"Very often, say what you will, a knave is only a fool"

This quote by Voltaire suggests that there is a great line between knavery and absurdity. He suggests that a knave, or someone who is unethical or unreliable, is frequently not much various from a fool, or someone who is ill-advised or absurd. This recommends that knavery is often a result of foolishness, rather than a mindful choice to be unethical. It could be argued that a knave is merely someone who has made an absurd decision, and is now paying the consequences. This quote also indicates that knavery is not always deliberate, which it can be an outcome of naivety or lack of knowledge. Ultimately, Voltaire is suggesting that knavery and absurdity are frequently 2 sides of the very same coin, which it is very important to remember that knaves are typically simply misdirected fools.