The Wise Man Has Doubts, The Fool Never Does

“The wise man is less presumptuous than the fool. He has many doubts and changes his mind, for as wisdom grows, knowledge alters.
“The fool fixes his mind in obstinacy; he is stubborn, and doubt does not disturb his placidity. He knows all things, except his own ignorance. The wise man is aware of his imperfections and continually strives for improvement. The fool forever counts his own small talents and is content. He boasts of his achievements in things which are of no account.
“Thistledown floats on water for all to see, but a gemstone sinks below the surface. So does the fool shout his abilities to the wind, while a wise man keeps them hidden within himself. The goose brings forth its egg while at rest, and the tail of the peacock is displayed while it stands still. The deep, still pool holds the biggest fish, and the resting cow gives the most milk. So it is with the quiet man, who within himself, produces a fountain of strength at which lesser men drink and find refreshment and courage.
“The heart of a fool flutters at a vain hope, but the wise man puts it behind him. Fools snap at one another, but wise men agree in peace.
“Let reason rule all your desires, and let not your hopes reach out beyond the limits of probability. Thus, the chances of success bear down in your favor in the scales of fate, and your heart will not be burdened with disappointment.”
-The Kolbrin Bible (MPR:20:15-19)
Changes His Mind
When a wise man or woman is presented with new information about something they thought they knew, they are willing to listen and change their mind when appropriate. They do have to consider the source of the information. If the source is unreliable, then so is the information.
Obstinate Fool
The fool, on the other hand, stubbornly sticks to his beliefs no matter how much evidence there is to the contrary. He also does not consider the source of the information, and accepts statements from dubious sources.
Imperfections
The wise person is aware that they are not perfect (nobody is), so they strive for improvement. More significantly, the wise person seeks improvement in their spiritual Self, not just the physical. The fool rarely seeks improvement, and when they do, it is in physical matters that are far less important than spiritual growth.
Floats on Water
The fool loves to brag about his abilities, even if they are not great and are not truly things that matter. The quote compares that to a thistle floating on water. The gemstone, which represents the wise person, sinks. That is saying that the wise person doesn’t brag about his abilities, he simply does what he knows how to do and continues to learn how to do more.
Live in Peace
Wise people live together in peace. Even if other people speak a different language, practice a different religion, or have a different skin color. The wise person knows such things are superficial and should not be used as excuses to hate others. The foolish people look for anything that makes others different, and uses those things to hate them, refuse to help them, or even start wars with them. God never wanted people to hate each other. He wants all of us to live together in peace. The wise people strive to live according to God’s Law, the fool makes up his own laws to live by.








