Henry David Thoreau Quotes

Common sense is the knack of seeing things as they are, and doing things as they ought to be done.

All truth, in the long run, is only common sense clarified.

Cleverness is not wisdom.

That which the Fascists hate above all else, is intelligence.

Wisdom is a kind of knowledge. It is knowledge of the nature, career, and consequences of human values.

The wisdom of the wise is an uncommon degree of common sense.

A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones that need the advice.

Wisdom is the quality that keeps you from getting into situations where you need it.

It is not skeptics or explorers but fanatics and ideologues who menace decency and progress. No agnostic ever burned anyone at the stake or tortured a pagan, a heretic, or an unbeliever.

Believe those who seek the truth; doubt those who find it.

Wisdom is not the province of only one party.

Wisdom denotes the pursuing of the best ends by the best means.

Common sense is the most fairly distributed thing in the world, for each one thinks he is so well-endowed with it that even those who are hardest to satisfy in all other matters are not in the habit of desiring more of it than they already have.

Where sense is wanting, everything is wanting.

Common sense is the genius of humanity.

Wisdom is not wisdom when it is derived from books alone.

All serious conversations gravitate towards philosophy.

Common sense is the measure of the possible; it is composed of experience and prevision; it is calculation applied to life.

Wisdom is the supreme part of happiness.

All men by nature desire knowledge.

Talk sense to a fool and he calls you foolish.

Common sense is calculation applied to life.

Be as smart as you can, but remember that it is always better to be wise than to be smart.

'Tis folly to be wise.