Quotes About Wisdom

A home without books is a body without soul.

I would rather be wrong with Plato than right with such men as these [the Pythagoreans].

There is nothing so ridiculous but some philosopher has said it.

These studies are a spur to the young, a delight to the old; an ornament in prosperity, a consoling refuge in adversity; they are pleasure for us at home, and no burden abroad; they stay up with us at night, they accompany us when we travel, they are with us in our country visits.

Rashness belongs to youth prudence to old age.

It is the nature of every person to error, but only the fool perseveres in error.

I prefer tongue-tied knowledge to ignorant loquacity.

Rightly defined philosophy is simply the love of wisdom.

I add this, that rational ability without education has oftener raised man to glory and virtue, than education without natural ability.

So near is falsehood to truth that a wise man would do well not to trust himself on the narrow edge.

Old age: the crown of life, our play's last act.

Give me a young man in whom there is something of the old, and an old man with something of the young: guided so, a man may grow old in body, but never in mind.

The study and knowledge of the universe would somehow be lame and defective were no practical results to follow.

Nature has planted in our minds an insatiable longing to see the truth.

If I err in belief that the souls of men are immortal, I gladly err, nor do I wish this error which gives me pleasure to be wrested from me while I live.

Frivolity is inborn, conceit acquired by education.

Great is our admiration of the orator who speaks with fluency and discretion.

Advice in old age is foolish for what can be more absurd than to increase our provisions for the road the nearer we approach to our journey's end.

There are more men ennobled by study than by nature.

Cultivation to the mind is as necessary as food to the body.

Brevity is the best recommendation of speech, whether in a senator or an orator.

Time destroys the speculation of men, but it confirms nature.

Fear is not a lasting teacher of duty.