The prodigy's retort. An old man says of a youthful prodigy: "He will be an idiot in old age because perfection before maturity brings on deterioration of the mind." Youth: "You must have been very wise in your youth!" — Mythoi

Motif

The prodigy's retort. An old man says of a youthful prodigy: "He will be an idiot in old age because perfection before maturity brings on deterioration of the mind." Youth: "You must have been very wise in your youth!"

The wise and the foolish. · Cleverness. · Clever verbal retorts (repartee). · Rude retorts. · view the constellation · filed as J1369.2

Filed across the traditions

Italian Novella *Rotunda.

Within the index

Filed under Rude retorts – miscellaneous.

Filed beside it

Man decides to spend 100 florins to become known. Friend: "You had better spend 200 so as to not be found out." Two men meet in narrow passage. One says: "I do not give every coxcomb the wall!" The other says: "I do, sir!" Person asks: "Whose fool are you?" Answer: "I am the Bishop of Durham's fool; whose fool are you?" Why soldier is silent before king: is always so when questioned by stupid person. [Inadvertant duplication of J1714.5.]

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