Explore English traditional proverbsReviewed 2026-10-01
Sense: Verified- Meaning and lesson
Specialized knowledge is valuable, but it need not be the only source of insight. A partner who thinks differently may notice something the expert overlooks.
The contrast between doctor and clown makes the point memorable: useful understanding can emerge when serious expertise is joined by an unexpected perspective.
- When it is used
Use the proverb to encourage an expert to listen to an unconventional contributor, or to support bringing different perspectives to a problem. It need not imply that the contributor has the expert’s qualifications.
How this record reached us: Editorially sourced.
Report an issue with this meaning: A doctor and a clown know more than a doctor alone.