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Quotes about wisdom

352 quotes from 209 people

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A grain of gold will gild a great surface, but not so much as a grain of wisdom.
Henry David Thoreau1817–1862Life Without Principle (1863), p. 488
Understanding human needs is half the job of meeting them.
Adlai Stevenson II1900–1965Speech in Columbus, Ohio (3 October 1952); quoted in The International Thesaurus of Quotations (1970) edited by Rhoda Thomas Tripp, p. 429
In matters of national security emotion is no substitute for intelligence, nor rigidity for prudence. To act coolly, intelligently and prudently in perilous circumstances is the test of a man — and also a nation.
Adlai Stevenson II1900–1965Radio address (11 April 1955); as quoted in The World’s Great Speeches (1999) edited by Lewis Copeland, Lawrence W. Lamm, and Stephen J. McKenna
- Character
Humanity unceasingly strives forward from a lower, more partial and obscure understanding of life to one more general and more lucid.
Leo Tolstoy1828–1910What is Art? (1897)
In the matter of reforming things, as distinct from deforming them, there is one plain and simple principle; a principle which will probably be called a paradox. There exists in such a case a certain institution or law; let us say, for the sake of simplicity, a fence or gate erected across a road. The more modern type of reformer goes gaily up to it and says, “I don’t see the use of this; let us clear it away.” To which the more intelligent type of reformer will do well to answer: “If you don’t see the use of it, I certainly won’t let you clear it away. Go away and think. Then, when you can come back and tell me that you do see the use of it, I may allow you to destroy it.”
G. K. Chesterton1874–1936The Thing (1929), Ch. IV: “The Drift From Domesticity”
- Change
And, because right is right, to follow right
Were wisdom in the scorn of consequence.
Alfred, Lord Tennyson1809–1892“Oenone” (1832)
- Morality
Cunning is only the mimic of discretion, and may pass upon weak men in the same manner as vivacity is often mistaken for wit, and gravity for wisdom.
Joseph Addison1672–1719The Spectator, No. 225 (17 November 1711)
- Character
Have no respect whatsoever for authority; forget who said it and instead look what he starts with, where he ends up, and ask yourself, “Is it reasonable?”
Richard Feynman1918–1988“What Do You Care What Other People Think?”, p. 28-29
- Advice
- Thinking
You do ill if you praise, and still worse if you reprove in a matter you do not understand.
Leonardo da Vinci1452–1519The Notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci, tr. J. P. Richter, XIX: Philosophical Maxims
- Knowledge
I urge you to please notice when you are happy, and exclaim or murmur or think at some point, “If this isn’t nice, I don’t know what is.”
Kurt Vonnegut1922–2007“Knowing What’s Nice”, an essay from In These Times (2003)
- Advice
- Happiness
We must not be wise and prudent according to the flesh, but, instead, we must be simple, humble and pure.
Francis of Assisi1182–1226“Later Admonition and Exhortation to the Brothers and Sisters of Penance,” Francis of Assisi: Early Documents, Volume 1, p. 48.
- Virtue
Above all things, one should maintain his self-respect, and there is but one way to do that, and that is to live in accordance with your highest ideal.
Robert G. Ingersoll1833–1899The trial of Charles B. Reynolds for blasphemy (1887)
- Advice
- Character
The idea that a wise man must be solemn is bred and preserved among people who have no idea what wisdom is, and can only respect whatever makes them feel inferior.
Robertson Davies1913–1995A Voice from the Attic (1960)
The job is to ask questions — it always was — and to ask them as inexorably as I can. And to face the absence of precise answers with a certain humility.
Arthur Miller1915–2005National Observer (January 20, 1964)
- Writing
Keep the other person’s well being in mind when you feel an attack of soul-purging truth coming on.
Betty White1922–2021If You Ask Me (And of Course You Won’t) (2011)
- Advice
- Truth & Lies