It’s often said that the French are smarter than they let on, while the Spaniards seem smarter than they truly are. Whether or not that holds true between nations, it’s definitely true between individuals. Some people put on the appearance of wisdom without actually having it. This reminds me of the biblical phrase, “Having a form of godliness but denying its power.” Similarly, in matters of intellect and ability, some people do almost nothing but act as though they’ve achieved great things—what the Latin phrase “magno conatu nugas” describes as “much effort about trifles.”
It’s absurd, and frankly laughable to anyone with sound judgment, to see how these people use tricks to appear smart and competent. They have ways of making something simple and fake appear meaningful and real. For example, some are so secretive that they only share their knowledge in vague, murky terms, always holding something back. Even when they don’t fully understand what they’re talking about, they want others to think they know something too complex to explain.
Others use their expressions and gestures to appear wise. Cicero once mocked a man for this, describing how he raised one eyebrow to his forehead and dropped the other to his chin as if to suggest deep thought. Such antics are often meant to distract people from noticing a lack of real substance.
Then there are those who rely on big words and confidence to seem authoritative. They speak with such certainty that people accept what they say without question, even when it’s baseless. Others dismiss anything outside of their understanding as unimportant or irrelevant. They disguise their ignorance as judgment.
Some take it even further, creating confusion with subtle distinctions and technicalities to avoid scrutiny. Aulus Gellius, a Roman writer, once called such a person “a fool who breaks the weight of things into tiny fragments of words.” Plato mocked this too, in his dialogue Protagoras, where he made fun of Prodicus for delivering a speech filled entirely with pointless distinctions.
These people often take the easy way out in discussions, choosing to raise objections and point out problems. It’s simple to say no to an idea—doing so ends the conversation. But saying yes means committing to further action, which they’d rather avoid. This false form of wisdom is a real hindrance to progress and success.
In conclusion, just as a bankrupt merchant might use tricks to appear wealthy, these empty individuals use countless schemes to maintain the illusion of competence. While they may succeed in earning a reputation for being wise, they’re not worth trusting with real responsibilities. In fact, it’s often better to work with someone a little clumsy or imperfect than with someone overly formal and insincere.
Bacon Blueprint 