Wisdom Quotes

Wisdom refers to an element of personal character that enables one to distinguish the wise from the unwise. It commonly describes a piece of wise advice, the discretionary use of knowledge for the greatest good, and the ability to apply relevant knowledge in an insightful way, especially to different situations from that in which the knowledge was gained, which gives the term a broader and more practical sense than a single short definition would suggest. Depending on context, it can also point to the ability to make a decision based on the combination of knowledge, experience, and intuitive understanding and the ability to know and apply spiritual truths, so the category can cover literal uses, related ideas, and more figurative extensions of the same core meaning. Taken together, these meanings present Wisdom as a flexible theme rather than a narrowly technical label, covering the central idea people usually mean when they use the word while still leaving room for closely related senses that appear in real language. Wisdom therefore works well as a quotation category because it can hold direct statements about the subject, figurative uses that borrow its meaning, and broader reflections that stay anchored to the same central idea.

Featured Authors on Wisdom

Photo of Baltasar Gracian

Baltasar Gracian

(1604-1658)

Photo of Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin

(1706-1790)

Photo of Ralph Waldo Emerson

Ralph Waldo Emerson

(1803-1882)