en_tn_lite_do_not_use/ecc/10/01.md

657 B

As dead flies ... so a little folly

Just as flies can ruin perfume, so folly can ruin a person's reputation for wisdom and honor. This speaks of how a little folly can ruin a person's reputation in the same way that a few dead flies ruin perfume. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-simile)

a little folly can overpower wisdom and honor

This speaks of how a person acting foolishly can ruin his reputation as if his "folly" and "wisdom and honor" were people and that his folly overpowered his wisdom and honor. Alternate translation: "committing a little folly can ruin a person's wisdom and honor" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-personification)