There is a quote about fools that I have heard, which is attributed to the Talmud. It goes as follows, "Never tell a fool he is a fool. All you'll have is an angry fool." I know that there are a number of Talmudic statements about fools. I've asked a number of people if they have ever heard of or read this quote. No one that I have asked recalls this statement in the Talmud. I wonder if it is a Yiddish saying, or if it has roots in some Jewish text, or if it isn't of Jewish origin at all.
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A possible source is Proverbs (9:8) אַל תּוֹכַח לֵץ פֶּן יִשְׂנָאֶךָּ הוֹכַח לְחָכָם וְיֶאֱהָבֶךָּ "Criticize not the scoffer lest he hate you; criticize the wise and he will love you." Another close one (26:4) אַל תַּעַן כְּסִיל כְּאִוַּלְתּוֹ פֶּן תִּשְׁוֶה לּוֹ גַם אָתָּה "Answer not the fool with his foolishness lest you too resemble him." |
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