"A prince who is not himself wise cannot be wisely advised. . . . Good advice depends on the shrewdness of the prince who seeks it, and not the shrewdness of the prince on good advice."
Wise quotes
Wise
5.1K quotes on this topic — from poets, philosophers, and thinkers across history.
Explore further
Topics related to Wise
Browse quotes that often appear alongside wise — connected by shared ideas and recurring themes.
Quote collection
Wise quotes (page 48 of 253)
Follow a thought to its author, or read the full quote page.
"A wise man thinks it more advantageous not to join the battle than to win."
"It is the habit of mediocre minds to condemn all that is beyond their grasp."
"It is a wise man that does know the contented man is never poor, whilst the discontented man is never rich."
"His bark is worse than his bite."
"The future lies with those wise political leaders who realize that the great public is interested more in government than in politics."
"We deny that it is fun to be saving. It is fun to be prodigal. Go to the butterfly, thou parsimonious sluggard; consider her ways and get wise."
"Let me now warn you in the most solemn manner against the baneful effects of the spirit of party. The common and continual mischiefs of the spirit of party are sufficient to make it the interest and duty of a wise people to discourage and restrain it. It serves always to distract the public councils and enfeeble the public administration. It agitates the community with ill-founded jealousies and false alarms; kindles the animosity of one part against another. In governments purely elective, it is a spirit not to be encouraged."
"Let us raise a standard to which the wise and honest can repair; the rest is in the hands of God."
"It is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God,. to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits , and humbly to implore his protection and favor... beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions; to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed"
"A man is rich in proportion to the number of things he can afford to let alone."
"I'm extremely happy about music altogether, and the history that I've made. How I changed the world, music-wise, music over the internet and stuff like that."
"Education: that which reveals to the wise, and conceals from the stupid, the vast limits of their knowledge."
"Behold, the fool saith, "Put not all thine eggs in the one basket" - which is but a matter of saying, "Scatter your money and your attention"; but the wise man saith, "Pull all your eggs in the one basket and - WATCH THAT BASKET." - Pudd'nhead Wilson's Calendar"
"I think that we honor ourselves by honoring our past."
"That's a wise substitution by Terry Venables: three fresh man, three fresh legs."
"And just then he realized in a flash that men have only this sad knowledge with which to heal themselves: when you lose life, you grow wise. But that is better than maiming life to hold it."
"The very cheapness of literature is making even wise people forget that if a book is worth reading, it is worth buying. No book is worth anything which is not worth much; nor is it serviceable, until it has been read, and re-read, and loved, and loved again; and marked, so that you can refer to the passages you want in it."
"Wisdom cannot be imparted. Wisdom that a wise man attempts to impart always sounds like foolishness to someone else."
"Wine can of their wits the wise beguile, Make the sage frolic, and the serious smile"