Holy Fool Quotes

“If the fool would persist in his folly he would become wise.”
― William Blake, The Marriage of Heaven and Hell

“We pay a heavy, very heavy price for the superhuman dignity of our calling. The ridiculous is always so near to the sublime. And the world, usually so indulgent to foibles, hates ours instinctively.”
― Georges Bernanos, The Diary of a Country Priest

“Be her and be yourself, simultaneously. Be outrageous. Being pious is easy and pleasant, go ahead and make yourself hated.”
― Evgenij Vodolazkin

“The Holy Fool is always considered a dummy by the smart, hip people who really know the score. There’s a mysterious blight on the land, nothing will grow and no one knows how to break the spell. The Holy Fool sets out to find the cause, right the wrong, save the people. He’s told he can’t do it, that he’s too dumb, too weak, too something, hearing from all quarters, “That’s not how we do things here," and “You just don’t understand." But he goes ahead anyway.”
― Ann Medlock

“How does one move a rock? Walk around it.”
― Benjamin Aubrey Myers

“Eng Seng was asked how many people were singing on Christmas eve. He replied that it was dark and even though there was light in the sky, he could not see people singing. He said the bible said there were angels singing and he supposed the angels were singing on Christmas eve!

...He was asked who organised the singing. He replied that, like what was stated in the bible, he followed a star and he supposed the others too followed the star. No one organised the singing.

On spotting a dead moth on the floor, Eng Seng remarked to the officer partly in Hokkien: "By the way, er, you suay (bad luck) already. Moths die on the floor. You suay, I also suay, got to see you on New Year's Day."

The officer asked if he believed in those things and he replied, "Yeah, moths live outside. Why come in to die!"

No amount of questioning from the officer could elucidate any intelligent response from my brother! The officer was frustrated...brought him to see his superior.

The minute the door to the superior's office was opened, Eng Seng exclaimed: "Wa tua liap liao! (So big shot already!)" The superior officer asked: "Do I know you?" He replied "Tua liap liao, how you know me small fly?"

After a few more senseless comments, the superior officer told the officer to take him away. He was allowed home.”
― Teo Soh Lung, Beyond The Blue Gate: Recollections of a Political Prisoner

“Holy fool Foma closed his eyes and died after he had made sure everything had been written down. Then he opened his eyes for a moment and added:

Postscriptum. Arseny should keep in mind that Abba Kirill's monastery is expecting him. That's all.

After saying that, holy fool Foma died forever.”
― Eugene Vodolazkin, Laurus