Wisdom Quotes | Beyond Motive 42/79

top of page

Wisdom Quotes

"I doubt I'm any wiser than I was five hundred years back. I'm older. I've been up, and been down, and been up again. Have I learned aught? I've learned from my mistakes, but I've had more time to commit more mistakes."

"I doubt I'm any wiser than I was five hundred years back. I'm older. I've been up, and been down, and been up again. Have I learned aught? I've learned from my mistakes, but I've had more time to commit more mistakes."

Neil Gaiman, British Author

Wisdom, Mistake, Experience, Learning

15

"As old lies are laid to rest, new ones sprout from their ashes, as deadly as their ancestors."

"As old lies are laid to rest, new ones sprout from their ashes, as deadly as their ancestors."

Bangambiki Habyarimana, Rwandan Author

Wisdom, Lies, Truth, History, Deception

15

"Wisdom is found only in truth."

"Wisdom is found only in truth."

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, German Poet

15

"Acknowledge and watch your habits, for they shall become your values."

"Acknowledge and watch your habits, for they shall become your values."

Mahatma Gandhi, Indian Leader

Wisdom, Habit, Habits, Knowledge, Now

15

"Wisdom is the intelligent use of our knowledge, whereas sensibility is an intelligent use of our judgment."

"Wisdom is the intelligent use of our knowledge, whereas sensibility is an intelligent use of our judgment."

Pearl Zhu, American Author

Wisdom, Knowledge, Judgment, Truth

15

"Every spirit makes its house, and we can give a shrewd guess from the house to the inhabitant."

"Every spirit makes its house, and we can give a shrewd guess from the house to the inhabitant."

Ralph Waldo Emerson, American Poet

15

"He draweth out the thread of his verbosity finer than the staple of his argument."

"He draweth out the thread of his verbosity finer than the staple of his argument."

William Shakespeare, English Dramatist

Wisdom, Truth, Power, Today

15

"Preston, I don't think this creature could ever find its way into your head. Quite apart from anything else, it seems pretty crowded and complicated to me."

"Preston, I don't think this creature could ever find its way into your head. Quite apart from anything else, it seems pretty crowded and complicated to me."

Terry Pratchett, English Author

Wisdom, Truth, Today, Inspirational

15

"You can't know what it is like for us now--you will always be one step behind.Be thankful for that.You can't know what it was like for us then--you will always be one step ahead.Be thankful for that, too."

"You can't know what it is like for us now--you will always be one step behind.Be thankful for that.You can't know what it was like for us then--you will always be one step ahead.Be thankful for that, too."

David Levithan, American Author

Wisdom, Understanding, Gratitude, Time, Perspective

15

"One loves to possess arms, though they hope never to have occasion for them."

"One loves to possess arms, though they hope never to have occasion for them."

Thomas Jefferson, American President

15

"The heart never takes the place of the head: but it can, and should, obey it."

"The heart never takes the place of the head: but it can, and should, obey it."

C. S. Lewis, British Author

Wisdom, Heart, Obedience, Emotion, Reason

15

"The precondition for solving a problem is having a clear idea on how tosolve it."

"The precondition for solving a problem is having a clear idea on how tosolve it."

Eraldo Banovac, Croatian Scientist

Wisdom, Problem, Solution, Clarity, Focus

15

"If your enemy is secure at all points, be prepared for him. If he is in superior strength, evade him. If your opponent is temperamental, seek to irritate him. Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant. If he is taking his ease, give him no rest. If his forces are united, separate them. If sovereign and subject are in accord, put division between them. Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected ."

"If your enemy is secure at all points, be prepared for him. If he is in superior strength, evade him. If your opponent is temperamental, seek to irritate him. Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant. If he is taking his ease, give him no rest. If his forces are united, separate them. If sovereign and subject are in accord, put division between them. Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected ."

Sun Tzu, Chinese Philosopher

Wisdom, Strategy, War, Preparation, Caution

15

"Be not simply good - be good for something."

"Be not simply good - be good for something."

Henry David Thoreau, American Author

Wisdom, Goodness, Purpose, Truth, Morality

15

"People are not who they say but rather who their actions reveal them to be....Be smart about it. Don't fall for the bullshit."

"People are not who they say but rather who their actions reveal them to be....Be smart about it. Don't fall for the bullshit."

Ziad K. Abdelnour, Lebanese Author

Wisdom, People, Action, Truth, Smart

15

"I have the simplest tastes. I am always satisfied with the best."

"I have the simplest tastes. I am always satisfied with the best."

Oscar Wilde, Irish Dramatist

Wisdom, Taste, Simplicity, Satisfaction, Truth

15

"Life is in different stages. Every stage of life is the foundation for the next stage of life. Every stage of live must be fully-lived."

"Life is in different stages. Every stage of life is the foundation for the next stage of life. Every stage of live must be fully-lived."

Lailah Gifty Akita, Ghanaian Author

Wisdom, Stages, Growth, Journey, Foundation

15

"Words need to be sown like seeds. No matter how tiny a seed may be, when in lands in the right sort of ground it unfolds its strength and from being minute expands and grows to a massive size."

"Words need to be sown like seeds. No matter how tiny a seed may be, when in lands in the right sort of ground it unfolds its strength and from being minute expands and grows to a massive size."

Seneca, Roman Philosopher

Wisdom, Word, Growth, Strength, Patience

15

"Not fame, but wisdom is the beauty of life."

"Not fame, but wisdom is the beauty of life."

Debasish Mridha, American Author

Wisdom, Life, Beauty, Fame

15

"The statement at the core of all disagreements: I'm right, you're wrong."

"The statement at the core of all disagreements: I'm right, you're wrong."

Charles F. Glassman, American Author

Wisdom, Truth, Judgment, Life, Conflict

15

"From the cradle to the grave, joy and pain is the fertilizer for wisdom."

"From the cradle to the grave, joy and pain is the fertilizer for wisdom."

T. F. Hodge, American Motivational Speaker

Wisdom, Life, Joy, Pain

15

"It is not the failure of others to appreciate your abilities that should trouble you, but rather your failure to appreciate theirs."

"It is not the failure of others to appreciate your abilities that should trouble you, but rather your failure to appreciate theirs."

Confucius, Chinese Philosopher

Wisdom, Appreciation, Failure, Ability, Recognition

15

"I would have written of me on my stone: I had a lover's quarrel with the world."

"I would have written of me on my stone: I had a lover's quarrel with the world."

Robert Frost, American Poet

Wisdom, Quarrel, World

15

"Better by far you should forget and smile than that you should remember and be sad."

"Better by far you should forget and smile than that you should remember and be sad."

Christina G. Rossetti, English Poet

Wisdom, Forget, Smile

15

"Pressed into service means pressed out of shape."

"Pressed into service means pressed out of shape."

Robert Frost, American Poet

Wisdom, Service

15

"Ay,sir;to be honest,as this world goes,is to be one man picked out of ten thousand."

"Ay,sir;to be honest,as this world goes,is to be one man picked out of ten thousand."

William Shakespeare, English Dramatist

Wisdom, Truth, Power, Today, Regret

15

"There is a Persian proverb: 'To test that which has been tested is ignorance.' To try to test something without the means of testing is even worse."

"There is a Persian proverb: 'To test that which has been tested is ignorance.' To try to test something without the means of testing is even worse."

Idries Shah, Indian Author

Wisdom, Testing, Ignorance, Knowledge

15

"Knowledge is the essence of organized information systems. Wisdom is the essence of knowledge and experience."

"Knowledge is the essence of organized information systems. Wisdom is the essence of knowledge and experience."

Debasish Mridha, American Author

Wisdom, Knowledge, Experience, Essence

15

"The true perfection of man lies not in what man has, but in what man is."

"The true perfection of man lies not in what man has, but in what man is."

Oscar Wilde, Irish Dramatist

Wisdom, Perfection, Man, Being, Truth

15

"It pays to do what is always considered right."

"It pays to do what is always considered right."

Abdulazeez Henry Musa, Nigerian Author

Wisdom, Integrity, Right, Ethics, Principle

15

"Wisdom is like the moonlight that quietly inspires you."

"Wisdom is like the moonlight that quietly inspires you."

Debasish Mridha, American Author

Wisdom, Moonlight, Inspiration, Simplicity

15

"Today we have more knowledge than at any other time in history. In seconds our laptops or PCs can call up information about a topic that would have taken years to collect. Young people graduate with more knowledge than ever before-but in spite of their knowledge, they are confused, bewildered, frustrated, and without moral moorings."

"Today we have more knowledge than at any other time in history. In seconds our laptops or PCs can call up information about a topic that would have taken years to collect. Young people graduate with more knowledge than ever before-but in spite of their knowledge, they are confused, bewildered, frustrated, and without moral moorings."

Billy Graham, American Clergyman

Wisdom, More, Learning, Knowledge

15

"Listen until you're the smartest. Learn until you're the wisest. Live until you're the merriest. Love until you're the kindest."

"Listen until you're the smartest. Learn until you're the wisest. Live until you're the merriest. Love until you're the kindest."

Matshona Dhliwayo, Zimbabwean Philosopher

Wisdom, Listening, Learning, Living, Love

15

"The doorstep to the temple of wisdom is a knowledge of our own ignorance."

"The doorstep to the temple of wisdom is a knowledge of our own ignorance."

Benjamin Franklin, American Politician

Wisdom, Knowledge, Temple, Ignorance

15

"Don't ever stray from yourself, in order to be close to someone that doesn't have the courtesy to remind you of your worth, or the integrity of a gentleman to walk you home."

"Don't ever stray from yourself, in order to be close to someone that doesn't have the courtesy to remind you of your worth, or the integrity of a gentleman to walk you home."

Shannon L. Alder, American Author

Wisdom, Integrity, Worth, Respect, Relationship

15

"Mediocrity can talk, but it is for genius to observe."

"Mediocrity can talk, but it is for genius to observe."

Benjamin Disraeli, British Statesman

Wisdom, Genius, Mediocrity, Talk

15

"Even the wisest and the best of us can be foolish occasionally."

"Even the wisest and the best of us can be foolish occasionally."

Dean Koontz, American Author

Wisdom, Learning, Mistake, Humility

15

"We never solve the big questions, we outgrow them."

"We never solve the big questions, we outgrow them."

Marty Rubin, American Author

Wisdom, Growth, Question, Philosophy, Change

15

"It takes two to make a murder. There are born victims, born to have their throats cut, as the cut-throats are born to be hanged."

"It takes two to make a murder. There are born victims, born to have their throats cut, as the cut-throats are born to be hanged."

Aldous Huxley, English Novelist

Wisdom, Murder, Victims

15

"Sincere doubts, handled properly, can become a gift."

"Sincere doubts, handled properly, can become a gift."

Craig Groeschel, American Author

Wisdom, Doubt, Faith, Growth, Learning

15

"What we call wisdom is the result of all the wisdom of past ages. Our best institutions are like young trees growing upon the roots of the old trunks that have crumbled away."

"What we call wisdom is the result of all the wisdom of past ages. Our best institutions are like young trees growing upon the roots of the old trunks that have crumbled away."

Henry Ward Beecher, American Clergyman

Wisdom, Old, Past, Result

15

"Anyone who thinks impressions of old movie actors is funny absolutely cannot be trusted. I think it's like a law of nature."

"Anyone who thinks impressions of old movie actors is funny absolutely cannot be trusted. I think it's like a law of nature."

Stephen King, American Author

Wisdom, Humor, Trust, Judgment, Nature

15

"Above all else, guard your heart for it affects everything else you do."

"Above all else, guard your heart for it affects everything else you do."

Anonymous, Unknown Unknown

Wisdom, Heart, Protection, Emotion, Focus

15

"The less people know, the more they talk. The less people understand, the more they try to explain."

"The less people know, the more they talk. The less people understand, the more they try to explain."

Vironika Tugaleva, Ukrainian Author

Wisdom, Knowledge, Ignorance, Speech, Understanding

15

"A great storm is like a sunny day to a person of great faith. A gentle wind is like a great storm to a person of great fear."

"A great storm is like a sunny day to a person of great faith. A gentle wind is like a great storm to a person of great fear."

Matshona Dhliwayo, Zimbabwean Philosopher

Wisdom, Faith, Fear, Storm, Optimism

15

"Some old men, continually praise the time of their youth. In fact, you would almost think that there were no fools in their days, but unluckily they themselves are left as an example."

"Some old men, continually praise the time of their youth. In fact, you would almost think that there were no fools in their days, but unluckily they themselves are left as an example."

Alexander Pope, English Poet

Wisdom, Time, Men, Example, Fact

15

"The body's a funny thing. It's so full of surprises that it makes conventional wisdom seem silly."

"The body's a funny thing. It's so full of surprises that it makes conventional wisdom seem silly."

Pat Conroy, American Writer

Wisdom, Thing, Intelligence, Body, Funny

15

"People quote proverbs without realizing they're really in awe of the authority of their truth and the power of their expression..."

"People quote proverbs without realizing they're really in awe of the authority of their truth and the power of their expression..."

John Geddes, Canadian Author

Wisdom, Authority, Expression, Truth, Power

15

"It doesn't work, she continues, unclasping her hands, smoothing her skirt. "What you're feeling right now doesn't work. You can't wander around and think the wandering will call them back. Believe me. I know you don't want to hear the long view, but let me tell you. You are so young. I know it's none of my business. But still."

"It doesn't work, she continues, unclasping her hands, smoothing her skirt. "What you're feeling right now doesn't work. You can't wander around and think the wandering will call them back. Believe me. I know you don't want to hear the long view, but let me tell you. You are so young. I know it's none of my business. But still."

David Levithan, American Author

Wisdom, Feeling, Youth, Advice, Hope

15

"Don't live by my words, don't die by them, chew them slowly digest them, and smile if they give nourishment to your soul."

"Don't live by my words, don't die by them, chew them slowly digest them, and smile if they give nourishment to your soul."

Stanley Victor Paskavich, American Politician

Wisdom, Word, Soul, Acceptance

15

bottom of page