“Fool of a Took,” I’ve called him--impetuous, taking little thought before acting. But there is a wisdom there we need. See him beguiling Frodo to smile? Coaxing a laugh from a moody Boromir? Anticipating the wood Sam will need to prepare a too scanty meal (particularly by Hobbit standards!), and distracting Legolas and Gimli from sniping at one another interminably, taking that heavy pack Merry has just unloaded and setting it where Aragorn will be able to get what he needs without stumbling over it now.
When someone is needed to distract us from our blisters and grumbles, Pippin is always there. Perhaps not as much a fool of a Took as I’d thought!