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
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