those who deceive us is because they think themselves more clever than we are.

the wise may be instructed by a fool

They hate you if you're clever and they despise a fool.

In a world of fools, I was, I think, to him one of the greater fools.

I'm a fool, to confuse this with goodness. I am not good.
I know too much to be good. I know myself.
I know myself to be vengeful, greedy, secretive and sly.

There are persons fated to be fools, who commit follies not only by choice, but who are forced by fortune to do so.

And if my present actions strike you as foolish, let's just say I've been accused of folly by a fool.

If I am a fool, it is, at least, a doubting one; and I envy no one the certainty of his self-approved wisdom.

I am supposed to be an utter fool and the more I read the more of a fool they think me.