A round hand mirror reflects a small jester’s cap, with a brass ring beside it.

Original artwork, not a still

H. L. Mencken

A man may be a fool and not know it – but not if he is married.

Behind the line

What it means

Our interpretation.

A sardonic joke that a man can go through life a fool without realising it, unless he's married, in which case he'll be informed. The humour rests on marriage acting as a constant, unflattering mirror held up by a spouse.

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