84. Folly

What is folly? It is holding on to that which is harmful 
and throwing away that which is helpful. 

The folly of all follies is to find pleasure in
doing what one is forbidden to do.

To be shameless, uninquisitive, loveless and uncaring
are four failings common among all fools.

No fool is more foolish than one who eagerly expounds
his learning to others while failing to follow it himself.

It only takes a single birth for a fool to earn by his efforts
a morass of misery in the succeeding seven births.

Not knowing how to act, when a fool undertakes an enterprise,
he doesn't just fail, he shackles himself in chains.

Should a fool fall upon a great fortune,
strangers will feast while his family starves.

If a fool happens to acquire something of value, 
he will behave like a drunken lunatic.

Friendship among fools is particularly sweet,
for there is not the slightest pain when they part.

A fool's stepping into a saintly council
is like entering a clean bed with filthy feet.