Learn from the Sages: These Wisest Quotes of All Time Will Provoke Your Thoughts

wisest quotes

According to animal studies, early-life adversity improves wisdom later on in life. Take the shortcut to wisdom by reading the wisest quotes ever.

On average, people get better at managing their emotions as they age. Still, it’s never too late to learn from wise people. Wisdom enriches your mind and soul alike.

Think of these quotes as your daily dose of enlightenment. Wisdom is as necessary as any other from of nourishment.

Here are the most powerful words of wisdom ever spoken:

Wisest Quotes

“When one door of happiness closes, another opens, but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one that has been opened for us.” – Helen Keller

Helen Keller was deaf and blind from an early age. Later on, Keller became an author, lecturer, and activist. She was also the first blind and deaf person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree.

Those facts make this one of the most powerful quotes of all time.

“True wisdom comes to each of us when we realize how little we understand about life, ourselves, and the world around us.” – Socrates

Wise people don’t think they know everything. True wisdom comes from acknowledging what you don’t know. Never fall into the trap of thinking you know it all.

“Nothing is impossible, the word itself says ‘I’m possible’!” – Audrey Hepburn

Audrey Hepburn had a traumatic childhood. Still, she overcame adversity by believing her success was always possible.

This clever play on words is also true: Anything is possible if you believe in yourself.

“Thus, a wise individual is the one who learns to see positive even in unfavorable events and unanticipated behavior of people.” – Lindsay J. Hallie

Looking on the bright side is a form of wisdom in its own right. Reframing negative events can help you see things from a newer, more enlightened perspective.

“It is important to draw wisdom from different places. If you take it from only one place, it becomes rigid and stale.” – Uncle Iroh

Uncle Iroh is the wisest character in Avatar: The Last Airbender. This is one of the most powerful sayings because it proves even an anime character can give you wise insights.

Wise Self-Improvement Quotes

“The secret of getting ahead is getting started.” – Mark Twain

People with low self-esteem tend to struggle with new beginnings. Part of wisdom is having faith and confidence in yourself. 

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” – Aristotle

Our habits shape us into the people we are. Dropping bad habits can transform you into a happier person.

“Pain can change you, but that doesn’t mean it has to be a bad change. Take that pain and turn it into wisdom.” – Dalai Lama

People are like diamonds—we form our characters under pressure. Stress and pain don’t feel good, but we can turn both into wisdom by learning from our experiences. 

Don’t get too caught up in negative thoughts. Gain perspective by looking at the bigger picture.

“Self-Improvement and success go hand in hand. Taking the steps to make yourself a better and more well-rounded individual will prove to be a wise decision.” – Frank Long, A Better You

When you commit to self-improvement, it’s taking an active step towards bettering yourself. Bettering yourself is one of the wisest decisions you’ll ever make.

“Which way you choose to see your life in the future depends on your attitude today.” – Amy E. Dean

Your attitude can make or break you. Having a positive outlook on life will brighten your future by default. 

Being negative about life will only make your situation worse.

Wise Relationship Quotes

“People are like dirt. They can either nourish you and help you grow as a person or they can stunt your growth and make you wilt and die.” – Plato

This quote by Plato is one of the most meaningful quotes of all time. The people you spend the most time with will influence you.

Your positive connections with others will improve your quality of life. Toxic relationships are like poison for the soul.

“Love is a verb. Love – the feeling – is a fruit of love, the verb.” – Stephen Covey

Most people think of the word “love” as a noun. We tend to forget that love is also a verb.

Lasting love comes from dedication, effort, and actions that communicate love. The feeling of love is great, but it’s not enough to make a relationship work.

“Falling in love is not a choice. To stay in love is.” – Unknown

Too many people stay in toxic relationships because they think they’re in love. Leaving a negative relationship is one of the best gifts you’ll ever give yourself. Think of it as one of the highest forms of self-care.

Quotes For Dealing With Difficult People

“When you’re dealing with people who are offensive and irritating, you need to look past their behavior to their pain. When people are hurting others, it’s because they’re hurting on the inside.” – Rick Warren

These are some of the wisest words ever spoken. The people who hurt us the most are often hurting themselves. Reframing your enemies as wounded in some way will help you be more patient with them as well as yourself.

“You can’t control other people. You can only control how you respond to them.” – Anonymous.

You have no control over other people’s actions. The wisest thing you can do is accept that you only have control over yourself. Other people’s actions aren’t your fault.

Wisdom Is a Tonic For Your Mind and Spirit

Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle are 3 of the wisest philosophers of all time. Fortunately, you don’t need to be a philosopher to understand the wisest quotes in existence.

Most people think of wisdom as something gained from experience. You can also gain wisdom from other people’s experiences. Wise quotes like these help us become wiser by adopting another person’s perspective.

Become a wiser person and read more about self-improvement. It’s the best thing you’ll ever do for yourself.