King Lear (1970)

Jack MacGowran: Fool

Quotes 

• King Lear : This is nothing, fool.

  Fool : Can you make no use of nothing, nuncle?

  King Lear : Why, no, boy; nothing can be made out of nothing.

• Fool : Nuncle, The hedge-sparrow fed the cuckoo so long, That it's had it head bit off by it's young. So, out went the candle, and we were left darkling.

• Fool : May not an ass know when the cart draws the horse? Whoop, Jug! I love thee.

• King Lear : Who is it that can tell me who I am?

  Fool : Lear's shadow.

• King Lear : Are my horses ready?

  Fool : Your asses are gone about them.

• Fool : Shalt see thy other daughter will use thee kindly; for though she's as like this as a crab's like an apple, yet I can tell what I can tell.

  King Lear : What canst thou tell, my boy?

  Fool : She will taste as like this as a crab does to a crab.

• Fool : Thou canst tell why one's nose stands i' the middle on's face?

  King Lear : No.

  Fool : Why, to keep one's eyes of either side's nose; that what a man cannot smell out, he may spy into.

• Fool : Canst tell how an oyster makes his shell?

  King Lear : No.

  Fool : Nor I neither; but I can tell why a snail has a house.

  King Lear : Why?

  Fool : Why, to put his head in; not to give it away to his daughters.

• Fool : The reason why the seven stars are no more than seven is a pretty reason.

  King Lear : Because they are not eight?

  Fool : Yes, indeed! Thou wouldst make a good fool.

• Fool : If thou wert my fool, nuncle, I'ld have thee beaten for being old before thy time.

  King Lear : How's that?

  Fool : Thou shouldst not have been old till thou hadst been wise.

• Fool : All that follow their nose are led by their eyes but blind men; and there's not a nose among twenty but can smell him that's stinking.

• Fool : When a wise man gives thee better counsel, give me mine again: I would have none but knaves follow it, since a fool gives it.

• Fool : [singing]  He that has and a little tiny wit - With hey, ho, the wind and the rain, - Must make content with his fortunes fit, For the rain it raineth every day.