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

A
"You can't live in the past. You have to look forward."
Ann Perkins
A
"You can't control the past, but you can shape the future."
Ann Perkins
B
"That's not how government works, and frankly, it doesn't even make sense."
Ben Wyatt
B
"I don't understand how people just wing things."
Ben Wyatt
B
"Government isn't just about rules. It's about people."
Ben Wyatt
B
"You can't buy happiness. You earn it through hard work."
Ben Wyatt
R
"Never half-ass two things. Whole-ass one thing."
Ron Swanson
R
"Clear alcohols are for rich women on diets."
Ron Swanson
R
"Recusal: when someone is smart enough to know they shouldn't be involved."
Ron Swanson
R
"A person who buys a chair without sitting in it first is a fool."
Ron Swanson
R
"You should always have standards and never settle."
Ron Swanson
J
"Sometimes you just have to let things go and see what sticks."
Jenna Maroney
J
"You can't have everything, but you can have everything that matters."
Jenna Maroney
T
"I learned a long time ago that you can't control other people, but you can control yourself."
Tracy Jordan
T
"Wisdom comes from experience, and I got plenty of both."
Tracy Jordan
T
"Wisdom is knowing when to speak and when to stay quiet."
Tracy Jordan
J
"The key to a great life is knowing when to pivot and when to stay the course."
Jack Donaghy
J
"Integrity is negotiable. Success is not."
Jack Donaghy
J
"I'd rather be right than happy. Fortunately, I'm both."
Jack Donaghy
J
"Wisdom is knowing when to compromise and when to destroy."
Jack Donaghy
L
"You have to know what your core values are."
Leslie Knope
L
"We are not just alive—we are living."
Leslie Knope
L
"Think big, work hard, stay humble."
Leslie Knope
A
"You can tell a lot about a person by their organizational system."
Angela Martin
A
"My cat is more intelligent than most humans."
Angela Martin
A
"Sentiment is the enemy of logic."
Angela Martin
A
"Expectations, when properly managed, lead to satisfaction."
Angela Martin
A
"Tradition gives life structure and meaning."
Angela Martin
A
"I don't do casual. I do excellence or nothing."
Angela Martin
A
"I keep my expectations low so people have a chance to exceed them."
Angela Martin