Silence is an ornament for women.
SophoclesRead
A fool cannot be an actor, though an actor may act a fool's part.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote highlights the distinction between true foolishness and the act of pretending to be foolish.
Sophocles suggests that true fools lack the understanding and insight required to be an effective actor, suggesting that genuine foolishness is a state of being that impedes one's ability to engage in the art of acting. Conversely, a skilled actor can play the role of a fool without being foolish themselves, emphasizing the difference between performance and reality, as well as the deeper intelligence that comes with understanding different roles in life.
Themes
FoolActorPerformanceWisdomPhilosophy
In practice
Example use cases
In a drama class, to illustrate the nuances of acting, one might quote this saying.
More from Sophocles
All quotes βNone love the messenger who brings bad news.
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All men make mistakes, but a good man yields when he knows his course is wrong, and repairs the evil. The only crime is pride.
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Not even Ares battles against necessity.
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You clearly hate to yield, but you will regret it when your anger has passed. Such natures are justly the hardest for themselves to bear.
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There is nothing more hateful than bad advice.
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