The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool.
William Shakespeare (1564–1616) was an English playwright and poet, author of some thirty-eight plays and a hundred and fifty-four sonnets. He wrote for the public theatre and for audiences of every rank, and his effect on the English language is such that a great many of his phrases are now ordinary speech.
About this theme: Wisdom
In the Western tradition wisdom is almost always defined by what it is not. Socrates is famous for claiming to know that he knew nothing; that was not modesty but method. Knowledge is a set of facts, wisdom is knowing what to do with them — and, more often, knowing when there are not enough of them.
More by William Shakespeare
- Our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the good we oft might win, by fearing to attempt.
- All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players.
- Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none.
- There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.
- How poor are they that have not patience! What wound did ever heal but by degrees?
More on Wisdom
- Do the difficult things while they are easy and do the great things while they are small.— Lao Tzu
- An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.— Benjamin Franklin
- Talent hits a target no one else can hit; genius hits a target no one else can see.— Arthur Schopenhauer
- He who knows that enough is enough will always have enough.— Lao Tzu
- Do not weep; do not wax indignant. Understand.— Baruch Spinoza