Most of the cardinal's guests seemed to react unfavorably to his proposal until they learned that the cardinal believed there was merit in the ideas, whereupon all of the rest voiced their agreement, applauding the cardinal's judgment.
When one of the company raised the question of how to deal with people who were incapacitated for work because of old age or illness, a jester proposed that they ought to be consigned to monasteries or nunneries. The cardinal smiled at the suggestion, taking it simply as a jest, but others around the table mistook this for approval and readily supported the proposition of the fool.
This long account of the meeting at the cardinal's house, Hythloday explains to More, was offered to illustrate the way courtiers are apt to receive the recommendations of outsiders and, in contrast, the way the views of their leader or prince are instantly accepted and applauded.
