Bray a FOOL in a mortar, you cannot make him leave his folly

Meaning & Analysis

Even if you physically punish or grind a fool in a mortar, you cannot force him to give up his foolish ways.

Insights

Incurability of Folly

The proverb highlights the deep-rooted, almost innate nature of folly—no amount of external force, suffering, or correction can eliminate a fool’s propensity for foolishness.

Limits of Punishment

It underscores the futility of harsh measures or punishment in effecting real change in someone’s character when folly is a core part of their identity.

Essence versus Appearance

The saying suggests that true transformation must come from within; external alterations, however drastic, cannot change the essential nature of a fool.

Biblical Origin

Rooted in Proverbs 27:22, the phrase uses vivid biblical imagery—grinding wheat in a mortar—to convey the stubbornness of folly, reflecting an ancient belief in the near-unchangeability of certain human traits.

Historical Resonance

The concept recurs across cultures: similar sayings, like 'You can never make a good shaft of a pig's tail,' reinforce the idea that no amount of effort can refine or reform what is fundamentally flawed.

Psychological Interpretation

Modern psychology might frame this as evidence for the enduring patterns of personality or cognitive bias—demonstrating that external pressure rarely overcomes deep-seated habits or attitudes.

Rhetorical Devices

Hyperbole

The exaggerated image of braying (pounding) a fool in a mortar underscores the proverb’s point through extreme, almost absurd, violence.

Metaphor

The mortar and pestle serve as metaphors for severe corrective efforts, transforming an everyday tool into a symbol of futile discipline.

Parallelism

The construction mirrors other proverbs that contrast effort with result, reinforcing the theme of intrinsic, unchangeable nature.

follyincurabilitypunishmentnaturebiblicalcharacter

Analyzed with gpt-4.1 on July 12, 2025

Transcription

Quotations

Beate a foole in a morter saith the wise man, And thou shalt not make him leaue his folly.

— c.1569, W. WAGER, Longer Thou Livest, s. D2v

— c.1640, W.S., Countrym. Commonw., p. 45.

To bray a Fool in a Mortar.

— 1687, MIEGE, s.v. Bray

Bray a Fool in a Mortar, and you'll find all of him but his Brains.

— 1694, D'URFEY, I Don Quix., V ii, p. 90

Bible Citations

Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, yet will not his foolishness depart from him.

— The Bible, Prov xxvii:22

Cross References

S265 You can never make a good shaft (arrow) of a pig's (sow's) tail.

Related Proverbs

P565 Do not make a PRESENT of a knife, for it will cut love 95.4%F489 He that sends a FOOL means to follow him 95.4%F47 Too much FAMILIARITY breeds contempt 95.0%F440 He is doubly fond¹ that justifies his FONDNESS 94.9%L503 LOVE covers many infirmities 94.9%F432 FOLLY is a bonny dog 94.7%C867 CRUELTY is more cruel if we defer the pain 94.7%P30 Better a fair PAIR of heels than die at the gallows 94.6%F484 He is a FOOL that thinks not that another thinks 94.6%L506 LOVE is blind 94.5%P77 It is the PART of a fool (It is a shame for a wise man) to say, I had not thought 94.5%F596 Long absent soon FORGOTTEN 94.5%N47 NATURE passes nurture 94.5%O55 ONE is not smelled where all stink 94.5%F239 Lay thy FINGERS on thy lips 94.4%F729 Among FRIENDS all things are common 94.4%N115 Our NEIGHBOR's ground yields better corn than our own 94.4%A24 One ACRE of possession is worth a whole land of promise 94.3%C698 Take not COUNSEL in the combat 94.2%F569 To have one FOOT in Charon's boat 94.2%

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