"People do not wish to appear foolish; to avoid the appearance of foolishness, they are willing to remain actually fools"

In this quote, Alice Walker is highlighting the human propensity to prioritize appearances over truth. She recommends that people are so afraid of being perceived as foolish by others that they want to continue being foolish in truth. This can be seen as a commentary on society's obsession with image and the pressure to conform to certain requirements. Walker is likewise pointing out the paradox of this behavior - by trying to prevent looking absurd, people wind up perpetuating their own absurdity. This quote works as a reminder to prioritize credibility and self-awareness over the worry of judgment from others.