40 verified quotes from 29 writers, c. 475 BC to 1925.
Quotes 1 to 20 of 40, page 1 of 2.
Some of the oldest advice on record is about knowing the limits of what you know. In Plato’s Apology, Socrates concludes he is wiser than a man who thinks he knows something only because he does not think he knows. Hamlet reminds Horatio there are more things in heaven and earth than his philosophy dreams of.
Later writers make the same point with more jokes: Austen on pride and vanity, Wilde on experience as the name we give our mistakes, Twain on the annoyance of a good example, Chesterton on angels flying because they take themselves lightly. Every quote was matched word for word in the edition we link.
What “verified” means, and what we leave out: How we verify.
When you know a thing, to hold that you know it; and when you do not know a thing, to allow that you do not know it;—this is knowledge
Our note: Confucius to his disciple Zilu (Yu), on what knowing really means.
Verified in the full text of The Analects on Project Gutenberg · Project Gutenberg ebook #3330
…when we see men of a contrary character, we should turn inwards and examine ourselves
Our note: The second half of a saying whose first half says we should try to equal people of worth.
Verified in the full text of The Analects on Project Gutenberg · Project Gutenberg ebook #3330
…for he knows nothing, and thinks that he knows; I neither know nor think that I know.
Our note: Socrates compares himself with a man thought to be wise.
Verified in the full text of Apology on Project Gutenberg · Project Gutenberg ebook #1656
The hour of departure has arrived, and we go our ways—I to die, and you to live. Which is better God only knows
Our note: Socrates' last words to the court.
Verified in the full text of Apology on Project Gutenberg · Project Gutenberg ebook #1656
If you would improve, submit to be considered without sense and foolish with respect to externals.
Our note: Epictetus on the price of progress: caring less about how you look to others.
Verified in the full text of The Encheiridion on Project Gutenberg · Project Gutenberg ebook #10661 · Collected in A Selection from the Discourses of Epictetus with the Encheiridion
The man did not know the rest of my faults, for he would not have mentioned these only
Our note: Epictetus's suggested reply when told that someone has been speaking ill of you.
Verified in the full text of The Encheiridion on Project Gutenberg · Project Gutenberg ebook #10661 · Collected in A Selection from the Discourses of Epictetus with the Encheiridion
Remember that to change thy opinion and to follow him who corrects thy error is as consistent with freedom as it is to persist in thy error.
Our note: Book VIII, on accepting correction.
Verified in the full text of Meditations on Project Gutenberg · Project Gutenberg ebook #15877 · Collected in The Thoughts of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus
Endeavour to be patient in bearing with other men's faults and infirmities whatsoever they be, for thou thyself also hast many things which have need to be borne with by others.
Our note: A plain reminder that we need the same patience we are asked to give.
Verified in the full text of The Imitation of Christ on Project Gutenberg · Project Gutenberg ebook #1653
What doth it profit thee to enter into deep discussion concerning the Holy Trinity, if thou lack humility, and be thus displeasing to the Trinity?
Our note: On clever talk that has no humility behind it.
Verified in the full text of The Imitation of Christ on Project Gutenberg · Project Gutenberg ebook #1653
When I play with my cat who knows whether I do not make her more sport than she makes me?
Our note: Montaigne questioning whether humans are really above animals.
Verified in the full text of Apology for Raimond Sebond on Project Gutenberg · Project Gutenberg ebook #3600 · Collected in Essays of Michel de Montaigne
There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.
Our note: Hamlet to his friend Horatio after meeting his father's ghost.
Verified in the full text of Hamlet on Project Gutenberg · Project Gutenberg ebook #100 · Collected in The Complete Works of William Shakespeare
Painted the same decade: The Golden Age, Joachim Wtewael, 1605
Good sense is, of all things among men, the most equally distributed
Our note: The opening sentence of the Discourse, a little tongue in cheek.
Verified in the full text of Discourse on the Method on Project Gutenberg · Project Gutenberg ebook #59
Painted the same decade: Queen Henrietta Maria, Anthony van Dyck, 1636
Undoubtedly philosophers are in the right, when they tell us that nothing is great or little otherwise than by comparison
Our note: Gulliver, newly arrived among the giants after his time among the tiny Lilliputians.
Verified in the full text of Gulliver's Travels on Project Gutenberg · Project Gutenberg ebook #829
Painted the same decade: The Wedding of Stephen Beckingham and Mary Cox, William Hogarth, 1729
In reality, there is, perhaps, no one of our natural passions so hard to subdue as pride.
Our note: Franklin admits that pride kept coming back however hard he fought it.
Verified in the full text of The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin on Project Gutenberg · Project Gutenberg ebook #148
Painted the same decade: Elizabeth Farren (born about 1759, died 1829), Later Countess of Derby, Sir Thomas Lawrence, 1790
Vanity and pride are different things, though the words are often used synonymously. A person may be proud without being vain.
Our note: Elizabeth's bookish sister Mary offers a moral lesson.
Verified in the full text of Pride and Prejudice on Project Gutenberg · Project Gutenberg ebook #1342
Painted the same decade: General Étienne-Maurice Gérard (1773–1852), Jacques Louis David, 1816
I could easily forgive his pride, if he had not mortified mine.
Our note: Elizabeth on Mr. Darcy after he snubs her at the first ball.
Verified in the full text of Pride and Prejudice on Project Gutenberg · Project Gutenberg ebook #1342
Painted the same decade: Charles Maurice de Talleyrand Périgord (1754–1838), Prince de Talleyrand, Pierre Paul Prud'hon, 1817
One half of the world cannot understand the pleasures of the other.
Our note: On how differently people enjoy themselves.
Verified in the full text of Emma on Project Gutenberg · Project Gutenberg ebook #158
Painted the same decade: Waterfall at Mont-Dore, Achille-Etna Michallon, 1818
Learn from me, if not by my precepts, at least by my example, how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge and how much happier that man is who believes his native town to be the world, than he who aspires to become greater than his nature will allow.
Our note: Victor warns Walton, near the end of his story.
Verified in the full text of Frankenstein on Project Gutenberg · Project Gutenberg ebook #84
Painted the same decade: General Étienne-Maurice Gérard (1773–1852), Jacques Louis David, 1816
Standing on the bare ground,—my head bathed by the blithe air, and uplifted into infinite space,—all mean egotism vanishes. I become a transparent eye-ball; …
Our note: Emerson describes feeling at one with nature on a walk, in his first book.
Verified in the full text of Nature on Project Gutenberg · Project Gutenberg ebook #29433
Painted the same decade: Hagar in the Wilderness, Camille Corot, 1835
…there is always a but in this imperfect world
Our note: A wry line from Anne Brontë's second novel.
Verified in the full text of The Tenant of Wildfell Hall on Project Gutenberg · Project Gutenberg ebook #969
Painted the same decade: Study of a Female Nude, Henri Lehmann, 1840
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