“The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who heeds counsel is wise. A fool’s wrath is known at once, but a prudent man covers shame” (Proverbs 12:15-16).
The age-old counsel is: “It is better to be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.” A person’s speech will tell you much about a person’s character.
The proverbs above add two more traits of people who have chosen to live foolishly. These are:
- A fool is a know-it-all. He never seeks the advice of others. He is quite sure there is no other point of view about a situation or prudent solution to a problem than the one he has. He cannot be wrong; he is always right. Therefore, he never solicits the advice of others, especially those older or more experienced than he. (However, a wise person not only seeks the advice of others, he listens carefully and then shrewdly follows the excellent counsel he has received.)
- A fool is a hothead. Any perception of provocation—whether intended or imagined—results in an instant eruption of wrath. A fool has no time for patience or mercy. Every offense is pounced upon, and the impression is definitely left that the highest, most grievous of crimes has been committed. (However, a wise person is longsuffering. He listens with a loving heart that is not easily provoked [1 Cor. 13:4-7]. He prefers believing the best in others, not the worst. And even when the worst is true, he does not rejoice in evil or seek to embarrass someone who has not lived out the best version of himself. He mercifully and lovingly seeks to cover their shame, not proclaim it.)
