What to say to fools...

Do not answer a fool according to his folly, Lest you also be like him.

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



(Proverbs 26:4,5)


So do we answer a fool or not? Since we can't do both at the same time, we understand in this saying that there are times when we should not bother to answer a fool at all and let him go. For if we begin to debate fools using the ways of fools, we may become like them. Arguing with some folks inevitably can cause a loss of patience, emotive, ad populum, and can become a screaming match or an ego battle… in such cases, it is wise to not debate with such people who are easily aroused to temperament or emotion as a passerby may not tell the difference between the fool and you. And you who once were thought of as peaceful and temperate may fall into the fools trap and appear like him.

Yet other cases, when dealing with those who are appointed as wise by media groups and also via self-assessment need to be answered with intelligent and reasonable arguments so silence does not make them appear wise when they are actually not.

Some fools are deceivers and some fools are deceived. There is a difference also to the intent of a person. Some fools are harmless and need not be answered but others are harmful and can lead many to misguided thinking; therefore, our silence is not wise.