Origins of Phrases and Idioms; "A Fools Paradise" Meaning

This is the first in a series of hubs on the Origins of Phrases, where they come from, what their meanings are, and everything related to them.

I started with "A Fool's Paradise" because in truth, we all live in a "fool's paradise" at one time or another in our lives. We sometimes just don't want to look at the reality of a situation and want to see our own versions to lighten the burdens of the truths behind the veils.

Meaning & Explanation of "A Fool's Paradise"
An idiom or phrase which means a state of happiness based on false hope. If someone is living in a fool’s paradise, they are in a state of contentment that will not last because their happiness is based on illusion or false hope. Or a state of happiness based on a non-accepting view of how bad a situation really is. Delusive contentment or false hope.

Origin
This is a very early phrase, first recorded in the Paston Letters in 1462:

"I wold not be in a folis paradyce."

Also, Shakespeare later used it in Romeo and Juliet 1592

Nurse:
Now, afore God, I am so vexed, that every part about
me quivers./ Scurvy knave!/ Pray you, sir, a word:/
and as I told you, my young lady bade me inquire you
out;/ what she bade me say, I will keep to myself:/
But first let me tell ye, if ye should lead her into
a fool's paradise, as they say, it were a very gross
kind of behavior, as they say: for the gentlewoman
is young; and, therefore, if you should deal double
with her, truly it were an ill thing to be offered
to any gentlewoman, and very weak dealing.

See other phrases and sayings from Shakespeare.

Movies;

From IMDB.com:

Fool's Paradise -1997 from imdb.com; Directed by Richard Zakka

A Fools Paradise Movie; http://www.afoolsparadisemovie.com/

Le paradis de l'imbécile (2008) aka "A Fool's Paradise" - USA (alternative title)

A Fool's Paradise (1916) aka "Like an Old Fool" - USA (reissue title)

The Strongest (1910) aka "La più forte" - Italy (original title) aka "A Fool's Paradise" - UK

Independent Films:

A Fools Paradise Movie; http://www.afoolsparadisemovie.com/

Radio:

From wfmu.org;

Fool's Paradise examines recorded music located somewhere between low brow and no brow. Vintage rockabilly, R & B, blues, vocal groups, garage, instrumentals, hillbilly, soul and surf set the stage for a three hour sonic excursion to nowhere. Longtime devotees known as Fool's Paradise Faithfuls tune in every Saturday to give their lives a sense of meaning and order, as well as rhythym. Here's a link to A Fools Paradise with Rex playlist; http://www.wfmu.org/FPWR/

Music;

Amazon Search for "A Fool's Paradise" Music;

Fool's Paradise by Meli'Sa Morgan (MP3 Download - Jan. 22, 2008)

Fools Paradise by Monday Morning (Audio CD - Feb. 7, 2006)

Donna Lewis Fool's Paradise - 1997 UK/German pressed 3-track CD single, includes Donnapella and Jevendale's Tunnel Mix, picture sleeve AT0009CD. See pic below.

We are all living in a fool's paradise over our pensions

‎
Herald Scotland - Jul 8, 2010; But even then the future will be bleak for millions of people as they discover that we've been living in a fool's paradise for decades. ...

Stop Shoulding All Over Yourself in LA

‎
Huffington Post (blog) - 14 hours ago. Since high school, one of my favorite quotes has been Ralph Waldo Emerson's "Traveling is a fool's paradise ." And I always believed this quote to be ...

Plan trashed

‎
Tulsa World - 5 hours ago; Further, there's a good case to be made that the trash board is using the reserve fund to create a fool's paradise for trash customers — our trash rates are ...

1. A fool's paradise: an original play in three acts

   Sydney Grundy - 1898 - 57 pages
   AN ORIGINAL PLAY IN THREE ACTS SYDNEY ...
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2. A Fool's Paradise

   Dum-Dum - 2009 - 142 pages
   LIGHT SPRINGS i A SONG OF MARCH O early March was early May. Soft was the air and bland ; The sun diffused a constant ray, And everything combined to say That Spring was close at hand. Nature forsook her winter sleep ; And through the ...
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3. A fool's paradise: being a constitutionalist's criticism on the ...

   Albert Venn Dicey - 1913 - 132 pages
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4. A Fool's Paradise, a Novel, Volume I

   Thomas Archer - 2008 - 300 pages
   A FOOL'S PARADISE. ...
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5. A Fool's Paradise

   Robyn Williams - 2008 - 389 pages
   Perhaps Williams best work, A Fool's Paradise is a powerful transition into mainstream fiction. It is a literary treasure and a must read for any mature, sophisticated reader's collection.Equally compelling is the unexpected and vivid ...
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6. A Fool's Paradise

   Nancy Flowers Wilson - 2001 - 309 pages
   Smart and sassy Anne-Marie Saunders has three passions: her boyfriend Donovan, her education, and a desire to travel. The problem is that she can't have all three. Anne-Marie spent her entire life in Jamaica and is eager to depart from ...
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7. Fool's paradise: players, poseurs, and the culture of excess in ...

   Steven S. Gaines - 2009 - 274 pages
   A surreal portrait of the culture of excess that marks Miami's South Beach evokes the colorful behavior of the rich, famous, beautiful, and self-indulgent in a glittering, tawdry, and reckless world of one of the world's great party cities.
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8. Fool's paradise: a Carey McWilliams reader

   Carey McWilliams, Dean Stewart, Jeannine Gendar - 2001 - 263 pages
   Carey McWilliams (1905-1980) -- lawyer, activist, historian, editor of The Nation for two decades -- wrote the history of California as no one else could, or would.
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