Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.
See here the noble security of the scripture-style, which seems to contradict itself, but really does not. Wise men have need to be directed how to deal with fools; and they have never more need of wisdom than in dealing with such, to know when to keep silence and when to speak, for there may be a time for both. 1.
Commenting on Proverbs 26:4-5
Answer a fool according to his folly,.... The Targum is, "but speak with a fool in thy wisdom;'' and the Syriac version, "yea, speak with a fool according to thy wisdom;'' which would at once remove the seeming contradiction in these words to the former, but then they are not a true version; indeed it is right, and must be the sense, that when a...
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit. (b) Reprove him as the matter requires.