Wisdom Quotes

The best minds across centuries have wrestled with what it means to be wise. These quotes capture their hard-won insights.

64329 quotes

W
"Wisdom is not found in books alone."
Walter Sisulu
W
"Wisdom comes from experience and reflection."
Walter Sisulu
H
"The greatest power lies in knowing when to listen."
Harry Oppenheimer
H
"Wisdom comes to those who reflect on their own mistakes."
Harry Oppenheimer
H
"Wisdom is knowing which battles are worth fighting."
Harry Oppenheimer
F
"Wisdom comes from experience and reflection."
F.W. de Klerk
F
"Understanding begins with listening to others."
F.W. de Klerk
F
"Wisdom teaches us humility."
F.W. de Klerk
H
"Wisdom comes not from having all the answers, but from asking the right questions."
Helen Suzman
H
"Moral clarity comes from moral courage."
Helen Suzman
H
"Truth spoken with compassion is more powerful than truth spoken with anger."
Helen Suzman
H
"We must be the bridge between the world as it is and as it should be."
Helen Suzman
G
"To understand your enemy is not to excuse him, but to deny him the power of your ignorance."
Govan Mbeki
G
"Wisdom is knowing which battles to fight and which to let pass, and having the courage for both."
Govan Mbeki
J
"We are shaped not by our circumstances alone, but by our response to them."
Joe Slovo
J
"Wisdom lies in understanding that our struggles are interconnected."
Joe Slovo
F
"Wisdom emerges from acknowledging what we do not know."
F.W. de Klerk
H
"The world's resources are finite; we must use them wisely."
Harry Oppenheimer
H
"Progress demands both vision and pragmatism."
Harry Oppenheimer
H
"Wisdom comes from learning both from success and failure."
Harry Oppenheimer
W
"Knowledge without compassion is mere intellectual exercise."
Walter Sisulu
W
"The pursuit of wisdom requires humble acknowledgment of our limitations."
Walter Sisulu
W
"Humility is the mark of true wisdom and strength."
Walter Sisulu
W
"Wisdom comes from listening more than speaking."
Walter Sisulu
O
"The wisdom of ages teaches us that some struggles transcend individual lifetimes."
Oliver Tambo
O
"A wise person knows that the questions we ask are often more important than the answers we possess."
Oliver Tambo
O
"The mark of true maturity is the willingness to change our minds when evidence and conscience demand it."
Oliver Tambo
G
"The measure of a nation's greatness lies in how it treats those with the least power."
Govan Mbeki
A
"Knowledge without conscience is a dangerous weapon; wisdom requires both intellect and integrity."
Ahmed Kathrada
A
"Wisdom whispers while foolishness shouts; we must cultivate the silence necessary to hear truth."
Ahmed Kathrada