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I prefer the wicked rather than the foolish. The wicked sometimes rest.
Alexandre Dumas
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Interpretation

What this quote means

This quote suggests that it is better to deal with cunning individuals than with naive ones, as the former can sometimes take a break from their negativity.

Alexandre Dumas' quote reflects a profound understanding of human nature, emphasizing that wickedness can have periods of rest, allowing for moments of reflection, whereas foolishness lacks such depth and can lead to relentless folly. It insinuates that the cunning can be more predictable and manageable, while the foolish may continuously cause chaos due to their lack of insight.

Themes

WickedFoolishHuman NatureWisdomCunning

In practice

Example use cases

In a discussion about morality, this quote can highlight the complexities of human behavior.

More from Alexandre Dumas

We must never expect discretion in first love: it is accompanied by such excessive joy that unless the joy is allowed to overflow, it will choke you.
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There are two ways of seeing: with the body and with the soul. The body's sight can sometimes forget, but the soul remembers forever.
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I do not often laugh, sir, as you may perceive by the air of my countenance; but nevertheless, I retain the privilege of laughing when I please.
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There is neither happiness nor misery in the world; there is only the comparison of one state with another, nothing more. He who has felt the deepest grief is best able to experience supreme happiness.
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Those born to wealth, and who have the means of gratifying every wish, know not what is the real happiness of life, just as those who have been tossed on the stormy waters of the ocean on a few frail planks can alone realize the blessings of fair weather.
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It is the way of weakened minds to see everything through a black cloud. The soul forms its own horizons; your soul is darkened, and consequently the sky of the future appears stormy and unpromising
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