Being Wise Quotes

• We can be knowledgeable with other men's knowledge, but we cannot be wise with other men's wisdom.

  Michel de Montaigne

  Wise, Wisdom, Smart

  Attributed to "Essais" by Michel de Montaigne, Book I, Ch. 25, 1595.

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• Let men be wise by instinct if they can, but when this fails be wise by good advice.

  Sophocles

  Wise, Wisdom, Men

  Sophocles, Paul Roche (1991). “The Oedipus plays of Sophocles: Oedipus the King, Oedipus at Colonus, Antigone”, Signet

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• A wise man makes his own decisions, an ignorant man follows the public opinion.

  Grantland Rice

  Confidence, Wise, Wisdom

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• The art of being wise is the art of knowing what to overlook.

  William James

  Positive, Wise, Wisdom

  Principles of Psychology (1890) vol. 2, ch. 22

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• It is better to conquer yourself than to win a thousand battles.

  Gautama Buddha

  Buddhist, Struggle, Buddhism

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• It's so simple to be wise. Just think of something stupid to say and say the opposite.

  Sam Levenson

  Inspirational, Funny, Wise

  Sam Levenson (2016). “You Don't Have to Be in Who's Who to Know What's What: The Choice Wit and Wisdom of Sam Levenson”, p.86, Open Road Media

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• The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.

  Socrates

  Wise, Wisdom, Philosophy

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• By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest.

  Confucius

  Wise, Wisdom, Attitude

  "Words of Wisdom to Live By". Book by Alfred Armand Montapert, 1986.

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• To fear death, my friends, is only to think ourselves wise, without being wise: for it is to think that we know what we do not know. For anything that men can tell, death may be the greatest good that can happen to them: but they fear it as if they knew quite well that it was the greatest of evils. And what is this but that shameful ignorance of thinking that we know what we do not know?

  Socrates

  Death, Wise, Fear

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• It is one thing to be clever and another to be wise.

  George R. R. Martin

  Inspirational, Wise, Wisdom

  George R. R. Martin (2011). “A Game of Thrones 4-Book Bundle: A Song of Ice and Fire Series: A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords, and A Feast for Crows”, p.159, Bantam

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• Wisdom is the right use of knowledge.

  Charles Spurgeon

  Wisdom, Knowledge, Use

  "In a World Of...friends, Foes & Fools". Book by James Merritt, 2008.

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• We can be wise from goodness and good from wisdom.

  Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach

  Wise, Wisdom, Goodness

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• It's always better to be wise than to be smart.

  Alan Alda

  Wise, Smart, Being Smart

  Alan Alda's commencement speech at Connecticut College in New London, 1980.

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  The saddest aspect of life right now is that science gathers knowledge faster than society gathers wisdom.

  Isaac Asimov

  Life, Wise, Wisdom

  "Isaac Asimov's Book of Science and Nature Questions". Book edited with Jason A. Shulman, p. 281, 1988.

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  The next best thing to being wise oneself is to live in a circle of those who are.

  C. S. Lewis

  Wise, Wisdom, Circles

  C. S. Lewis (2013). “Selected Literary Essays”, p.99, Cambridge University Press

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• Nine tenths of wisdom consists in being wise in time.

  Theodore Roosevelt

  Inspirational, Wise, Wisdom

  Theodore Roosevelt (2005). “Fear God and Take Your Own Part”, p.54, Cosimo, Inc.

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• It is not enough to be wise, one must be engaging.

  Ninon de L'Enclos

  Wise, Enough, Engaging

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• To conquer fear is the beginning of wisdom.

  Bertrand Russell

  Inspirational, Success, Wisdom

  Unpopular Essays (1950) "Outline of Intellectual Rubbish"

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• It is easier to be wise for others than for ourselves.

  Francois de La Rochefoucauld

  Inspirational, Wise, Wisdom

  "The Moral Maxims and Reflections". Book by François de La Rochefoucauld. Maxim 132, 1678.

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• Common sense in an uncommon degree is what the world calls wisdom.

  Samuel Taylor Coleridge

  Inspirational, Life, Wisdom

  Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1838). “The Literary Remains of Samuel Taylor Coleridge: Preface. Formula fidei de ss. Trinitate. Nightly prayer. Notes on the book of common prayer; Hooker; Field; Donne; Henry More; Heinrichs; Hacket; Jeremy Taylor; The pilgrim's progress; John Smith. Letter to a godchild”, p.186

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• Be happy. It's one way of being wise.

  Sidonie Gabrielle Colette

  Happiness, Happy, Wise

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• Be as smart as you can, but remember that it is always better to be wise than to be smart.

  Alan Alda

  Wise, Wisdom, Smart

  Alan Alda's commencement speech at Connecticut College in New London, www.graduationwisdom.com. 1980.

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• A fool thinks himself to be wise, but a wise man knows himself to be a fool.

  William Shakespeare

  Inspirational, Wise, Wisdom

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  The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts.

  Bertrand Russell

  Education, Confidence, Wisdom

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• To succeed in the world we must look foolish but be wise.

  Baron de Montesquieu

  Success, Wise, Looks

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