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Quotes about wisdom

352 quotes from 209 people

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The owl of Minerva first begins her flight with the onset of dusk.
Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel1770–1831Elements of the Philosophy of Right (1820/1821)
- Philosophy
Wisdom is not additive; its maximum is that of the wisest man in a given group.
Robert A. Heinlein1907–1988Glory Road (1963)
They do not grow wise. They grow careful.
Ernest Hemingway1899–1961A Farewell to Arms (1929), Book IV, Chapter XXXVIn context
- Age
But in a last word to the wise of these days let it be said that of all who give gifts these two were the wisest. Of all who give and receive gifts, such as they are wisest. Everywhere they are wisest. They are the magi.
O. Henry1862–1910The Gift of the Magi (1905)In context
- Christmas
The magi, as you know, were wise men⁠—wonderfully wise men⁠—who brought gifts to the Babe in the manger. They invented the art of giving Christmas presents.
O. Henry1862–1910The Gift of the Magi (1905)In context
- Christmas
It is wise to listen, not to me but to the Word, and to confess that all things are one.
Heraclitus535–470 BCFragment 50
When a wise man does not understand, he says: “I do not understand.” The fool and the uncultured are ashamed of their ignorance. They remain silent when a question could bring them wisdom.
Frank Herbert1920–1986The Godmakers (1972)
Force has no place where there is need of skill.
Herodotus484–425 BCThe Histories, Book 3, Ch. 127.
He is a fool who leaves things close at hand
To follow what is out of reach.
Hesiod776–700 BCFrg. 61 M.-W. (tr. F. C. Babbitt, 1939); assignment to the Catalogue conjectural
Wisdom is not communicable. The wisdom which a wise man tries to communicate always sounds foolish… Knowledge can be communicated, but not wisdom.
Hermann Hesse1877–1962Siddhartha (1922)
- Knowledge
The only rule is don’t be boring and dress cute wherever you go. Life is too short to blend in.
Paris Hiltonborn 1981Confessions of an Heiress (2004), p. 53 (included in the Oxford Dictionary of Quotations )
- Advice
Patience is the companion of wisdom.
Augustine of Hippo354–430De Patientia chapter 5
Take the risk of thinking for yourself. Much more happiness, truth, beauty and wisdom will come to you that way.
Christopher Hitchens1949–2011Christopher Hitchens vs. William Dembski, 18/11/2010 (closing remarks)
- Thinking
Such is the nature of men, that howsoever they may acknowledge many others to be more witty, or more eloquent, or more learned; Yet they will hardly believe there be many so wise as themselves: For they see their own wit at hand, and other mens at a distance.
Thomas Hobbes1588–1679Leviathan (1651), Part I: Of Man, Chapter XIIIIn context
- Intelligence
Once a thing has been done, the fool sees it.
Homer900–800 BCIliad, XVII. 32 (tr. Richmond Lattimore); Menelaus to Euphorbus