Words of Wisdom About Life
Words of wisdom are rare gems that have the power to change our lives.
They are often spoken by those with more experience of life than ourselves, and offer us valuable insight into growing through life’s journey.
‘Words of Wisdom’ Meaning
Wisdom is the ability to think and make good decisions based on information, experience and understanding.
Wisdom is also about being able to effectively ‘read’ a situation, rather than simply ‘knowing’ about something.
What are the best words of wisdom?
The best words of wisdom are those that we can apply to our own lives, that we can learn from and act upon in order to grow personally.
For example, ‘gratitude is the greatest of all virtues’ offers an insight into developing a positive mindset, while ‘you will never find peace by fighting for it’ can offer insight into conflict resolution.
The teacher who is indeed wise does not bid you to enter the house of his wisdom but rather leads you to the threshold of your mind. Khalil Gibran
What are some wise sayings?
A wise person is usually able to see beyond their own needs and wants and has the power to take responsibility for outcomes as they dispense advice without hesitation or judgement.
Wisdom starts from within; wisdom starts from listening, observing and processing life’s challenges in order to not make (or repeat) mistakes. Which is why wisdom often comes after experiencing more of life.
As humans, we often seek guidance and advice from others. The following words of wisdom can certainly provide this, provided we open our minds to contemplate them further.
Words of Wisdom Quotes
It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters. Epictetus
By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest. Confucius
Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves. Carl Jung
The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing. Socrates
It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see. Henry David Thoreau
The time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining. John F. Kennedy
We should not judge people by their peak of excellence; but by the distance they have travelled from the point where they started. Henry Ward Beecher
Wisdom is the reward you get for a lifetime of listening when you’d have preferred to talk. Doug Larson
There are many ways of going forward, but only one way of standing still. Franklin D. Roosevelt
It requires wisdom to understand wisdom: the music is nothing if the audience is deaf. Walter Lippmann
Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration. Thomas A. Edison
The opinion which other people have of you is their problem, not yours. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross
It is not who is right, but what is right, that is of importance. Thomas Huxley
Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best. Henry Van Dyke
Slow and steady wins the race. Robert Lloyd
Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal. Henry Ford
The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. Lao Tzu
If you don’t know where you are going, any road will get you there. Lewis Carroll
The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our aim too low and achieving our mark. Michelangelo
We are what our thoughts have made us; so take care about what you think. Words are secondary. Thoughts live; they travel far. Swami Vivekananda
If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart. Nelson Mandela
If you want to go east, don’t go west. Ramakrishna
The way you see people is the way you treat them, and the way you treat them is what they become. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
It’s the little details that are vital. Little things make big things happen. John Wooden
I’d rather regret the things I’ve done than regret the things I haven’t done. Lucille Ball
Wisdom is knowing what to do next; virtue is doing it. David Starr Jordan
Never find fault with the absent. Alexander Pope
He who lives in harmony with himself lives in harmony with the universe. Marcus Aurelius
If you set out to be liked, you would be prepared to compromise on anything at any time, and you would achieve nothing. Margaret Thatcher
Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there. Will Rogers
The art of being wise is the art of knowing what to overlook. William James
True wisdom comes to each of us when we realize how little we understand about life, ourselves, and the world around us. Socrates
Only put off until tomorrow what you are willing to die having left undone. Pablo Picasso
The man of knowledge must be able not only to love his enemies but also to hate his friends. Friedrich Nietzsche
Everything comes to us that belongs to us if we create the capacity to receive it. Rabindranath Tagore
A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination. Nelson Mandela
People don’t notice whether it’s winter or summer when they’re happy. Anton Chekhov
If you only have a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail. Abraham Maslow
Experience is not what happens to you; it’s what you do with what happens to you. Aldous Huxley
It is the nature of the wise to resist pleasures, but the foolish to be a slave to them. Epictetus
Knowing others is wisdom, knowing yourself is Enlightenment. Lao Tzu
Every man is a damn fool for at least five minutes every day; wisdom consists in not exceeding the limit. Elbert Hubbard
When a thing is done, it’s done. Don’t look back. Look forward to your next objective. George C. Marshall
These words of wisdom quotes are perfect for reflecting , journaling, brainstorming, and reframing. They can provide added insights and allow us to contemplate different perspectives than previously considered. We hope you’ve found them useful.
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