17th century, Europe, France, French, historical figure, primary source, quotes, stories
This account of the French jester Marais interceding, on behalf of two court musicians, is strikingly similar to an anecdote told about a Chinese jester some 500 years before at the court of Song Huizong 宋徽宗 (r. 1100-26). In both cases, it was a question of half-pay,...
12th century, China, Chinese, East Asia, historical figure, primary source, quotes, Song dynasty, stories
There are two strikingly similar accounts of jesters intervening when someone in authority had the bright idea to cut somebody else’s pay by half. Here we share the first of these, used by a Chinese jester at the court of Song Huizong 宋徽宗 (r. 1100-26). Soon we...
7th century BCE, Chinese, historical figure, quotes
Sima Qian 司馬遷 (c. 145-86 BC) seems to have been the first historian to speak of the jester’s role, including the key characteristic of using their freedom and humour to offer advice or criticism. For example, he describes the jester You Meng 優孟 (Jester Meng)...
20th century, primary source, quotes
A succinct and provocative statement by Niels Bohr, flying in the face of the common supposition that the more serious the subject the less appropriate it is to joke about it. It also echoes an equally pithy quotation, from Hemingway’s For Whom the Bells Toll. ...
3rd century BCE, China, Chinese, East Asia, historical figure, primary source, Qin dynasty, quotes, stories
Sima Qian’s 司馬遷 (c. 145-86 BCE) `Biographies of the Jesters’, written around 100 BCE, is a rich source of examples of jesters intervening in indirect ways to change the behaviour or plans of the king or emperor. Often using the reductio ad absurdum...
16th century, correspondence, Europe, historical figure, Italian, Italy, primary source, quotes, stories
Many court fools were considered ‘naturals’, having some form of mental disability or neurodiversity. This letter gives examples of the behaviour of a female dwarf known as Caterina Matta (Crazy Catherine) who served Isabella d’Este (1474-1539),...
3rd century BCE, China, Chinese, East Asia, historical figure, primary source, Qin dynasty, quotes, stories
When Er Shi Huangdi 二世皇帝 (r. 209-207 BCE), the second (and last) emperor of the Qin dynasty, came to the throne, he decided to lacquer the Great Wall. The dwarf jester You Zhan 優旃 (Jester Twisty Pole) used the reductio ad absurdum technique to dissuade him. This is...
17th century, correspondence, England, Europe, historical figure, primary source, quotes, stories
A curious and detailed note from Robert Cecil, Earl of Salisbury (1563-1612), a close advisor to James I, and son of an even closer advisor to Elizabeth I, William Cecil. Here he has to deal with a diplomatic issue which he’d rather not have to, as he takes...
