Quotes About Wisdom

See Beyond the Moment

He who asks fortune-tellers the future unwittingly forfeits an inner intimation of coming events that is a thousand times more exact than anything they may say. WALTER BENJAMIN, 1892-1940

Daily Law: Instead of merely reacting, step back and look at the wider context. Consider the ramifications of any action you take. Realize that is often better to do nothing, to not react, to let time go by and see what it reveals.

The Laws of Human Nature, 6: Elevate Your Perspective—The Law of Shortsightedness

To learn requires a sense of humility.

Learning never exhausts the mind.—Leonardo da Vinci

alabo, Menelao, si matas a tu esposa. / Pero, si la ves… ¡huye! / El amor y el deseo pueden cegarte. / Es la que cautiva los ojos de los hombres; / es la que desarraiga de sus cimientos las ciudades; / es la que hace arder los palacios… / ¡tan seductora es! ¡Bien la conozco, para mi desdicha; bien la conoces tú; bien la conocen todos los que por ella sucumbieron!

Never get discouraged, never be petty; always remember, others may hate you, but those who hate you don't win unless you hate them, and then you destroy yourself.

Do not waste precious time trying to steal a sheep or two ...

Pick up a bee from kindness, and learn the limitations of kindness.

It is the fool who always rushes to take sides. Do not commit to any side or cause but yourself.

Repeated failure will toughen your spirit and show you with absolute clarity how things must be done. In fact, it is a curse to have everything go right on your first attempt. You will fail to question the element of luck, making you think that you have the golden touch. When you do inevitably fail, it will confuse and demoralize you past the point of learning.

A reasonable man in love may act like a madman, but he should not and cannot act like an idiot.

Quien pregunta a un adivino cuál será su futuro, sin querer ignora una intuición interior de las cosas por venir, que es mil veces más exacta que cualquier cosa que el adivino pueda decirle. WALTER BENJAMIN, 1892-1940

the ability to reason on your own, your most prized possession as a human.

Like everyone, you think you are rational, but you are not. Rationality is not a power you are born with but one you acquire through training and practice.

quienes son capaces de prever por adelantado y planear con paciencia para lograr que sus planes den sus frutos tienen un poder cercano al de los dioses.

Si tropiezas con un rasgo especial de maldad o estupidez, […] no permitas que te enfade o te perturbe; velo como una adición a tu conocimiento, un dato nuevo a tomar en cuenta en el estudio del carácter de la humanidad. Tu actitud será la del mineralogista que tropieza con un muy peculiar espécimen de un mineral. —ARTHUR SCHOPENHAUER

The world is full of fools—people who cannot wait to get results, who change with the wind, who can't see past their noses. You encounter them everywhere: the indecisive boss, the rash colleague, the hysterical subordinate. When working alongside fools, do not fight them. Instead think of them the way you think of children, or pets, not important enough to affect your mental balance.

Do not underestimate the power of Tafari. He creeps like a mouse but he has jaws like a loin. - Balcha of Sidamo's last words before entering the monastery.

The wise man profits more from his enemies, than a fool from his friends. (Baltasar Gracián, 1601-1658)

Once you step into a fight that is not of your own choosing, you lose all initiative. The combatants' interests becomes your interests; you become their tool. Learn to control yourself, to restrain your natural tendency to take sides and join the fight. Be friendly and charming to each of the combatants, then step back as they collide. With every battle they grow weaker, while you grow stronger with every battle you avoid.

it does sometimes happen that it is better to let your enemies destroy themselves, if such a thing is possible, than to make them suffer by your hand.

Hace falta más talento para amar que para mandar ejércitos. NINON DE L'ENCLOS