A man is a golden impossibility. The line he must walk is a hair's breadth. The wise through excess of wisdom is made a fool.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Wisdom is a precarious balance; too much of it can lead to foolishness, making the ideal human path nearly impossible to walk.
- In plain terms
- Walking the line of wisdom is hard; too much wisdom can make you act foolishly.
- What can you take from it?
- Balance wisdom carefully to avoid excess.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Have you ever been too smart for your own good?
- Where is the line for you?
Another view
This suggests wisdom has a ceiling, which contradicts the idea of endless learning.
More from Ralph Waldo Emerson
We do what we must, and call it by the best names we can.
Permalink to quote #146 Nature and books belong to the eyes that see them.
Permalink to quote #148 To finish the moment, to find the journey's end in every step of the road, to live the greatest number of good hours, is wisdom
Permalink to quote #145
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