Quotes about wisdom

He who is certain he knows the ending of things when he is only beginning them is either extremely wise or extremely foolish; no matter which is true, he is certainly an unhappy man, for he has put a knife in the heart of wonder.

The wise man is not waiting for the realness of the world to prove itself to him. How can one be an authority before the experiencing of this realness? My master taught me—and to me it seems chash, meaning correct—that you must not defend against the entering of knowledge.

Some men say there is wisdom in wine. Such men are fools.

A man must know how to look before he can hope to see.

If there are rocks to starboard and storms to port, a wise captain steers a third course.

Sometimes the best thing you can do is nothing.

The greatest fools are ofttimes more clever than the men who laugh at them.

A wise man never makes an enemy of a king.

Is it so far from madness to wisdom?

He was always clever, even as a boy, but it is one thing to be clever and another to be wise.

Wisdom is the fruit of communion; ignorance the inevitable portion of those who "keep themselves to themselves," and stand apart, judging, analysing the things which they have truly never known.

The Mariner, whose eye is bright,

Whose beard with age is hoar,

Is gone: and now the Wedding-Guest

Turned from the bridegroom's door. He went like one that hath been stunned,

And is of sense forlorn:

A sadder and a wiser man,

He rose the morrow morn.