Wisdom is such a rare commodity - who, living or dead, would you call wise, and why?

Question

Please support your claim of wisdom with one or more wise quotes from those whom you believe to be wise. Thank you!

Answer 1

William Shakespeare for his understanding of the human psyche...his plays are still contemporary today, his works are so timeless that even the jokes still get a laugh....movies are still produced basedon his works! There is also rumor that he was ghostwriting other famous plays and speeches of his time. Do a little historical digging, he's an amazing historical figure, in my opinion. Thanks for asking!

Answer 2

OK, I'll vote for Professor Richard Dawkins. Definitely one of the great figures of our times; and without doubt the greatest man I've ever met. You can tell a lot about the stature of someone by the degree to which he's hated by his opponents. When a person receives emailed death-threats on a daily basis, he's either wonderful or horrible. To determine which, run a spell-checker over the death-threat.

Quotes? I have zillions. Here's a long one:

"It is often said that although there is no positive evidence for the existence of God, nor is there evidence against his existence. So it is best to keep an open mind and be agnostic. At first sight that seems an unassailable position, at least in the weak sense of Pascal's wager. But on second thoughts it seems a cop-out, because the same could be said of Father Christmas and tooth fairies. There may be fairies at the bottom of the garden. There is no evidence for it, but you can't prove that there aren't any, so shouldn't we be agnostic with respect to fairies?"

And a short one:

"There's this thing called being so open-minded your brains drop out."

And a medium-sized one:

"Never take seriously anyone who says, "I cannot believe that so-and-so could have evolved by gradual selection". I have dubbed this kind of fallacy 'the Argument from Personal Incredulity'. Time and again, it has proven the prelude to an intellectual banana-skin experience."

CD

Answer 3

The first attribute of wisdom is humility, in the universe does exist an infinite of not understandable circumstances which surround us,this make us to fill infinitely tiny, if you understand that since the beginning humans have been pursuing the understanding of life and death, and still we are as we started, knowing nothing about that, we have to accept that there are infinite master mysteries that are far from our understanding, while we think on that and we accept that fact we are wisdom in some manner, wisdom doesn't mean to know everything, it is the conciense of our insignificance.

Answer 4

John for the beauty and truth in John 14

Paul for his understanding that all truth can be learned from the Holy Spirit as in 1 Corinthians 2:10-16

Paramahansa Yogananda for his understanding that the depths of God were within our understanding and that our goal of a total reunification with God is achievable.
"Self-realization is the knowing in all parts of body, mind, and soul that you are now in possession of the kingdom of God; that you do not have to pray that it come to you; that God’s omnipresence is your omnipresence; and that all that you need to do is improve your knowing.”

But I am most grateful more than all others, for the Blessed Mother who is with me every moment lighting the path to wisdom, love, peace, and understanding.

Answer 5

My darling father. He was FILLED with wisdom and he acted on it. One of his sayings:
"As a rule a man's a fool. When it's hot,he wants it cool. When it's cool he wants it hot. Always wanting what is not."
I took care of my father in his elder years. His feet were both firmly planted in logic. Because of that, he made things very easy for me. He was also a very loving,funny and generous man. Those last few years were more precious to me than I could ever describe. I was truely gifted, to be afforded this time with Daddy.
In 2002, a month after my darling little canine daughter and I were parted, my mother...my dear,dear mother was in the ICU. I had moved dad in with me. Every day he told me that he loved me and he thanked me for taking care of him. He would kiss my hand...I may start crying as I write this. I told him that we would always be together. I remember saying, "In the off,off chance that I get married again(I am a widow) nothing will change. We are a package deal." Both of my parents wanted me to take care of the other....so kind and unselfish were they. A year after Mom died,Daddy died. I was always by his side in the hospital. He asked me if it would be alright with me if he "let go." He said he was no longer living,only existing. I told him "yes," but let's talk abut it again after his fever went away. The next day I said:"Dad,I have good news and bad news. The good news is that all the doctors have been spoken to. They will respect your wishes. The bad news is, your fever is gone and you're getting better." He laughed...told me that it was only temporary. Well, I set up camp next to Dad. He always knew that I would never leave him.
I will remember all that he shared with me,in words and deeds, for the rest of my life.

Answer 6

Charlie Little Coyote, a chief of the Southern Cheyenne.

He understands and is vocal about how damaging entitlement programs are to people - Native American, or anyone else. "The worst thing the white man did to the Indian was put him on reservations. My people could have been a valuable and productive part of society. Instead we are just a freak show."

He also thinks the future is more important than the past. "What culture that beats half it's children to death deserves to survive?" (that was in response to my comment about preserving his culture.) "My people are talented, they are good people. They should be part of America. Not isolated from it."

I would vote for this man for president of the United States.

Answer 7

I think all people who got a serious illness or nearly died have alot of wisdom. B/c they know of a deep sense of appreciation and take nothing for granted. I myself got a sickness can no longer work and know several people in this same boat.

Answer 8

Ayn Rand, the founder of objectivism. She was a firm believer in capitalism and the virtue of selfishness. I first started reading her books as a teen and I honestly believe I would not be as successful and independent as I am if not for taking her core beliefs and making them part of my identity. She was an amazing author and philosopher. Teaching to never rely on others to give you a good life or to make you happy.
"The intellectuals serve as guides, as trend-setters, as the transmission belts or middlemen between philosophy and the culture. If they adopt a philosophy of reason - if their goal is the development of man's rational faculty and the pursuit of knowledge - they are a society's most productive and most powerful group, because their work provides the base and the integration of all other human activities. If the intellectuals are dominated by a philosophy of irrationalism, they become a society's unemployed and unemployable."
-- Ayn Rand, "A Preview," The Ayn Rand Letter, I, 24

Wealth is the product of man's capacity to think.
-- Ayn Rand, "The Meaning of Money," Atlas Shrugged

Happiness is that state of consciousness which proceeds from the achievement of one's values.
-- Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged


Philosophy studies the fundamental nature of existence, of man, and of man's relationship to existence. As against the special sciences, which deal only with particular aspects, philosophy deals with those aspects of the universe which pertain to everything that exists. In the realm of cognition, the special sciences are the trees, but philosophy is the soil which makes the forest possible.
-- Ayn Rand, "Philosophy: Who Needs It," Philosophy: Who Needs It

Answer 9

Experience is the mother of wisdom. I called my maternal grandmother the wisest person I ever knew (she died in 2000)

Some of Grandma's wisdom:
"Buy cheap, get cheap, buy right, buy once!"
Self explanatory

"I never take sides when my grown children and their spouses have disagreements; or when they disagree with their brothers or sisters"
No one in the family was ever mad at her; all differences were put aside to go to the annual family picnic, no one ever sat it out.

Answer 10

My guess is that anyone who is 'dead' is wise, and the rest of us are still working on it...