Dead flies cause the ointment of the perfumer to send forth a foul odor: so does a little folly to him that is respected for wisdom and honor.
All Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 10:1 Go To Ecclesiastes 10
George Leo Haydock
AD 1849
Ointment. A fly cannot live in it. (Pliny, xi. 19.)
Hence the smallest faults must be avoided, (Calmet) and superfluous cares, (St. Gregory) as well as the conversation of the wicked, (Thaumat.) particularly of heretics. (St. Augustine, contra Fulg. 14.)
Detractors may be compared to flies: they seek corruption A little leaven corrupteth the whole lump, 1 Corinthians v. 6. (Calmet)
The wicked infect their companions, and vice destroys all former virtues. (Worthington)
Wisdom, or "a small. Folly is more precious than wisdom", of the world, 1 Corinthians i. 25., and iii. 18. Dulce est desipere in loco. (Horace, iv. ode 12.)
Hebrew, "folly spoils things more precious than wisdom. "A small fault is often attended with the worst consequences, (chap. ix. 18.) as David and Roboam experienced, 2 Kings xxiv., and 3 Kings xii. 14. (Calmet)
Septuagint, "a little wisdom is to be honoured above the great glory of foolishness. "Protestants, "dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking flavour; so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour. "(Haydock)
