“Real wisdom is not the knowledge of everything, but the knowledge of which things in life are necessary, which are less necessary, and which are completely unnecessary to know. Among the most necessary knowledge is the knowledge of how to live well, that is, how to produce the least possible evil and the greatest goodness in one’s life. At present, people study useless sciences, but forget to study this, the most important knowledge.”

Jean-Jaques Rousseau
Life Wisdom Time Wisdom

Explore This Quote Further

Quote by Jean-Jaques Rousseau: “Real wisdom is not the knowledge of everything, … - Image 1

Similar quotes

“From the first moment of life, men ought to begin learning to deserve to live; and, as at the instant of birth we partake of the rights of citizenship, that instant ought to be the beginning of the exercise of our duty.”


“Everything is good as it comes from the hands of the Maker of the world, but degenerates once it gets into the hands of man”


“The only real science is the knowledge of how a person should live his life. And this knowledge is open to everyone.”


“To write a love letter, you have to start, without knowing, what you want to say, and end, without knowing what you have said.”


“Knowledge without application is simply knowledge. Applying the knowledge to one’s life is wisdom — and that is the ultimate virtue”


“God’s plan in relation to man was that he should fall, and having fallen and obtained a knowledge of good and evil, (which knowledge he could not have obtained without placing himself in that position), then it became necessary that he should know concerning the atonement and redemption which should be brought about through the mediation of Jesus Christ.”