Stendhal Quotes

An ounce of prudence is worth a pound of cleverness.

Wisdom triumphs over chance.

There's a difference between having an edge and being stupid.

The wise man is seldom prudent.

It's always better to be wise than to be smart.

The wise does at once what the fool does at last.

The wise man does at once what the fool does finally.

It's remarkable how much long-term advantage people like us have gotten by trying to be consistently not stupid, instead of trying to be very intelligent.

Knowing what is right does not make a sagacious man.

Don't try to be brave when it is enough to be intelligent.

Fortune is said to be blind, but her favorites never are. Ambition has the eye of the eagle, prudence that of the lynx; the first looks through the air, the last along the ground.

Imprudence relies on luck, prudence on method. That gives prudence less edge than it expects.

Prudence operates on life in the same manner as rule of composition; it produces vigilance rather than elevation; rather prevents loss than procures advantage; and often miscarriages, but seldom reaches either power or honor.

We Slytherins are brave, yes, but not stupid. For instance, given the choice, we will always choose to save our own necks.

Those who are guided by reason are generally successful in their plans; those who are rash and precipitate seldom enjoy the favour of the gods.

Wisdom is the winner over good luck.

I earned that the strong will always beat the weak, but the smart will beat the strong. Boxing is a tough guy sport. But in the end, the tough guy gets to clean the streets and be a bodyguard. In the ring, the tough guy is going to get hurt; at the end of the day, he's going to talk funny. Only the smartest win. So, I know it's cliché, but power - real power - comes from knowledge, comes from smarts.

Wit and wisdom differ; wit is upon the sudden turn, wisdom is bringing about ends.

It is one thing to be clever and another to be wise.

The ones who become stars or superstars are the ones who have a head on their shoulders and know how to use it.

Be neither silly, nor cunning, but wise

Wisdom overcomes fortune.

And have you never known the pleasure and triumph of a lucky guess? I pity you. I thought you cleverer; for depend upon it, a lucky guess is never merely luck. There is always some talent in it.

Wisdom is better than wit, and in the long run will certainly have the laugh on her side.