Answering a Fool
It’s not a contradiction, it’s a paradox. Thinking is required.
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Do not answer a fool according to his folly, lest you yourself also be like him.
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own opinion.
Proverbs 26:4-5 (NET)
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I’ve talked before about the riddles of the wise.
How the wisdom verses are often general rules rather than absolute laws.
These verses are a prime example.
(Note: a fool here is not some low IQ person, but someone who keeps doing foolish things. If they stop doing foolish things and start doing wise things, then they are no longer a fool.)
How can you be told to both avoid answering a fool & encouraged to answer a fool?
In short, that’s where wisdom comes in.
Some fools are blinded by their arrogance and no matter what you say or do, they will ignore it. They are often looking for people to confirm their thinking, rather than seeking actual advice.
In those cases, giving them wisdom is a waste of time & energy.
Wise people know that we don’t have much time & energy available to waste. Thus, avoid answering those fools.
But some fools are just ignorant.
Maybe they believe something false, yet when you present them with facts, they change their mind.
In that case, their foolishness is a temporary state and sharing wisdom is a gift. Thus, not a waste of time or energy.
If you spend enough time around people, you can start to sniff out who’s ignorant and who’s arrogant.
And if you’re unsure, you can always give them a test and see if they pass.
We have many, many stories of the young adventurer seeking wisdom from the guru who must first pass tests before being allowed to sit and learn.
You know …
Wax on, wax off.
— Ricky Ketchum
Copyright © 2025 by Ricky Ketchum. All rights reserved. Unauthorized duplication prohibited.
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