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Grocott & Ward, comps. Grocott’s Familiar Quotations, 6th ed. 189-?.

Fool

The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool.
Shakespeare.—As You Like It, Act V. Scene 1. (Touchstone.)

For every inch that is not fool is rogue.
Dryden.—Absalom and Achitophel, Part II. Line 463.

No creature smarts so little as a fool.
Pope.—Prol. to Satires, Line 84.

At thirty man suspects himself a fool;
Knows it at forty, and reforms his plan;
At fifty, chides his infamous delay,
Pushes his prudent purpose to resolve,
Resolves—and re-resolves; then dies the same.
Young.—Night I. Line 418.

’Tis hard if all is false that I advance,
A fool must now and then be right by chance.
Cowper.—Conversation, Line 95.

Why should I play the Roman fool, and die
On mine own sword?
Shakespeare.—Macbeth, Act V. Scene 7. (Before his combat with Macduff.)

A fool at forty is a fool indeed.
Young.—Sat. II. Line 282.

The fool of nature, stood with stupid eyes
And gaping mouth, that testified surprise.
Dryden.—Cymon and Iphigenia.

A fool, a fool! I met a fool i’ the forest,
A motley fool; a miserable world;
As I do live by food, I met a fool;
Who laid him down and bask’d him in the sun,
And rail’d on lady Fortune in good terms,
In good set terms,—and yet a motley fool.—
Motley’s the only wear.
Shakespeare.—As You Like It, Act II. Scene 7. (Jacques.)

A French edition of a fool.
Cawthorne.—Equality of Human Conditions, Line 2.

The little foolery that wise men have makes a great show.
Shakespeare.—As You Like It, Act I. Scene 2. (Celia to Touchstone.)