Bonaventure, on Eccl 9:17

“The words of the wise are heard in silence, more than the cry of a prince among fools.”

“And that the words of the wise man are to be heard, he adds: "The words of the wise are heard in silence," that is, they are worthy to be heard in silence. Ecclesiasticus 32: "Listen in silence, and for your reverence good grace shall come to you"; whence it is also added: "And do not presume to speak in the midst of great men." "More than the cry of a prince among fools," and his speech is more clamorous, because however much a man may cry out, the fool does not pay attention. Ecclesiasticus 22: "He who tells wisdom to a fool speaks with one who is sleeping, and at the end of the narration he says: 'Who is this?'" That wisdom therefore is despised, this is on account of the foolishness of the hearers; therefore Matthew 7: "Do not give what is holy to dogs." And the reason for this is given by the Apostle in 1 Corinthians 2: "The natural man does not perceive the things that are of the Spirit of God."”

Imported from an open dataset — not yet checked against the printed edition.