Wise advice from a fool

Here Lear’s fool gives advice that could by usefully followed by most of us.  I also like his willingness to take back his advice if you happen to find a better source of wisdom.  Which of course you know you won’t, at least if you’ve read your Erasmus. 

Let go thy hold when a great wheel runs down a hill, lest it break thy neck with following it; but the great one that goes upward, let him draw thee after. When a wise man gives thee better counsel, give me mine again. I would have none but knaves follow it, since a fool gives it.

See also a fetching photo of a Swedish actor in the role of the fool, and a clean and strong-lined Blake-like 18th century sketch of Lear in his madness.  

Source: Shakespeare, King Lear, 2:4

Photo credit: momentmal at pixabay

 

Quotation - King Lear - Shakespeare
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