Home › Proverbs

Knaves and fools divide the world.

Meaning: Manipulative people exploit opportunities while naive ones create them through gullibility.

Origin: From 'A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases' (1870). Public domain.

More proverbs about Human Nature

  • Fools tie knots and wise men loose them. — Hasty decisions create lasting problems; intelligence lies in undoing damage rather than…
  • Knowledge in youth is wisdom in age. — Early learning compounds over time, transforming youthful study into seasoned understandi…
  • That's where the laugh comes in. — Unexpected humor often emerges from situations that initially seem serious or unfunny to…
  • They laugh the loudest who have least to lose. — Those with nothing at stake can afford uninhibited mirth; real vulnerability silences lau…
  • In a thousand pounds of law there's not an ounce of love. — Legal systems, however comprehensive, cannot enforce compassion or genuine human connecti…
  • Learning makes a man fit company for himself. — Intellectual cultivation transforms solitude into enriching self-reflection rather than l…

← Back to Proverbs

Loading the full interactive collection…