--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Only the wisest and stupidest of men…" description: "\"Only the wisest and stupidest of men never change.\" — Confucius" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2cd/confucius-164_change_only-the-wisest-and-stupidest-of-men-nev_1731471.jpg" --- # Only the wisest and stupidest of men never change. ![“Only the wisest and stupidest of men never change.” quote by Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2cd/confucius-164_change_only-the-wisest-and-stupidest-of-men-nev_1731471.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2cd/confucius-164_change_only-the-wisest-and-stupidest-of-men-nev_1731471.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2cd/confucius-164_change_only-the-wisest-and-stupidest-of-men-nev_1731471.jpg) > “Only the wisest and stupidest of men never change.” [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People often remain unchanged, whether wise or foolish, resisting growth. **In simple terms:** People rarely change. Key Takeaway Recognize and encourage personal growth. Themes stagnation wisdom change Mood thoughtful serious Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - leadership - education - personal development - relationships Key Concepts human nature psychology Questions to Reflect On - Why do people resist change? - What can foster transformation? A Different Perspective Change can be difficult but is possible with effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) ## Related quotes > [It is only the very wisest and the very stupidest who cannot change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/it-is-only-the-very-wisest-and-the-very-stupidest-who-cannot-change/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [It is only the very wisest and the very stupidest who never change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/it-is-only-the-very-wisest-and-the-very-stupidest-who-never-change/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [It is only the wisest and the stupidest that cannot change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-only-the-wisest-and-the-stupidest-that-cannot-change/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I never could understand the popular belief that because a man makes a lot of money he has a lot of brains. Some very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-rosenwald/i-never-could-understand-the-popular-belief-that-because-a-man-makes/) [Julius Rosenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-rosenwald/) > [Knowledge talks, wisdom listens. Only the wisest and the stupidest of men never change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/knowledge-talks-wisdom-listens-only-the-wisest-and-the-stupidest-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We have to start spreading that news - that real men change poopy diapers and coach the soccer team and let their daughters paint…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynda-carter/we-have-to-start-spreading-that-news-that-real-men-change-poopy/) [Lynda Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynda-carter/) > [It is not great men who change the world, but weak men in the hands of a great God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brother-yun/it-is-not-great-men-who-change-the-world-but-weak-men-in-the-hands-of/) [Brother Yun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brother-yun/) > [War, I have always said, forces men to change their standards, regardless of whether their country has won or lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salvatore-quasimodo/war-i-have-always-said-forces-men-to-change-their-standards/) [Salvatore Quasimodo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salvatore-quasimodo/) > [Some men change their party for the sake of their principles; others their principles for the sake of their party](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/some-men-change-their-party-for-the-sake-of-their-principles-others/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When men change, maybe Bond will change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-broccoli/when-men-change-maybe-bond-will-change/) [Barbara Broccoli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-broccoli/) > [“I had turned away from the picture and was going back to the world where events move, men change, light flickers, life flows in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-conrad/i-had-turned-away-from-the-picture-and-was-going-back-to-the-world/) [Joseph Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-conrad/) > [Truth changes as men change, and when truth becomes stable men will become dead, and the insect and the fire and the flood will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/truth-changes-as-men-change-and-when-truth-becomes-stable-men-will/) [charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [“The circumstances of the world are continually changing, and the opinions of men change also,Government is for the living, and not for the dead;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/the-circumstances-of-the-world-are-continually-changing-and-the/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [“My cousin Jeff used to say that the tragedy of relationships is that women want men to change, and they don’t, while men don’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-mcneill/my-cousin-jeff-used-to-say-that-the-tragedy-of-relationships-is-that/) [Maggie McNeill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-mcneill/) > [Sometimes men change for the better. Sometimes men change for the worse. And often, very often, given time and opportunity . . .’ He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/sometimes-men-change-for-the-better-sometimes-men-change-for-the/) [Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/) ## More by Confucius > [Attack the evil that is within yourself, rather than attacking the evil that is in others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/attack-the-evil-that-is-within-yourself-rather-than-attacking-the/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [The superior man is distressed by his want (lack) of ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-superior-man-is-distressed-by-his-want-lack-of-ability/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [In ancient times, those who wished to illuminate the world with virtue first brought order to their nations. Wishing to order well their nations,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/in-ancient-times-those-who-wished-to-illuminate-the-world-with-virtue/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Better than the one who knows what is right is the one who loves what is right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/better-than-the-one-who-knows-what-is-right-is-the-one-who-loves-what/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Knowledge is merely brilliance in organization of ideas and not wisdom. The truly wise person goes beyond knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/knowledge-is-merely-brilliance-in-organization-of-ideas-and-not/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [I live in a very small house, but my windows look out on a very large world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/i-live-in-a-very-small-house-but-my-windows-look-out-on-a-very-large/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [To rule a country of a thousand chariots, there must be reverent attention to business, and sincerity; economy in expenditure, and love for men;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/to-rule-a-country-of-a-thousand-chariots-there-must-be-reverent/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [The real fault is to have faults and not amend them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-real-fault-is-to-have-faults-and-not-amend-them/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [To know what you know and what you do not know, that is true knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/to-know-what-you-know-and-what-you-do-not-know-that-is-true-knowledge/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [A picture is poem without words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/a-picture-is-poem-without-words/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Heaven means to be one with God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/heaven-means-to-be-one-with-god/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Does Heaven ever speak? The four seasons come and go, and all creatures thrive and grow. Does Heaven ever speak!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/does-heaven-ever-speak-the-four-seasons-come-and-go-and-all-creatures/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [To study and at times practice what one has learned, is this not a pleasure?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/to-study-and-at-times-practice-what-one-has-learned-is-this-not-a/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Recompense injury with justice, and recompense kindness with kindness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/recompense-injury-with-justice-and-recompense-kindness-with-kindness/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [There is only one thing in life which never changes, and it is change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/there-is-only-one-thing-in-life-which-never-changes-and-it-is-change/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) [Explore all 1,019 Confucius quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) ## More Change quotes > [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [“…progress isn't necessarily about change but about things turning out as we want them to”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hogan/progress-isn-t-necessarily-about-change-but-about-things-turning-out/) Phil Hogan > [Nobody can tell me that no changes are necessary in Washington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-weld/nobody-can-tell-me-that-no-changes-are-necessary-in-washington/) [William Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-weld/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [When you walk down the street of Kabul your values for life changes, they do change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-pierre-white/when-you-walk-down-the-street-of-kabul-your-values-for-life-changes/) [Marco Pierre White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-pierre-white/) > [Your world will change whether or not you choose to change, but you have the power to choose it's direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/your-world-will-change-whether-or-not-you-choose-to-change-but-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [I hope I continue to evolve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-flair/i-hope-i-continue-to-evolve/) [Charlotte Flair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-flair/) > [“Stay focused on bringing people together and more on positive messaging so that you can be the change you wish to see in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/stay-focused-on-bringing-people-together-and-more-on-positive/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/) [Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/) > [“After the funeral, my life changed. I felt as if time were suddenly precious, water going down an open drain, and I could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/after-the-funeral-my-life-changed-i-felt-as-if-time-were-suddenly/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. On the other hand, as you practice mindfulness and live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-practice-mindfulness-on-the-one-hand-to-be-calm-and-peaceful-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Irish research will contribute to global progress and have the potential to help all countries realise the potential of their land sectors in addressing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enda-kenny/irish-research-will-contribute-to-global-progress-and-have-the/) [Enda Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enda-kenny/) > [No man can change himself into anything from sheer reason; he can only change into what he potentially is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/no-man-can-change-himself-into-anything-from-sheer-reason-he-can-only/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) [Browse all 33,920 Change quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Only the wisest and stupidest of men never change.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Confucius" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/only-the-wisest-and-stupidest-of-men-never-change/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Change" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/only-the-wisest-and-stupidest-of-men-never-change/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2cd/confucius-164_change_only-the-wisest-and-stupidest-of-men-nev_1731471.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2cd/confucius-164_change_only-the-wisest-and-stupidest-of-men-nev_1731471.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2cd/confucius-164_change_only-the-wisest-and-stupidest-of-men-nev_1731471.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Only the wisest and stupidest of men never change.” — Confucius", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Confucius", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Only the wisest and stupidest of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/only-the-wisest-and-stupidest-of-men-never-change/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/only-the-wisest-and-stupidest-of-men-never-change/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```