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

K
"I believe in following your intuition, even when logic suggests otherwise."
Kary Mullis
J
"Precision is a gift that science can offer humanity, but wisdom is required in its use."
Jennifer Doudna
J
"The code of life was written over billions of years; we should edit it with humility."
Jennifer Doudna
J
"Every answer science provides raises new ethical questions."
Jennifer Doudna
J
"The questions we ask determine the answers we find."
Jennifer Doudna
J
"Science gives us power; wisdom teaches us when to use it."
Jennifer Doudna
J
"Evolution has spent billions of years solving problems—we should listen to those solutions."
Jennifer Doudna
J
"In science, the questions we avoid are often more important than the ones we pursue."
Jennifer Doudna
J
"Every experiment teaches humility—nature always has surprises."
Jennifer Doudna
J
"The real power of science is not in what it can do, but in what it can help us understand."
Jennifer Doudna
J
"Every great scientist I've met shares one quality: they listen more than they speak."
Jennifer Doudna
"Understanding requires humility before the unknown."
Karl Landsteiner
"Small discoveries lead to great understanding."
Karl Landsteiner
"Nature teaches those willing to listen."
Karl Landsteiner
"Every question answered reveals another question."
Karl Landsteiner
"Rigorous thinking is the foundation of science."
Karl Landsteiner
"The mind must be disciplined yet open."
Karl Landsteiner
"Knowledge without application is merely storage."
Karl Landsteiner
"Nature never lies, only humans misinterpret."
Karl Landsteiner
"Understanding requires both heart and mind."
Karl Landsteiner
"Our greatest responsibility is to be good ancestors."
Jonas Salk
"There is no such thing as an unimportant problem."
Jonas Salk
"Wisdom consists of knowing when you know and when you do not know."
Jonas Salk
"People are very much the same the world over."
Jonas Salk
"In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing."
Jonas Salk
"I don't think you can separate knowledge from humanity."
Jonas Salk
"I have a simple philosophy: Fill what's empty. Empty what's full. Scratch where it itches."
Jonas Salk
"We are the products of our choices."
Jonas Salk
"The greatest threat to our survival is ourselves."
Jonas Salk
"A good scientist must be humble enough to doubt his own conclusions."
Max Perutz