Sources Of Wisdom To Help Guide Your Day

For thousands of years, human beings have sought wisdom in the hopes of better understanding themselves, each other, and the world. To that end, there are countless quotes, questions, and thoughts that can provide a door to understanding. This article will explore sources of wisdom and reasons why humanity seeks wisdom. It will share words of wisdom from various spiritual, philosophical, and political sources that may help you continue to forge a path of reflection and experience. 

Wisdom from religious and spiritual figures

Spiritual tradition has given rise to many teachers and principals of wisdom. Many religious and spiritual texts examine the idea of wisdom and are used as touchstones for their devotees. Wisdom refers to understanding not only knowledge but also judgment; it entails grasping the why behind the what and the how.

In the Torah, the Book of Proverbs offers extensive discourse on what makes a person wise and the teachings they must follow. In the Bible, Jesus Christ shares examples of how he expects his followers to temper wisdom with mercy and serve the Christian god through their actions and words. 

The Vedas, too, seek wisdom. The word Veda itself means wisdom, vision, or knowledge, and the Vedas are divided into four parts: hymns, rituals, theologies, and philosophies. Here are a few thoughts on wisdom from spiritual and religious texts. 

• “Just as treasures are uncovered from the earth, so virtue appears from good deeds, and wisdom appears from a pure and peaceful mind. To walk safely through the maze of human life, one needs the light of wisdom and the guidance of virtue.” (Buddha)
• “How much better to get wisdom than gold, to get insight rather than silver!” (Proverbs 16:16)
• “Where there is strife, there is pride, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.” (Proverbs 13:10)
• “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul?” (Mark 8:36)
• “When there is harmony between the mind, heart, and resolution, then nothing is impossible.” (Rig Veda)
• “The one who loves all intensely begins perceiving in all living beings a part of himself. He becomes a lover of all, a part and parcel of the Universal Joy. He flows with the stream of happiness and is enriched by each soul.” (Yajur Veda)

Wisdom from philosophers

Early philosophers sought to make sense of life by examining the nature of humankind and how we react to the world around us. Visionaries like Plato, Socrates, and Aristotle spent years looking for truth, and many of their ideas paved the way for modern psychology. 

• “The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.” —Socrates
• “The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.” —Lao Tzu
• “It’s not what happens to you, but how you react that matters.” —Epictetus
• “The higher we are placed, the more humbly we should walk.” —Marcus Tullius Cicero
• “Patience is the companion of wisdom.” —Saint Augustine
• “He who lives in harmony with himself lives in harmony with the universe.” —Marcus Aurelius
• “Appearances are often deceiving.” —Aesop

Wisdom from modern figures

Profound thoughts on wisdom are not only for ancient philosophers — many modern-day thinkers have important things to say about the subject. Here are just a few examples. 

• “Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance.” —George Bernard Shaw
• “Knowledge is of no value unless you put it into practice.” —Anton Chekov
• “Always be a first-rate version of yourself, rather than a second-rate version of somebody else.” —Judy Garland
• “If you don’t know where you are going, any road will get you there.” —Lewis Carroll
• “Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves.” —Carl Jung
• “We are what our thoughts have made us, so take care about what you think. Words are secondary. Thoughts live; they travel far.” —Swami Vivekananda
• “If you want to go east, don’t go west.” —Ramakrishna
• “What happens is not as important as how we react to what happens.” —Ellen Glasgow

Wisdom from literary writers

Unsurprisingly, literature can offer abundant wisdom, shared through insights from the authors or characters they create. When we can vicariously experience someone else pursuing a similar goal, navigating a similar challenge, or triumphing in a way we hope to be victorious, we may be more motivated to persevere in our own pursuits of wisdom.

• “The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool.” —William Shakespeare
• “Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect.” —Mark Twain
• “The secret of life, though, is to fall seven times and to get up eight times.” —Paulo Coelho
• “Turn your wounds into wisdom.” —Oprah Winfrey
• “Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.” —Rumi
• “The desire to reach for the stars is ambitious. The desire to reach hearts is wise.” —Maya Angelou

Searching for wisdom through therapy

Therapy is one of many resources we can use to seek wisdom. For those seeking self-actualization, a therapist can help guide the journey toward greater awareness and understanding of the self. In fact, many people participate in therapy for this reason.

Online therapy offers a convenient way to participate in this kind of journey without having to schedule and attend in-person sessions. Research has demonstrated that online therapy is just as effective as traditional in-person therapy and can be more cost-effective.

With online therapy platforms like BetterHelp, you can match with a therapist and meet regularly from the comfort of your own home or office via video chat, phone calls, or in-app messaging.