Wits and swords are as straws against the wisdom of the Darkness...

“His knowledge was greater than his wisdom, and his powers were far superior to his character.”

“It was a net from which it seemed to me, a few hours ago, that there was no possible escape. But he had not that supreme gift of the artist, the knowledge of when to stop. He wished to improve that which was already perfect . . . and so he ruined all.”

“How terrible is wisdom when it brings no profit to the wise.”

“I confess that I have been as blind as a mole, but is is better to learn wisdom late than never to learn it at all.”

“It is easy to be wise after the event.”

“…but it is better to learn wisdom late than never to learn it at all.”

“A man should keep his little brain attic stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the rest he can put away in the lumber room of his library, where he can get it if he wants it.”

“It is stupidity rather than courage to refuse to recognize danger when it is close upon you.”

“You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of trifles.”

“It is easier for the world to accept a simple lie than a complex truth.”

“the wisdom of the precaution is evident from the cry which has been raised against it; as that very cry betrays a disposition to question the great and essential truth which it is manifestly the object of that provision to declare.”

“The masses are asses.”

“Have we not already seen enough of the fallacy and extravagance of those idle theories which have amused us with promises of an exemption from the imperfections, weaknesses and evils incident to society in every shape? Is it not time to awake from the deceitful dream of a golden age, and to adopt as a practical maxim for the direction of our political conduct that we, as well as the other inhabitants of the globe, are yet remote from the happy empire of perfect wisdom and perfect virtue?”

“Hard words are very rarely useful. Real firmness is good for every thing. Strut is good for nothing.”

“If you are wise you won’t be deceived by the innocent airs of those whom you have once found to be dangerous.”

“It is wise to turn circumstances to good account.”

“If you are wise you won't be deceived by the innocent airs of those whom you have once found to be dangerous.”

“Vices are their own punishment”

“Wise men say nothing in dangerous times”

“Once a wolf, always a wolf.”

“I have always considered David Hume as approaching as nearly the idea of a perfectly wise and virtuous man as perhaps the nature of human frailty will allow.”

“To superficial minds, the vices of the great seem at all times agreeable.”

“We need not take refuge in supernatural gods to explain our saints and sages and heroes and statesmen, as if to explain our disbelief that mere unaided human beings could be that good or wise.”