foolishness

Everyday

1. Foolishness is silly or unwise behaviour or thinking, without good sense. tree →
2. Foolishness can also mean nonsense: «Stop this foolishness!». tree →

In the lessons

In stories, fables and the Bible, foolishness is often contrasted with wisdom (the wise man built his house on the rock, the foolish man on the sand). In everyday life, parents say «That's enough foolishness». In safety lessons, foolishness like playing near railway lines can be dangerous. Phrases: «sheer foolishness», «stop this foolishness».

Examples

• It was foolishness to swim in the river alone. tree →
• «Enough of this foolishness!» said the teacher. tree →
• The fable shows the foolishness of the greedy dog. tree →
• The Bible compares wisdom with foolishness. tree →
• He regretted his foolishness later. tree →
• Running across the road without looking is pure foolishness. tree →
• "What foolishness," cried one, "to walk when they might as well ride. tree →

Note

Uncountable. Adjective: foolish; noun: fool (a foolish person); April Fool's Day is 1 April. Similar: silliness, stupidity (ruder).

In Jewish tradition

In Sefer Yetzirah it is the opposite of wisdom.

Interpretation. It is listed with the pairs of opposites, as wisdom and foolishness. These are tied to the letters.

Examples

• The antithesis of wisdom is foolishness; of wealth, poverty; of fruitfulness, childlessness; of life, death; of dominion, dependence; of peace, war; and of beauty, ugliness. (Sefer Yetzirah, Kalisch 1877) tree →
• My wounds are noisome, they fester, because of my foolishness. (Writings PSA.38.6, JPS 1917) tree →
• A prudent man concealeth knowledge; but the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness. (Writings PRO.12.23, JPS 1917) tree →
• The foolishness of man perverteth his way; and his heart fretteth against the LORD. (Writings PRO.19.3, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Uncountable. Adjective: foolish; noun: fool (a foolish person); April Fool's Day is 1 April. Similar: silliness, stupidity (ruder).