21st century, Europe, primary source, quotes, Ukraine
We know from Rubinstein, who mocked and cavorted in the Warsaw Ghetto, that jesters and humour can play a role in even extreme and violent situations. I was struck by references to this in an interview with President Zelensky by journalists from The Atlantic. ...
16th century, correspondence, Europe, historical figure, Italian, Italy, primary source, quotes, stories
Antonio da Trento, known as Nanino (Little Dwarf), belonged to the court of the Marquis of Mantua. There is a letter written in dialect in 1495 from Nanino to the Marquis, Francesco II Gonzaga (1466-1519). In a letter dated 24 July 1512, from the Marquis to the...
2nd century BCE, China, Chinese, East Asia, Han dynasty, historical figure, primary source, quotes, stories
The jester Guo Sheren 郭舍人is often paired with Dongfang Shuo, coming off worst in riddle-battles. Here, Sima Qian 司馬遷 tells us that this favourite jester of Emperor Han Wudi 漢武帝 (r. 141-87 BCE), although not deeply philosophical, nevertheless brought pleasure and...
folk fool, India, primary source, quotes, stories
Tenali Rama is one of the great legendary jesters of India, and stories about his exposing corruption, lies and nonsense abound. He even exposed the king himself in one account. An enemy of the king bribed his astrologer to dissuade him from a military campaign by...
12th century, China, Chinese, East Asia, historical figure, primary source, quotes, Song dynasty, stories
They do dare, it’s one of their quiddities. Even when it’s a serving or former Prime Minister or similar. Again, a jester criticizes a powerful minister, in this case drawing attention to the suffering his oligarchic-scale building plans caused ordinary...
19th century, dramatic character, Europe, France, French, primary source, quotes
As the jester Giraff says in Victor Hugo’s play about Cromwell (1827), the jester can always save his skin, and in order to reach old age in a world full of uncertainty, there is no wiser guise. See a similar sentiment expressed by Leopardi around the same...
9th century, China, Chinese, East Asia, historical figure, primary source, quotes, stories, Tang dynasty
At a banquet given during the Taihe reign period (827-35) of Emperor Tang Wenzong 唐文宗 (r. 827-40), a jester mocked Confucius in a variety show performance. The emperor was angered by his irreverence, saying that Confucius had been a teacher from ancient times to the...
21st century, primary source, quotes
I was struck by this comment of Robert Reich regarding high level, low quality decision making (‘blunders’) among the powerful. Reich spots a common flaw whatever other differences they have (corporate, democratic, dictatorial).The higher you rise in any...
