Famous quotes
Quotes by famous people, credited to who said them. Your own quotes must not match any of these. More are added all the time. 1,158,808 quotes Who coined it · How we decide
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Wisdom
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“Superstition is to religion what astrology is to astronomy: a very stupid daughter of a very wise mother.”
Voltaire (attributed) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Be wise to-day; 'tis madness to defer.”
William Wordsworth (misattributed) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“If you wish success in life, make perseverance your bosom friend, experience your wise counselor, caution your elder brother and hope your guardian genius.”
Joseph Addison (disputed) first seen 1854 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: The earliest appearance of this proverb yet located is in Eliza Cook's Journal Vol. 11, (1854), p. 128, and the earliest attribution to Addison yet found is in Henry Southgate, ed., Many Thoughts of Many Minds (1862), p…
“Here lies our sovereign lord the king, Whose word no man relies on; He never says a foolish thing, Nor ever does a wise one.”
John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester (attributed) first seen 1832 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Written on the Bedchamber Door of Charles II, as quoted in Robert Chambers, The Book of Days: A Miscellany of Popular Antiquities (1832), Vol. II, "July 26", p. 126
Also quoted by: Earl Of Rochester
“We have a pretty witty king, Whose word no man relies on; He never said a foolish thing, Nor ever did a wise one.”
John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester (attributed) first seen 1857 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: About King Charles II of England, as quoted in Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine Vol. XLIV (January–June 1857) p. 592; It is said to that this was written on the door of Charles II's bedchamber, and that on seeing it, the …
“The role of reason is not to make us wise but to reveal our ignorance”
David Hume (misattributed) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“As a vessel is known by the sound, whether it be whole or broken; so are men proved by their speech, whether they be wise or foolish.”
Demosthenes (misattributed) first seen 1600 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: , A Treasurie or Store-house of Similies (London, 1600), p. 750; the collection's non-scriptural similes were apparently composed by Cawdrey himself (R. H. Bowers, 1957:177).
“If there were no bitter things, And no opposition of fair and foul, stone and pearl, And no lust or Satan or concupiscence, And no wounds or war or fraud, Pray, O destroyer of virtue, by what name and title Could the King of kings address his slaves? How could He say ‘O temperate’ or ‘O meek one,’ Or ‘O courageous one’ or ‘O wise one.’”
Rumi (attributed) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The world without that king is like a headless body; Fold yourself turban-wise, round such a head. Unless you are black, do not let the mirror go from your hand The soul is your mirror, while the body is rust.”
Rumi (attributed) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The nearness of the voice proves to such an one That the voice proceeds from a friend who is near, The sweetness of the kinsman’s voice too, O beloved, Proves the veracity of that kinsman, To the wise whose hearts are enlightened The mere sound of that voice proves its truth.”
Rumi (attributed) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Thou wert dust and art spirit, thou wert ignorant and art wise, He who has led thee thus far, will lead thee further also, How pleasant are the pains He makes thee suffer while He gently draws thee to Himself, His flames are as water, do not frown upon Him.”
Rumi (attributed) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“O Ali! out of all forms of religious service Choose thou the shadow of that dear friend of God! Do thou seek refuge in the shadow of the wise man That thou mayest escape thy fierce secret foes, Of all forms of service this is fittest for thee Thou shalt surpass all who were before thee.”
Rumi (attributed) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The wise aim at perfection.”
Ali (attributed) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“He is really wise whose actions reflect his words.”
Ali (attributed) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“A wise man sees as much as he ought, not as much as he can”
Michel de Montaigne (attributed) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Society speaks and all men listen, mountains speak and wise men listen.”
John Muir (misattributed) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The people can be easily misled, but a wise autocrat can guide them towards their own good”
Cardinal Richelieu (disputed) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by rulers as useful.”
Seneca the Younger (disputed) first seen 1904 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: As quoted in What Great Men Think About Religion (1945) by Ira D. Cardiff, p. 342. No original source for this has been found in the works of Seneca, or published translations. It is likely that the quote originates wit…
“It is a very wise rule in life not to be too anxious about health, or to be entirely free from the inconveniences and bodily ailments of old age. It is far better to submit with patience to what is merely annoying, but does not altogether confine us, and still better to treat with indifference the uncomfortable feelings which such a state of body calls up.”
Wilhelm von Humboldt (attributed) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I am not, I will not be. I have not, I will not have." That frightens all the childish And extinguishes fear in the wise.”
Nagarjuna (attributed) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Many indeed there are, who, while they bear the name of Christians, are totally unacquainted with the power of their divine religion. But for their crimes the Gospel is in no wise answerable. Christianity is with them a geographical, not a descriptive, appellation.”
Frederick William Faber (misattributed) first seen 1813 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Sometimes attributed to Faber, but actually from a book by his uncle George Stanley Faber, A Practical Treatise on the Ordinary Operations of the Holy Spirit (London: F.C. and J. Rivington, 1813), p. 143.
“Call him wise whose actions, words, and steps are all a clear because to a clear why.”
Johann Kaspar Lavater (attributed) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“It is one of my favorite thoughts that God manifests Himself to men in all the wise, good, humble, generous, great, and magnanimous men.”
Johann Kaspar Lavater (attributed) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The conscience is more wise than science.”
Johann Kaspar Lavater (attributed) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Who, in the midst of just provocation to anger, instantly finds the fit word which settles all around him in silence is more than wise or just; he is, were he a beggar, of more than royal blood, he is of celestial descent.”
Johann Kaspar Lavater (attributed) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Strong be thy wallis that about the standis; Wise be the people that within the dwellis; Fresh is thy ryver with his lusty strandis; Blith be thy chirches, wele sownyng be thy bellis; Riche be thy merchauntis in substance that excellis Fair be thy wives, right lovesom, white and small; Clere be thy virgyns, lusty under kellis: London, thou art the flour of Cities all.”
William Dunbar (misattributed) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The wise men of old have sent most of their morality down to the stream of time in the light skiff of apothegm or epigram; and the proverbs of nations, which embody the common sense of nations, have the brisk concussion of the most sparkling wit.”
Edwin Percy Whipple (attributed) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“One must be rich in thought and character to owe nothing to books, though perception is necessary to profitable reading; and the less reading is better than more;—book-struck men are of all readers least wise, however knowing or learned.”
Amos Bronson Alcott (attributed) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Don't follow any advice, no matter how good, until you feel as deeply in your spirit as you think in your mind that the counsel is wise.”
Joan Rivers (misattributed) first seen 1950 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: David Seabury, as quoted in The Forbes Scrapbook of Thoughts on the Business of Life (1950), p. 248
“My heart is filled with endless gratitude. Just thinking I was born as a human and have the ability to practice in this life, with the opportunity to meet wise teachers and hear the Buddha's teachings, I am deeply moved by this unbelievable karmic affinity.”
Richard Gombrich (misattributed) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Lee Friedlander: "[She] seemed very confident, a street-wise girl. She told me she was putting a band together but half the kids that age are doing that. She was a good professional model.”
Madonna (entertainer) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Full wise is he that can himselven knowe.”
Geoffrey Chaucer (1343–1400) said by 1400 at the latest bartlett, Public domain source
“Good to be merie and wise.”
Geoffrey Chaucer (1343–1400) said by 1400 at the latest bartlett, Public domain source
“Keep thy shop, and thy shop will keep thee. Light gains make heavy purses. 'T is good to be merry and wise.”
George Chapman (1559–1634) said by 1634 at the latest bartlett, Public domain source
“Convey," the wise it call. "Steal!" foh! a fico for the phrase!”
William Shakespeare (1564–1616) said by 1616 at the latest bartlett, Public domain source
“I do know of these That therefore only are reputed wise For saying nothing.”
William Shakespeare (1564–1616) said by 1616 at the latest bartlett, Public domain source
“The little foolery that wise men have makes a great show.”
William Shakespeare (1564–1616) said by 1616 at the latest bartlett, Public domain source
“Journeys end in lovers meeting, Every wise man's son doth know.”
William Shakespeare (1564–1616) said by 1616 at the latest bartlett, Public domain source
“All places that the eye of heaven visits Are to a wise man ports and happy havens.”
William Shakespeare (1564–1616) said by 1616 at the latest bartlett, Public domain source
“So wise so young, they say, do never live long.”
William Shakespeare (1564–1616) said by 1616 at the latest bartlett, Public domain source
“He was a scholar, and a ripe and good one; Exceeding wise, fair-spoken, and persuading; Lofty and sour to them that loved him not, But to those men that sought him sweet as summer.”
William Shakespeare (1564–1616) said by 1616 at the latest bartlett, Public domain source
“Modest doubt is call'd The beacon of the wise, the tent that searches To the bottom of the worst.”
William Shakespeare (1564–1616) said by 1616 at the latest bartlett, Public domain source
“Who can be wise, amazed, temperate and furious, Loyal and neutral, in a moment?”
William Shakespeare (1564–1616) said by 1616 at the latest bartlett, Public domain source
“Histories make men wise; poets, witty; the mathematics, subtile; natural philosophy, deep; moral, grave; logic and rhetoric, able to contend.”
Francis Bacon (1561–1626) said by 1626 at the latest bartlett, Public domain source
“There 's naught in this life sweet, If man were wise to see 't, But only melancholy; O sweetest Melancholy!”
John Fletcher (1579–1625) said by 1625 at the latest bartlett, Public domain source
“Be lowly wise: Think only what concerns thee and thy being.”
John Milton (1608–1674) said by 1674 at the latest bartlett, Public domain source
“I knew a very wise man that believed that if a man were permitted to make all the ballads, he need not care who should make the laws of a nation.”
Andrew Fletcher Of Saltoun (1653–1716) said by 1716 at the latest bartlett, Public domain source
“Defer not till to-morrow to be wise, To-morrow's sun to thee may never rise.”
William Congreve (1670–1729) said by 1729 at the latest bartlett, Public domain source
“Be wise to-day; 't is madness to defer.”
Edward Young (1683–1765) said by 1765 at the latest bartlett, Public domain source
“'T is greatly wise to talk with our past hours, And ask them what report they bore to heaven.”
Edward Young (1683–1765) said by 1765 at the latest bartlett, Public domain source