—Turkish Fable. Translated by Epiphanius Wilson.
RATIONAL, WITH THE ACTORS MEN
The Fool Who Sells Wisdom
A certain fool kept constantly passing through the streets of a town.
"Who will buy wisdom?" he cried in a loud voice. A citizen met him on his way, accosted him, and presented him with some small pieces of money.
"Sell me a little wisdom," he said.
"Here it is," replied the other, cuffing him heartily, and immediately putting into his hands a long thread.
"If you wish in the future to be wise and prudent," said the hawker to him, "always keep as far away from fools as the length of this thread."
Moral: We should avoid all connection and communication with fools and cranks.
—Ibid.