How we cite our quotes:
Quote #7
So much for my chapter upon chapters, which I hold to be the best chapter in my whole work; and take my word, whoever reads it is full as well employed, as in picking straws. (4.10.9)
Even the reader can't escape being a fool. By reading his chapter, Tristram says, you, the reader, have been "picking straws," engaged in a useless task. Gotcha: the very act of reading Tristram Shandy is a folly.
Quote #8
He shall neither strike, or pinch, or tickle—or bite, or cut his nails, or hawk, or spit, or snift, or drum with his feet or fingers in company;—nor (according to Erasmus) shall he speak to any one in making water,—nor shall he point to carrion or excrement.—Now this is all nonsense again, quoth my uncle Toby to himself.— (6.5.6)
Mr. Shandy is a fool because he combines ideas from too many people. He is so wrapped up in his reading that he completely loses common sense when he's trying to decide what kind of tutor he wants for Tristram. The result? A mishmash of qualities that can't possibly exist in one person.
Quote #9
And the five following, a good quantity of heterogeneous matter be inserted, to keep up that just balance betwixt wisdom and folly, without which a book would not hold together a single year: (9.12.1)
If Tristram Shandy were all wise and serious, it would be an extremely dull book. Tristram here announces that he's carefully mixed wisdom with folly in order to produce a book that's fun to read but can also teach you something about life, like a little chocolate powder mixed in with your protein shake. Foolishness has its place in the world, just like wisdom.