The Reign of Foolishness

(From the unpublished)

Once upon a time, Foolishness quarreled with Wisdom. The latter, endowed with patience and prudence, did everything possible to avoid conflict. But Foolishness, cunning and vengeful, had already prepared a trap. Even when Wisdom sincerely apologized, Foolishness not only rejected the apology but also harbored resentment. It resolved to destroy Wisdom and its influence once and for all.

Foolishness sprang into action. It accused Wisdom of arrogance, claiming that Wisdom sought to rule the world by imposing its "rules" and "truths." For many, these accusations sounded convincing because Foolishness knew how to disguise itself. It spoke simply, promised an easy life, and offered immediate pleasures. Wisdom, on the other hand, demanded thoughtfulness, effort, and patience. Tired of complexities, people began to turn away from it.

With growing popularity, Foolishness took decisive steps. It hunted down Wisdom and imprisoned it in a dungeon. Now, without Wisdom's free voice, its followers became increasingly vulnerable. Foolishness began a hunt. Initially, it offered a choice: join its side or vanish. Many succumbed to threats and fear, taking up Foolishness's banner. Only a few continued to resist, retreating into hiding, hoping to preserve fragments of wisdom in a world where it was nearly extinct.

To solidify its power, Foolishness ordered the destruction of all humanity's heritage. Books—the repositories of knowledge and experience—became its main target. According to Foolishness, every book contained traces of Wisdom, and that was unacceptable. Libraries, manuscripts, and archives—all that humanity had ever written—were consumed by fire. In their place, Foolishness established a single publication: a newspaper filled with meaningless gossip, shallow stories, and screaming headlines. This was its truth, its world.

New generations born in the era of Foolishness knew nothing else. For them, only this newspaper existed, along with its "truths" and way of life. Foolishness infiltrated all spheres: from education to art, from science to fashion. Schools taught only what was pleasing to Foolishness. Art became hollow and soulless, catering to fleeting whims. Science served merely to create new forms of entertainment and manipulation.

People ate, drank, dressed, and thought as Foolishness dictated. Those few who retained the ability to think lived in fear. They hid, teaching one another in secret places, preserving fragments of old texts, and passing them on like relics. It was in these dark hideouts that whispers of Wisdom could still be heard. Even in captivity, Wisdom continued to inspire its followers. Through secret messages and legends, it reminded them: "Foolishness is not eternal."

Resistance grew, albeit slowly and covertly. Wisdom believed that one day people would remember its power. For even the thickest clouds cannot forever obscure the light of the sun. One day, when Foolishness deems itself invincible, the first ray of Wisdom will pierce its veil.

Then a new era will begin.
April 6, 2018, 6:03 AM