Quotes About Wisdom

If the axe is dull and the blade unsharpened, more strength must be exerted, but skill produces success.

If the snake bites before it is charmed, there is no profit for the charmer.

The words of a wise manís mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool consume him.

The beginning of his talk is folly, and the end of his speech is evil madness.

Yet the fool multiplies words. No one knows what is coming, and who can tell him what will come after him?

The toil of a fool wearies him, for he does not know the way to the city.

Woe to you, O land whose king is a youth, and whose princes feast in the morning.

Blessed are you, O land whose king is a son of nobles, and whose princes feast at the proper time—for strength and not for drunkenness.

Do not curse the king even in your thoughts, or curse the rich even in your bedroom, for a bird of the air may carry your words, and a winged creature may report your speech.

Divide your portion among seven, or even eight, for you do not know what disaster may befall the land.

As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the bones are formed in a motherís womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things.

So if a man lives many years, let him rejoice in them all. But let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many. Everything to come is futile.

Rejoice, O young man, while you are young, and let your heart be glad in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and in the sight of your eyes, but know that for all these things God will bring you to judgment.

Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of adversity come and the years approach of which you will say, “I find no pleasure in them,”

before the light of the sun, moon, and stars is darkened, and the clouds return after the rain,

on the day the keepers of the house tremble and the strong men stoop, when those grinding cease because they are few and those watching through windows see dimly,

when men fear the heights and dangers of the road, when the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper loses its spring, and the caper berry shrivels—for then man goes to his eternal home and mourners walk the streets.

Remember Him before the silver cord is snapped and the golden bowl is crushed, before the pitcher is shattered at the spring and the wheel is broken at the well,

“Futility of futilities,” says the Teacher. “Everything is futile!”

Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also taught the people knowledge; he pondered, searched out, and arranged many proverbs.

The Teacher searched to find delightful sayings and to record accurate words of truth.

The words of the wise are like goads, and the anthologies of the masters are like firmly embedded nails driven by a single Shepherd.

And by these, my son, be further warned: There is no end to the making of many books, and much study wearies the body.

When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is this: Fear God and keep His commandments, because this is the whole duty of man.