Why does the Fool lead the Wise ?

Question

PLAYERS
The “Fool” (say public) is the protagonist to a better world.
The “Wise” (say the person performing the deed) has first hand experience though not necessarily the ability nor skill.

STAGE
The Fool’s voice is loud such that Wise (say political, social leaders, or the person doing the job) is Expected to listen and React to the Fool’s will. The Wise are objectified as the cogs and wheels of the system (say corporates, classrooms, governments, whatever comes to your mind).

PLAY
The Fool splits and becomes the Wise Fool, The Foolish Wise or simply remains as the Fool. When does the Wise become the Fool ? (or is it merely illusory?)

Open discussion and any other premise or alteration welcomed.

ABRIDGED
Wisdom, nurture and circumstance must dovetail for the Wise to lead; fools are placed by providence. – Scarl..
The literal interpretation that “The fool thinks he is always right.
The wise man thinks he could always be wrong.” – brian..

Two propostions:
First: A fool is not defined in the act of disagreement.
Second: Political leaders are required as demagogues, not specialists. The supporting qualifications:
- The role to leadership is axiomatic and presumed;
- Akin to fiduciary duty of Corporate vice presidents to safe guard investor’s interests;
- Akin to Teachers whose discharge of their duties are unquestioned.
However, stagnation from perceived satisfaction is the death knell of progress. – rk

Two premises:
It is the responsibility of the wise to lead the fool (the public).
The fool is outspoken; the wise circumspective.
Case in hand, Congress has to make up issues where none exist;
Opinion is louder than the words of contemplation. – hello..

DECISION
A world view by Scarlett rings of a truism, as does the maxim quoted by brian..
Of the two longer views, the former is a mix of observations whereas the later, well structured and inferred.

Answer 1

I'm not sure if I understand it correctly that you infer that the fool (the public) tends to take a leading role for having a better world. Isn't that the responsibility of the wise? Perhaps you mean, in general, the fool is more outspoken than the wise (not necessarily for having a better world). Based on that assumption, I would like to share some views.

"Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something." -Plato

The fool causes the wise to react, because the wise has to correct the fool for the sake of others (not necessarily for the sake of the fool), and that is why the fool leads the wise.

However, the wise doesn't cause the fool to react specifically, because the fool always has to say something, regardless. Congress would make up issues, even if there was nothing to resolve. Congressmen have to get paid.

One more view: "The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts." -Bertrand Russell

The fool just says it, while the wise has to contemplate it first, and that is why the wise is more doubtful than the fool. The wise becomes the fool when he doesn't contemplate the subject and just voices an opinion.

It doesn't always take a loud voice to be effective; it takes the right words. We are not here to prove that we are right, we are here to make a difference. That takes deligence and right diplomacy, and the wise knows it.

Answer 2

your classification of fool and wise is not acceptable by me.

now..for you i may sound fool.

you cannot define any body who doe snot agree with you is fool.

political leaders dont have to be a scientist, or a software engineer or a scholar. his only required qualification is to attract the mass. if he is not capable of that he could not have become a leader.

social leaders have to have only social sense.

corporate vice president may be less qualified than the general manager, but he is there to safe guard the business from the investor side.

teachers are in the class room to teach you the syllabus, ( you will agree there are many exceptional)

like this you can not expect only qualified person to only lead, there are lot other matters to be considered.

government servants get stagnated because they get everything what they need.

the fire in you , one day tell you the reality

Answer 3

Wisdom doesn't always guarantee a rise to power. Leading others requires situtations to be prime to come into a position of power (ie. having a father or mother in a position of power that may help a child's chances of being in power much better). One may be wise, but may not have the right 'connections' or opportunities to rise to power. Sometimes it happens, but in many cases as you say, the fools lead the wise.

Answer 4

It's simple really...
The fool thinks he is always right.
The wise man thinks he could always be wrong.