A "simple" character (particularly a servant or
rural character) displays uncommon wisdom — usually much to the surprise of an
arrogant main character. Creates
An Aesop moment.
This would seem to derive from Cervantes'
Don Quixote, where the archetypically "simple" Sancho Panza occasionally produces statements of great wisdom (although in that case the main character, Don Quixote, often fails to notice or credit that wisdom).
Compare
Dumbass Has a Point, which is what said
Insufferable Genius may say after hearing the simple character's idea.
See also:
Achievements in Ignorance,
Too Dumb to Fool,
Whoopi Epiphany Speech,
Infallible Babble,
Hanlon's Razor.
Examples:
Comics
- Not a perfect example, but the Rhino in Spiderman does this occasionally, much to the surprise of other villains.
- In Twisted Toyfare Theatre, Mego Spider-Man seems to totally lack his signature super-powers, but also happens to be the only person in Megoville apart from maybe Dr. Doom who has a single lick of common sense.
Literature
- The Scarecrow from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, both the book and movie. He wishes for a brain, yet neither he nor anyone else he's traveling with notices the discrepancy.
- Older Than Steam: The Beast in the original literary fairy tale Beauty and the Beast is described as speaking with much common sense, but "never what the world calls wit." (And yes, at the end of the story, the Prince is transformed to be witty and eloquent in addition to handsome.)
- In Alexander Pope's The Rape of the Lock, right before the incredibly epic battle over an involuntary haircut, Clarissa, probably a lower-status lady than most of the players, rebukes everyone on how it's silly to waste energy over such a trivial matter, and how good humor is a better tool than beauty or tantrums to weather the storms of life. Of course, no one listens to her.
Live-Action Television
Web Comics
Western Animation
