馬ば鹿かと煙けむりは高たかい所ところへ上のぼる

expression, godan verb (-ru)

fools fall easily for flattery; fools and smoke rise to great heights

Proverb meaning that foolish people are easily swayed by praise or tend to seek high positions without merit. The literal image is that both fools and smoke rise upward.

• 「馬ば鹿かと煙けむりは高たかい所ところへ上のぼる」と言いうように、おだてに乗のって無む理りな役やくを引ひき受うけてしまった。

  As the saying goes, 'fools and smoke rise to great heights,' and I ended up accepting an unreasonable role after being flattered.