Sirach 20:31 - Better is a man that hides his folly Than a man that hides his wisdom.
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What does "Sirach 20:31" mean?
The verse Sirach 20:31, "Better is a man that hides his folly than a man that hides his wisdom," seems paradoxical at first. It essentially means it's often more beneficial to conceal your foolishness than it is to keep your wisdom to yourself. Let's break down why:
Hiding Folly (Stupidity/Foolishness): Concealing your mistakes, errors in judgment, and general lack of knowledge can prevent embarrassment, maintain your reputation, and avoid potential negative consequences. Sometimes, speaking or acting without thinking can damage relationships or opportunities. Silence, or simply refraining from displaying ignorance, is the better course of action. It's not necessarily about being deceitful, but about being prudent and avoiding unnecessary harm.
Hiding Wisdom: Hiding one's wisdom is generally seen as a negative. Wisdom is meant to be shared and used to benefit others. However, the verse highlights that even this can be preferable to flaunting one's stupidity.
The Comparison: The key is the comparison. The verse is not advocating for ignorance or discouraging the sharing of wisdom as a general rule. It's making a point about priorities. Protecting yourself from the damage caused by revealing your folly is more pressing, in certain contexts, than sharing your wisdom.
Possible Interpretations and Contexts:
Damage Control: If you're about to say something foolish that will embarrass you or hurt others, it's better to stay quiet, even if you have some valuable insights to offer at another time.
Humility: It's better to err on the side of humility and avoid showing off perceived cleverness than to display ignorance.
Timing: There's a time and place for everything. Sometimes, it's more important to avoid making a fool of yourself than to share your knowledge in an inappropriate setting.
Ego: The verse gently rebukes those who are quick to display their (often limited) intelligence while remaining oblivious to their foolishness.
In Summary:
The verse isn't a blanket endorsement of keeping quiet all the time. Rather, it's a reminder that preventing negative outcomes associated with foolish behavior is often a more important and pressing concern than sharing wisdom at all costs. It's a call for prudence, self-awareness, and prioritizing damage control over the urge to appear intelligent.
Sirach 20:31 - Better is a man that hides his folly Than a man that hides his wisdom.
What does "Sirach 20:31" mean?
The verse Sirach 20:31, "Better is a man that hides his folly than a man that hides his wisdom," seems paradoxical at first. It essentially means it's often more beneficial to conceal your foolishness than it is to keep your wisdom to yourself. Let's break down why:
Hiding Folly (Stupidity/Foolishness): Concealing your mistakes, errors in judgment, and general lack of knowledge can prevent embarrassment, maintain your reputation, and avoid potential negative consequences. Sometimes, speaking or acting without thinking can damage relationships or opportunities. Silence, or simply refraining from displaying ignorance, is the better course of action. It's not necessarily about being deceitful, but about being prudent and avoiding unnecessary harm.
Hiding Wisdom: Hiding one's wisdom is generally seen as a negative. Wisdom is meant to be shared and used to benefit others. However, the verse highlights that even this can be preferable to flaunting one's stupidity.
The Comparison: The key is the comparison. The verse is not advocating for ignorance or discouraging the sharing of wisdom as a general rule. It's making a point about priorities. Protecting yourself from the damage caused by revealing your folly is more pressing, in certain contexts, than sharing your wisdom.
Possible Interpretations and Contexts:
Damage Control: If you're about to say something foolish that will embarrass you or hurt others, it's better to stay quiet, even if you have some valuable insights to offer at another time.
Humility: It's better to err on the side of humility and avoid showing off perceived cleverness than to display ignorance.
Timing: There's a time and place for everything. Sometimes, it's more important to avoid making a fool of yourself than to share your knowledge in an inappropriate setting.
Ego: The verse gently rebukes those who are quick to display their (often limited) intelligence while remaining oblivious to their foolishness.
In Summary:
The verse isn't a blanket endorsement of keeping quiet all the time. Rather, it's a reminder that preventing negative outcomes associated with foolish behavior is often a more important and pressing concern than sharing wisdom at all costs. It's a call for prudence, self-awareness, and prioritizing damage control over the urge to appear intelligent.