Quotes About Wisdom

Remember that man lives only in the present, in this fleeting instant; all the rest of his life is either past and gone, or not yet revealed. Short, therefore, is man's life, and narrow is the corner of the earth wherein he dwells.

The gods sustain and guide all their works.

Do not suffer a sudden impression to overbear your judgment.

Because other people are fools, must you be so too?

Even the stoics agree that certainty is very hard to come at; that our assent is worth little, for where is infallibility to be found?

I can at once become happy anywhere, for he is happy who has found himself a happy lot. In a word, happiness lies all in the functions of reason, in warrantable desires and virtuous practice.

Look deep into the hearts of men, and see what delights and disgusts the wise.

The controlling Intelligence understands its own nature, and what it does, and whereon it works.

Remember that all is opinion.

It is a disgrace to let ignorance and vanity do more with us than prudence and principle.

All you need are these: certainty of judgment in the present moment; action for the common good in the present moment; and an attitude of gratitude in the present moment for anything that comes your way.

As if you had died and your life had extended only to this present moment, use the surplus that is left to you to live from this time onward according to nature.

Consider that everything is opinion, and opinion is in your power. Take away then, when you choose, your opinion, and like a mariner who has rounded the headland, you will find calm, everything stable, and a waveless bay.

Either you're going to be depressed when your wish is not realized or foolishly pleased with yourself if it is, overjoyed for the wrong reasons.

Here is a rule to remember in future, when anything tempts you to feel bitter: not "This is misfortune," but "To bear this worthily is good fortune".

Live not as though there were a thousand years ahead of you. Fate is at your elbow; make yourself good while life and power are still yours.

The best answer to anger is silence.

The opinion of 10,000 men is of no value if none of them know anything about the subject.

Think of all the years passed by in which you said to yourself "I'll do it tomorrow," and how the gods have again and again granted you periods of grace of which you have not availed yourself. It is time to realize that you are a member of the Universe, that you are born of Nature itself, and to know that a limit has been set to your time. Use every moment wisely, to perceive your inner refulgence, or 'twill be gone and nevermore within your reach.

To be sure, external things of whatever kind require skill in their use, but we must not grow attached to them; whatever they are, they should only serve for us to show how skilled we are in our handling of them.

Waste no time arguing about what a good man should be. Be one.

When a guide meets up with someone who is lost, ordinarily his reaction is to direct him on the right path, not mock or malign him, then turn on his heel and walk away. As for you, lead someone to the truth and you will find that he can follow. But as long as you don't point it out to him, don't make fun of him; be aware of what you need to work on instead.

You can pass your life in an equable flow of happiness if you can follow the right way and think and act in the right way.

The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts.