The beginning of wisdom is found in doubting; by doubting we come to the question, and by seeking we may come upon the truth
Abelard, Pierre

I’m not very keen for doves or hawks. I think we need more owls.
Aiken, George David

Wisdom isn't to know a lot but to be open to knowledge
Alves, Teresa

Every fool knows you can't touch the stars, but it doesn't stop a wise man from trying
Anderson, Harry

The wise learn many things from their enemies.
Aristophanes

A prudent question is one-half of wisdom
Bacon, Sir Francis

A wise man will make more opportunities than he finds
Bacon, Sir Francis

There is no great concurrence between learning and wisdom.
Bacon, Sir Francis

Think like a man of action, act like a man of thought.
Bergson, Henri Louis

The price of wisdom is above rubies
Bible, The

Mixing one's wines may be a mistake, but old and new wisdom mix admirably
Brecht, Bertolt

The first sigh of love is the last of wisdom
Bret, Antoine

Facts are to the mind the same thing as food to the body. On the due digestion of facts depends the strength and wisdom of the one, just as vigour and health depend on the other. The wisest in council, the ablest in debate, and the most agreeable in the commerce of life, is that man who has assimilated to his understanding the greatest number of facts.
Burke, Edmund

Logic is like the sword: those who appeal to it shall perish by it.
Butler, Samuel

Those who will not reason, are bigots, those who cannot, are fools, and those who dare not, are slaves.
Byron, Lord George Gordon Noel

The heart has reasons that reason does not understand
Byron, Lord George Gordon Noel

For if he like a madman lived, At least he like a wise one died
Cervantes, Miguel de

Be wiser than other people, if you can, but do not tell them so
Chesterfield, Lord Philip Dormer Stanhope, 4th Earl of

The function of wisdom is to discriminate between good and evil
Cicero, Marcus Tullius

Wisdom is considered a sign of weakness by the powerful because a wise man can lead without power but only a powerful man can lead without wisdom.
Cohen, Mark B

The wise only possess ideas; the greater part of mankind are possessed by them.
Coleridge, Samuel Taylor

Silence is foolish if we are wise, but wise if we are foolish.
Colton, Charles Caleb

Be very slow to believe that you are wiser than all others; it is a fatal but common error. Where one has been saved by a true estimation of another’s weakness, thousands have been destroyed by false appreciation of their own strength.
Colton, Charles Caleb

These days people seek knowledge, not wisdom. Knowledge is of the past, wisdom is of the future.
Cooper, Vernon

Every man is wise when attacked by a mad dog; fewer when pursued by a mad woman; only the wisest survive when attacked by a mad notion.
Davies, William Robertson