"Are you a fool? Take the Quiz now"
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That's the title of a web page I came across this afternoon. I thought as I read the text, "No way am I taking that test! If I am a fool why would I want to know and if I'm not I sure know enough not to take their test." Although I am curious....what would the test be like? It would be fun to come up with the questions for this test, but why? Proverbs talks a lot about fools and their foolishness. In fact Solomon wrote that if you ground a fool to powder you couldn't separate him from his foolishness. Clearly, in proper culture, it's not at all polite to call anyone a fool. Even if they don't know what it means everyone does know it's a most humiliating insult. A fool is a person lacking in judgment or prudence. It's clear from the bible that fools are plentiful and are really frustrating to be around. Here's a few examples from Proverbs,
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A quiet rebuke to a person of good sense does more than a whack on the head of a fool.
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Better to meet a grizzly robbed of her cubs than a fool hellbent on folly.
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Having a fool for a child is misery; it's no fun being the parent of a dolt.
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The words of a fool start fights; do him a favor and gag him.
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Don't respond to the stupidity of a fool; you'll only look foolish yourself.
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Answer a fool in simple terms so he doesn't get a swelled head.
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Putting a fool in a place of honor is like setting a mud brick on a marble column.
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Hire a fool or a drunk and you shoot yourself in the foot.
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See that man who thinks he's so smart? You can expect far more from a fool than from him.
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If you think you know it all, you're a fool for sure; real survivors learn wisdom from others.
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A sage trying to work things out with a fool gets only scorn and sarcasm for his trouble.
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So, in a politically correct culture, where no one is a fool and everyone is a sage in their own minds, today I'm reflecting on the reality that the foolish man is still alive and well on planet earth....you just can't call him that....but there is a Quiz if you're not sure.
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And your not?
ReplyDeleteAnonymous,
ReplyDeleteA great question. from what I read in Proverbs I am NOT a fool. I seek after knowledge and wisdom and I listen to correction. From all I see in the bible I am doing all I can to NOT be a fool. How about you?
Everyone is a fool at some point. The wise know that.
ReplyDeleteI scored a B. Don't really know what that means!
ReplyDeleteI sometimes do the things that fools do, I admit it.
ReplyDeleteBut Mike, when I read proverbs, I don't see you acting like the fool. And isn't that how we define wisdom and foolishness, by our behavior?
Don't respond to the stupidity of a fool; you'll only look foolish yourself.
ReplyDeleteIn modern times this could be read as, "Don't argue on an internet forum."
Zach, I agree completely! Great comment!
ReplyDeleteBrandon, Thanks for your kind words.