A foole and his money be soone at debate: which after with sorow repents him too late.
[1573 T. Tusser Husbandry (rev. ed.) ix.]
A foole and his money is soone parted.
[1587 J. Bridges Defence of Government in Church of England xv. 1294]
A foole, and his money are soone parted.
[1616 T. Draxe Adages 166]
She tossed her nose in distain, saying, she supposed her brother had taken him into favour‥: that a fool and his money were soon parted.
[1771 Smollett Humphry Clinker I. 174]
I can see now I was a fool, perhaps even a greedy fool, and a fool and his money are soon parted.
[1981 C. Bermant Patriarch xx.]
‘Herb, you ought to know better than to get mixed up in a get-rich scheme! It's like the old saying: “A fool and his money are soon parted.”’ ‘Yeah, you are right! So, how much did you lose?’
[2002 Washington Times 1 Jan. D4 (Herb & Jamaal comic strip)]
Related to: money; stupidity
Bibliography of major proverb collections and works cited from modern editions is available here.
