Cunning is to wisdom as ape is to a man

Knowledge which is divorced from justice, may be called cunning rather than wisdom.

— Marcus Tullius Cicero

Human nature is pretty well balanced; for every lacking virtue there is a rough substitute that will serve at a pinch--as cunning is the…

— Ambrose Bierce

Knowledge without justice ought to be called cunning rather than wisdom.

— Plato

And all knowledge, when separated from justice and virtue, is seen to be cunning and not wisdom; wherefore make this your first and last…

— Plato

Oh, how great is the power of truth! which of its own power can easily defend itself against all the ingenuity and cunning and…

— Marcus Tullius Cicero

“Illusion is Reality's coy lover who cheers him when he is grim. Illusion is cunning to his wisdom of ages, weet oblivion to his…

— Kresley Cole

Treason and murder ever kept together, As two yoke-devils sworn to either's purpose, Working so grossly in a natural cause That admiration did not…

— William Shakespeare

It is sometimes necessary to play the fool to avoid being deceived by cunning men.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

Art is the final cunning of the human soul which would rather do anything than face the gods.

— Iris Murdoch

Why do some die and some live? The answer was clearly, that on the whole the best fitted live. From the effects of disease…

— Alfred Russel Wallace

That humanity and sincerity which dispose men to resist injustice and tyranny render them unfit to cope with the cunning and power of those…

— Anonymous

The terrible immoralities are the cunning ones hiding behind masks of morality, such as exploiting people while pretending to help them.

— Vernon Howard

It is a pity that, commonly, more care is had--yea, and that among very wise men--to find out rather a cunning man for their…

— Roger Ascham

Life is a battle of wits, and many people have to fight it unarmed.

— Evan Esar

Charm is a cunning self-forgetfulness.

— Christina Stead