Love is the folly of men and the wit of God.
Tholomyès is speaking with charm and swagger, but the line also holds a real insight. Calling love “folly” admits how irrational it makes people, how it turns sensible plans into chaos. Calling it God’s “wit” suggests that the same chaos might be part of a deeper design, like a joke the universe tells to keep humans moving. In the novel, this blend of humor and seriousness is common, because love is never purely one thing. The paradox helps the line stay memorable, like a proverb with a smile. It can resonate with anyone who feels foolish in love but cannot regret it. The quote makes room for both laughter and wonder.