The Quotes canon
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Browse all 10,075 quotes or apply filters in different categories to narrow your search.
Browse all 10,075 quotes or apply filters in different categories to narrow your search.
Classical antiquity15 quotes
The unexamined life is not worth living. — Socrates · 399 BCKnow thyself. — ThalesOld to grow, but ever learning. — Solon · 119With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding. — Job · 500 BCMere cleverness is not wisdom. — Euripides · 405 BCJustice inclines her scales so that wisdom comes at the price of suffering. — Aeschylus · 458 BCAll 15 quotes →Old Testament Era4 quotes
Wisdom is the principal thing. — Proverbs 4:7 · 686 BCThe fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. — Proverbs 9:10 · 686 BCIn much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. — Ecclesiastes 1:18 · 931 BCThe one who has knowledge uses words with restraint, and whoever has understanding is even-tempered. — Proverbs 17:27 · 686 BCAncient World2 quotes
If we are not yet able to serve man, how can we serve spiritual beings?... If we do not yet know about life how can we know about death? — Confucius · 221 BCThis is the quintessence of wisdom: not to kill anything. Know this to be the legitimate conclusion from the principle of the reciprocity with regard to non-killing. — Jaina Sutras · 300 BCMiddle Ages2 quotes
And what is better than wisdom? Woman. And what is better than a good woman? Nothing. — Geoffrey Chaucer · 1400By first recognizing false goods, you begin to escape the burden of their influence; then afterwards true goods may gain possession of your spirit. — Boethius · 523The Renaissance2 quotes
The first and wisest of them all professed
To know this only, that he nothing knew. — John Milton · 1671The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool. — William Shakespeare · 1616Colonial America1 quote
The most exquisite Folly is made of Wisdom spun too fine. — Benjamin Franklin · 1746New Testament Era1 quote
Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. — Apostle Paul · 55