Wise Guys, Not So Wise Guys

Wise Guys

They who know not and know not that they know not are fools; try to avoid them.
They who know not and know that they know not are a learners; learn with them.
They who know and know not that they know are half asleep; try to wake up with them.
They who know and know that they know are wise guys; go with them.


The previous lines are an updated version of a little verse, that according to Venkatesh Rao's The Tragicomic Exasperations of Expertise has been variously attributed to Confucian, Arabic, Persian or Sanskrit sources, in short to someone in the middle to far east.

He who knows not and knows not that he knows not is a fool; avoid him.
He who knows not and knows that he knows not is a student; teach him.
He who knows and knows not that he knows is asleep; wake him.
He who knows and knows that he knows is a wise man; follow him.

That quote of course has got a content as it would have been invariably formulated in a written book in a world that has become known und the term literate patriarchy in the 20th century. It assumes leaders and idiots. Not little of this style is still in place and probably has to be.

It is also a 2by2 quadruple figure which is a strong and vigorous figure. Because the homosexual old greeks who loved singles, duals, triples, septets and multitude it somehow remained obscure for a while.

Marshal McLuhan, Marion Zimmer Bradley and others started to use that figure since 1960. Go figure.

Addendum: According to Webster's a wise guy is an upstart who makes conceited, sardonic, insolent comments. For a time it has also been used for members of predominantly Italian inspired crime organizations in the southern states of the Union.

 
S/he who avoids the fool might not know how foolish s/he is. Don’t they know only fools and children tell the truth?

... plink  

 
Well
no one can avoid all fools all the time, if only by not being able to avoid oneself all the time.

one can also have fun with fools. still, on the job it can be pretty annoying and units of fools are better avoided in the l. run.

... plink  


... answer!
 
last updated: 16.03.2010, 02:45
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my neurons recall this photo, shouldn't they?
by motzes (12.03.2010, 13:10)
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»Fremder Content soll doch einfach wieder dahin zurückgehen, von woher er gekommen ist!«
by tobi (10.12.2009, 17:45)
yup
and thanks for this timely welcome, mr. 3000!
by StefanL (14.11.2009, 13:33)
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Welcome to the the big fat greek mythological puppet theatre! (And welcome back, Mr Tiny!)
by tobi (14.11.2009, 13:22)
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:)
by 0815tussi (19.09.2009, 16:36)
I agree completely
on the last point. If only penguins could fly.
by MaryW (17.09.2009, 13:46)
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Small wonder as most people don’t even get the benefits of cooperating in the Iterating Prisoner’s Dilemma (count me in, I just do it intuitively....
by tobi (17.09.2009, 12:00)
Well
no one can avoid all fools all the time, if only by not being able to avoid oneself all the time. one can also have fun....
by StefanL (08.09.2009, 21:47)
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S/he who avoids the fool might not know how foolish s/he is. Don’t they know only fools and children tell the truth?
by tobi (08.09.2009, 21:28)
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Danke für das Video. Ich hab bei Minute 47 gestartet and it gave me the chills. Ich kann mich nicht erinnern, je zuvor einen hohen....
by tobi (08.09.2009, 09:26)

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