There is a wisdom in this beyond the rules of physic. A man's own observation, what he finds good of and what he finds hurt of, is the best physic to preserve health.
A wise man poor
Is like a sacred book that's never read,--
To himself he lives, and to all else seems dead.
This age thinks better of a gilded fool
Than of a threadbare saint in wisdom's school.
Wit and wisdom are born with a man.
Vain wisdom all and false philosophy.
Thus with the year
Seasons return; but not to me returns
Day, or the sweet approach of even or morn,
Or sight of vernal bloom or summer's rose,
Or flocks, or herds, or human face divine;
But cloud instead, and ever-during dark
Surrounds me; from the cheerful ways of men
Cut off, and for the book of knowledge fair
Presented with a universal blank
Of Nature's works, to me expung'd and raz'd,
And wisdom at one entrance quite shut out.
And oft, though wisdom wake, suspicion sleeps
At wisdom's gate, and to simplicity
Resigns her charge, while goodness thinks no ill
Where no ill seems.
To know
That which before us lies in daily life
Is the prime wisdom.
Virtue could see to do what virtue would
By her own radiant light, though sun and moon
Were in the flat sea sunk. And Wisdom's self
Oft seeks to sweet retired solitude,
Where with her best nurse Contemplation
She plumes her feathers and lets grow her wings,
That in the various bustle of resort
Were all-to ruffled, and sometimes impair'd.
He that has light within his own clear breast
May sit i' th' centre and enjoy bright day;
But he that hides a dark soul and foul thoughts
Benighted walks under the midday sun.
The man of wisdom is the man of years.
The picture placed the busts between
Adds to the thought much strength;
Wisdom and Wit are little seen,
But Folly's at full length.
Urge him with truth to frame his fair replies;
And sure he will: for Wisdom never lies.
In youth and beauty wisdom is but rare!
Earth sounds my wisdom and high heaven my fame.
To be resign'd when ills betide,
Patient when favours are deni'd,
And pleas'd with favours given,--
Dear Chloe, this is wisdom's part;
This is that incense of the heart
Whose fragrance smells to heaven.
The law is the last result of human wisdom acting upon human experience for the benefit of the public.
O Music! sphere-descended maid,
Friend of Pleasure, Wisdom's aid!
Who mix'd reason with pleasure, and wisdom with mirth:
If he had any faults, he has left us in doubt.
The wisdom of our ancestors.
It seems the part of wisdom.
Knowledge is proud that he has learn'd so much;
Wisdom is humble that he knows no more.
Books are not seldom talismans and spells.
This dead of midnight is the noon of thought,
And Wisdom mounts her zenith with the stars.
In idle wishes fools supinely stay;
Be there a will, and wisdom finds a way.
Wisdom is ofttimes nearer when we stoop
Than when we soar.
Wisdom married to immortal verse.
Exhausting thought,
And hiving wisdom with each studious year.