Quotes to inspire and reflect

With women, the heart argues, not the mind.

The women of today are in a fair way to dethrone the myth of femininity; they are beginning to affirm their independence in concrete ways; but they do not easily succeed in living completely the life of a human being.

Women have, commonly, a very positive moral sense; that which they will is right; that which they reject is wrong; and their will, in most cases, ends by settling the moral.

He who cannot shine by thought, seeks to bring himself into notice by a witticism.

The quality of wit inspires more admiration than confidence.

The greatest advantage I know of being thought a wit by the world is, that it gives one the greater freedom of playing the fool.

Impertinent wits are a kind of insect which are in everybody’s way and plentiful in all countries.

In the midst of the fountain of wit there arises something bitter, which stings in the very flowers.

Many get the repute of being witty, but thereby lose the credit of being sensible. Jest has its little hour, seriousness should have all the rest.

Men never think their fortune too great, nor their wit too little.

Wit makes its own welcome and levels all distinctions.

The well-bred contradict other people. The wise contradict themselves.

How terrible is wisdom when / it brings no profit to the man that’s wise!

Not by constraint or severity shall you have access to true wisdom, but by abandonment, and childlike mirthfulness. If you would know aught, be gay before it.

The first step in wisdom, as well as in morality, is to open the windows of the ego as wide as possible.

Youth is the time to study wisdom; old age is the time to practice it.

Wisdom requires no form; her beauty must vary, as varies the beauty of flame. She is no motionless goddess, for ever couched on her throne.

Wisdom is a solid and entire building, of which every piece keeps its place and bears its mark.

If it be true that a man is rich who wants nothing, a wise man is a very rich man.

“Age has nothing to do with wisdom,” said Simple. “I know a man fifty-two years old who never does go home except to take a bath and change his underwear.”

How prone to doubt, how cautious are the wise!

Such is the nature of men, that howsoever they may acknowledge many others to be more witty, or more eloquent, or more learned, yet they will hardly believe there be many so wise as themselves.

Men who love wisdom should acquaint themselves with a great many particulars.

Knowledge can be communicated, but not wisdom. One can find it, live it, be fortified by it, do wonders through it, but one cannot communicate and teach it.

The sage has one advantage: he is immortal. If this is not his century, many others will be.

The seat of knowledge is in the head; of wisdom, in the heart. We are sure to judge wrong if we do not feel right.

The wise are always impatient, for he that increases knowledge increases impatience of folly.

Wisdom rises upon the ruins of folly.

The heart of a fool is in his mouth, but the mouth of a wise man is in his heart.

He is no wise man that cannot play the fool upon occasion.

Wise men are not wise at all times.

Those who are held / Wise among men and who search the reasons of things / Are those who bring the most sorrow on themselves.

The function of wisdom is to discriminate between good and evil.

Life is a festival only to the wise.

What we’re learning in our schools is not the wisdom of life. We’re learning technologies, we’re getting information.

Such are the sages! What must they be, when such as I can stumble on their mistakes or misstatements?

O wind, a-blowing all day long, / O wind, that sings so loud a song!

Knowing what is right does not make sagacious man.

The Westerly Wind asserting his sway from the south-west quarter is often like a monarch gone mad, driving forth with wild imprecations the most faithful of his courtiers to shipwreck, disaster, and death.

The East Wind, an interloper in the dominions of Westerly Weather, is an impassive-faced tyrant with a sharp poniard held behind his back for a treacherous stab.

They that marry ancient people, merely in expectation to bury them, hang themselves in hope that one will come and cut the halter.

The art of will-making chiefly consists in baffling the importunity of expectation.

When it comes to divide an estate, the politest men quarrel.

Nothing is impossible to a willing heart.

Our wills and fates do so contrary run / That our devices still are overthrown; / Our thoughts are ours, their ends none of our own.

A willing mind makes a light foot.

I wish it, I command it. Let my will take the place of a reason.

Will springs from the two elements of moral sense and self-interest.