FOOLS are fain of nothing (right noght)

Insights

Gullibility and Empty Expectations

The proverb underscores the credulity of fools, who are easily satisfied with promises or hopes that have no real basis—being delighted or 'fain' over 'nothing' or mere illusions.

Superficial Pleasures

It suggests a tendency toward superficiality: fools are entertained or placated by trivialities or appearances rather than true substance or achievement.

Vulnerability to Flattery

Closely connected to related sayings, the proverb highlights how fools can be won over by fair words or empty promises, their desires easily kindled by anything—even 'nothing.'

Historical Usage

Variants of the proverb appear from the late 16th century onward, often used to critique those who fall for fair promises or improbable hopes. The phrase 'right noght' (nothing at all) underscores the emptiness at the heart of such expectations.

Social Critique

The saying implicitly criticizes not only the foolish but also those who manipulate them with flattery, show, or false promises—revealing a broader dynamic of exploitation in social relations.

Psychological Tendency

On a psychological level, the proverb reflects a common human tendency toward wishful thinking, but marks the fool as especially susceptible to illusions or hope without foundation.

Rhetorical Devices

Irony

There is irony in being 'fain'—eager or delighted—over nothing at all, highlighting the disconnect between expectation and reality.

Synecdoche

'Nothing' or 'right noght' stands for all manner of empty hopes and illusions, allowing the proverb to speak broadly to folly's many forms.

Antithesis

The opposition between the fool's excitement and the absence of any real cause accentuates the folly, making the saying more memorable.