--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The magi, as you know, were wise men…" description: "\"“The magi, as you know, were wise men — wonderfully wise men — who brought gifts to the Babe in the manger. They invented the art of giving Christmas p..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d35/charles-dickens-34_christmas_the-magi-as-you-know-were-wise-men-wonde_17061.jpg" --- # The magi, as you know, were wise men — wonderfully wise… ![“The magi, as you know, were wise men — wonderfully wise men — who brought gifts to the Babe in the manger. They invented the art of giving Christmas presents. Being wise, their gifts were no doubt wise ones, possibly bearing the privilege of exchange in case of duplication. And here I have lamely…” quote by Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d35/charles-dickens-34_christmas_the-magi-as-you-know-were-wise-men-wonde_17061.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d35/charles-dickens-34_christmas_the-magi-as-you-know-were-wise-men-wonde_17061.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d35/charles-dickens-34_christmas_the-magi-as-you-know-were-wise-men-wonde_17061.jpg) > ““The magi, as you know, were wise men — wonderfully wise men — who brought gifts to the Babe in the manger. They invented the art of giving Christmas presents. Being wise, their gifts were no doubt wise ones, possibly bearing the privilege of exchange in case of duplication. And here I have lamely related to you the uneventful chronicle of two foolish children in a flat who most unwisely sacrificed for each other the greatest treasures of their house. But in a last word to the wise of these days let it be said that of all who give gifts these two were the wisest. Of all who give and receive gifts, such as they are wisest. Everywhere they are wisest. They are the magi.”” [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The passage contrasts the biblical Magi’s wise gift-giving with two modern children’s selfless sacrifice, declaring their act the truest form of wisdom. **In simple terms:** Selfless sacrifice as ultimate wisdom. Key Takeaway True wisdom lies in giving without expectation. Themes selflessness wisdom sacrifice gift-giving family Mood reflective warm inspirational Type narrative aphoristic When to use this quote - holiday family gatherings - children sharing toys - siblings facing loss Key Concepts magical symbolism moral philosophy human generosity Practical Applications - teaching empathy in schools - inspiring charitable campaigns Questions to Reflect On - What does it mean to be truly wise? - How can everyday actions become profound gifts? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Christmas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christmas/) [Christmas present](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christmas-present/) [Christmas Presents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christmas-presents/) [Combs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/combs/) [Foolishness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foolishness/) [Fools](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fools/) [Gift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gift/) [Gifts Wisest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gifts-wisest-385315/) [Greatest treasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatest-treasure/) [Last Word](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/last-word/) [Magi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/magi/) [Presents Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/presents-wise-385316/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) [Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise/) [Wise Gifts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise-gifts-385314/) [Wise men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise-men/) [Wisest Magi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisest-magi-385313/) ## Related quotes > [“Being wise, their gifts were no doubt wise ones, possibly bearing the privilege of exchange in case of duplication. And here I have lamely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-henry/being-wise-their-gifts-were-no-doubt-wise-ones-possibly-bearing-the/) [O. Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-henry/) > [O all who give and receive gifts, such as they are wisest. Everywhere they are wisest. They are the magi.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-henry/o-all-who-give-and-receive-gifts-such-as-they-are-wisest-everywhere/) [O. Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-henry/) > [“And here I have lamely related to you the uneventful chronicle of two foolish children in a flat who most unwisely sacrificed for each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-henry/and-here-i-have-lamely-related-to-you-the-uneventful-chronicle-of-two/) [O. Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-henry/) > [The Magi are filled with awe by what they see; heaven on earth and earth in heaven; man in God and God in man;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-chrysologus/the-magi-are-filled-with-awe-by-what-they-see-heaven-on-earth-and/) [Peter Chrysologus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-chrysologus/) > [“A cold coming we had of it, Just the worst time of the year For a journey, and such a long journey: The ways…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-s-eliot-2/a-cold-coming-we-had-of-it-just-the-worst-time-of-the-year-for-a/) [T.S. 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No.’ ‘Yes, Ferro.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/i-am-first-of-the-magi-i-am-the-last-authority-and-i-say-i-am/) [Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/) > [Magic is that which it is; it is by itself, like the mathematics; for it is the exact and absolute science of Nature and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-pike/magic-is-that-which-it-is-it-is-by-itself-like-the-mathematics-for-it/) [Albert Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-pike/) > [“My friends are my enimies, my magi, my gods, my life...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mykyta-isagulov/my-friends-are-my-enimies-my-magi-my-gods-my-life/) [Mykyta Isagulov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mykyta-isagulov/) > [“The gifts of the Magi. Unconditional Love. Selflessness. Trust. Faith. Forgiveness. Wholeness. Second Chances. Comfort. Joy. Peace. Reassurance. Rejoicing. Generosity. Compassion. Charity. Wonder. Acceptance.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-ban-breathnach/the-gifts-of-the-magi-unconditional-love-selflessness-trust-faith/) [Sarah Ban Breathnach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-ban-breathnach/) > [“The skies make no special dispensation for Magi, boy, they piss on everyone the same.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/the-skies-make-no-special-dispensation-for-magi-boy-they-piss-on/) [Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/) > [The old spelling MAGICK has been adopted throughout in order to distinguish the Science of the Magi from all its counterfeits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleister-crowley/the-old-spelling-magick-has-been-adopted-throughout-in-order-to/) [Aleister Crowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleister-crowley/) > [“We returned to our palaces, these Kingdoms, but no longer at ease here in the old dispensation, with an alien people clutching their gods.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-s-eliot-2/we-returned-to-our-palaces-these-kingdoms-but-no-longer-at-ease-here/) [T.S. Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-s-eliot-2/) > [I never really understood who the Magi were as a child. What is a Magi? Not a word I would use, but a magpie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-leunig/i-never-really-understood-who-the-magi-were-as-a-child-what-is-a-magi/) [Michael Leunig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-leunig/) ## More by Charles Dickens > [“All other swindlers upon earth are nothing to the self-swindlers, and with such pretences did I cheat myself. Surely a curious thing. That I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/all-other-swindlers-upon-earth-are-nothing-to-the-self-swindlers-and/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [... 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But so is the insistence on the part of Christians that politicians and retailers carry out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-campos-duffy/the-notion-of-a-non-religious-christmas-is-ridiculous-but-so-is-the/) [Rachel Campos-Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-campos-duffy/) > [As we are coming to the end of the year, I want you to forget about the past, the failure, the negative thoughts or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-we-are-coming-to-the-end-of-the-year-i-want-you-to-forget-about/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I once bought my kids a set of batteries for Christmas with a note on it saying, toys not included.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-manning/i-once-bought-my-kids-a-set-of-batteries-for-christmas-with-a-note-on/) [Bernard Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-manning/) > [May you have the spirit of Christmas which is Peace, the gladness of Christmas which is Hope, and the Heart of Christmas which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/may-you-have-the-spirit-of-christmas-which-is-peace-the-gladness-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To my future children; you will know the true meaning of Christmas just not you get gifts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-my-future-children-you-will-know-the-true-meaning-of-christmas/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No sane local official who has hung up an empty stocking over the municipal fireplace is going to shoot Santa Claus just before a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-smith/no-sane-local-official-who-has-hung-up-an-empty-stocking-over-the/) [Al Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-smith/) > [A new heart for a New Year, always!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/a-new-heart-for-a-new-year-always/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [Santa Claus has nothing to do with it," the latke said. 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I'll you, if you will me invite To dance within that gentle light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-gordon/on-hanukkah-the-first-dark-night-light-yourself-a-candle-bright-i-ll/) [Nick Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-gordon/) [Browse all 5,100 Christmas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christmas/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The magi, as you know, were wise men — wonderfully wise men — who brought gifts to the Babe in the manger. They invented the art of giving Christmas presents. Being wise, their gifts were no doubt wise ones, possibly bearing the privilege of exchange in case of duplication. And here I have lamely related to you the uneventful chronicle of two foolish children in a flat who most unwisely sacrificed for each other the greatest treasures of their house. But in a last word to the wise of these days let it be said that of all who give gifts these two were the wisest. 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