Perceived Wisdom Quotes

Each generation imagines itself to be more intelligent than the one that went before it, and wiser than the one that comes after it.

There is a difference between happiness and wisdom: he that thinks himself the happiest man is really so; but he that thinks himself the wisest is generally the greatest fool.

The only infallible criterion of wisdom to vulgar minds -- success.

When men succeed, even their neighbors think them wise.

I do know of these That therefore only are reputed wise For saying nothing.

A sense of absurdity interferes with my efforts to appear venerable.

Levity is often less foolish and gravity less wise than each of them appears.

I think people discredit teenagers and how wise they can be. Sometimes I meet teenagers who are much wiser than many adults I've met, because they haven't let any insecurities or doubts about themselves get in the way of their thoughts.

Where I am not understood, it shall be concluded that something very useful and profound is couched underneath.

For six years profound silence was mistaken for profound wisdom.

Every generation, no matter how paltry its character, thinks itself much wiser than the one immediately preceding it, let alone those that are more remote.

A young fellow ought to be wiser than he should seem to be; and an old fellow ought to seem wise whether he really be so or not.

The audiences have a certain perspective of every heroine and one should not go against it.

Those who are slow to know suppose that slowness is the essence of knowledge.

You look wise, pray correct that error.

To how many blockheads of my time has a cold and taciturn demeanor procured the credit of prudence and capacity!

There's always a miasma of misinformation emerging from the higher education sector as to which are the 'best' courses to take. My advice would always be to ignore the perceived wisdom and look for the most reliable evidence on the ground.

All that is necessary to raise imbecility into what the mob regards as profundity is to lift it off the floor and put it on a platform.

Everyone believes that he abounds in wisdom, but is short of money.

For 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, for they see their own wit at hand, and other men's at a distance. But this proveth rather that men are in that point equal, than unequal. For there is not ordinarily a greater sign of the equal distribution of any thing than that every man is contented with his share.