Formerly, when I was told to consider him wise, I kept trying to, and thought I was stupid myself because I was unable to perceive his wisdom; but as soon as I said to myself, he's stupid (only in a whisper of course), it all became quite clear!  Don't you think so?'

 'How malicious you are to-day!'

'Not at all.  I have no choice.  One of us is stupid, and you know it's impossible to say so of oneself.

Author: Leo Tolstoy