The History of Court Fools — John Doran

I believe that a volume might be very respectably filled with illustrations of the identity of philosopher or poet and fool in the sense of licensed court wit My readers will probably be satisfied with a few rather than with a volume full of proofs Thus it will be remembered that it was rather a perilous matter to joke with or to convey rough truths to the mind of the great Alexander But his favourite philosopher the light hearted Anaxarchus was able to do both with impunity What a necessary but disagreeable truth did he impress on his royal master when the latter was bleeding from a recently received wound Ah exclaimed the philosopher pointing to the place that shows that after all you are only a man and not a god as people call you and as you would like to believe