DRAGONSHEART:
"The world is full of fools,
And he who wishes not to see any,
Must keep entirely to himself,
And break his mirror."
Thomas Love Peacock

David: Thank you. I am richer for it.

I didn’t know Thomas Love Peacock had translated it, and am most impressed by your erudition, Casey! I had in fact planned to translate it if and when Abel replied, as I was curious to see his response to something he might not understand. The original French (origin unknown) is much pithier, because it rhymes. My own version is:

The world is full of fools, and not to see them, Sirrah,
You need to stay alone, and you need to break your mirror.