Ben Hecht Quotes

Silence is the best answer to a fool.

Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he be wise in his own eyes.

Fools multiply when wise men are silent.

The wise man knows when to keep silent. Only the fool tells all he knows.

Does a man speak foolishly?--suffer him gladly, for you are wise. Does he speak erroneously?--stop such a man's mouth with sound words that cannot be gainsaid. Does he speak truly?--rejoice in the truth.

The cunning man steals a horse, the wise man lets him alone.

Fools need advice most, but wise men only are the better for it.

A little group of wise hearts is better than a wilderness full of fools.

The brash unbridled tongue, the lawless folly of fools, will end in pain. But the life of wise content is blest with quietness, escapes the storm and keeps its house secure.

A pipe gives a wise man time to think and a fool something to stick in his mouth.

The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice.

Praise a fool, and slay him; for the canvas of his vanity is spread; His bark is shallow in the water, and a sudden gust shall sink it: Praise a wise man, and speed him on his way; for he carrieth the ballast of humility, And is glad when his course is cheered by the sympathy of brethren ashore.

The more pity, that fools may not speak wisely what wise men do foolishly.

A wise man watches his faults more closely than his virtues; fools reverse the order.

Silence is the only answer you should give to the fools. Where ignorance speaks, intelligence should not give advices.

Cato used to assert that wise men profited more by fools than fools by wise men; for that wise men avoided the faults of fools, but that fools would not imitate the good examples of wise men.

Fools make researches and wise men exploit them.

Only if you are afraid of looking foolish, and I would have looked far more foolish if I persisted with an erroneous belief.' Eragon said. Why, little one, you just said something wise!'Saphira teased.

Thus we play the fool with the time and the spirits of the wise sit in the clouds and mock us.

They're singing your praises while stealing your phrases.

None is so wise, but the foole overtakes him.

There is in human nature generally more of the fool than of the wise.

Be wise among the wise, but pretend to be dull among fools.

The wise needn't ask, the fool asks in vain.

Fools make news, and wise men carry it.