--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The thing that we possess, that machines…" description: "\"The thing that we possess, that machines don't, is the ability to exhibit wisdom.\" — Herbie Hancock" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de2/herbie-hancock-2674_ability_the-thing-that-we-possess-that-machines_1538337.jpg" --- # The thing that we possess, that machines don't, is the… ![“The thing that we possess, that machines don't, is the ability to exhibit wisdom.” quote by Herbie Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de2/herbie-hancock-2674_ability_the-thing-that-we-possess-that-machines_1538337.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de2/herbie-hancock-2674_ability_the-thing-that-we-possess-that-machines_1538337.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de2/herbie-hancock-2674_ability_the-thing-that-we-possess-that-machines_1538337.jpg) > “The thing that we possess, that machines don't, is the ability to exhibit wisdom.” [Herbie Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-hancock/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human wisdom is a unique, non‑algorithmic quality that machines lack, emphasizing the value of human insight. **In simple terms:** Humans have wisdom machines lack. Key Takeaway Cultivate and trust human judgment. Themes wisdom technology humanity creativity Mood inspirational thoughtful Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - decision making - education - leadership - artistic creation Key Concepts philosophy AI ethics Questions to Reflect On - In what areas does human wisdom outperform AI? - How can we integrate machine help without losing insight? A Different Perspective Machines can assist but not replace nuanced understanding. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Computers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computers/) [Exhibit Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exhibit-wisdom-3909375/) [Machines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/machines/) [Machines Don](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/machines-don-1048799/) [Possess Machines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possess-machines-5723154/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [Machines don't use machines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-mcgregor/machines-don-t-use-machines/) [Conor McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-mcgregor/) > [Remember, machines don't forgive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-salatin/remember-machines-don-t-forgive/) [Joel Salatin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-salatin/) > [“You are always afraid that somebody may think you a fool. You are afraid that if others think you to be a fool, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osho/you-are-always-afraid-that-somebody-may-think-you-a-fool-you-are/) [Osho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osho/) > [To admit ignorance is to exhibit wisdom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-montagu/to-admit-ignorance-is-to-exhibit-wisdom/) [Ashley Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-montagu/) > [I don't send messages, I'm not a fax machine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-don-t-send-messages-i-m-not-a-fax-machine/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [A South Korean inventor has finally created the robot that mankind has been waiting for. Scientists who have been worried about the robot apocalypse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pesca/a-south-korean-inventor-has-finally-created-the-robot-that-mankind/) [Mike Pesca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pesca/) > [Gee, I wish we had one of them doomsday machines things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-kubrick/gee-i-wish-we-had-one-of-them-doomsday-machines-things/) [Stanley Kubrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-kubrick/) > [I kind of pride myself on coming onto things that are well-oiled machines and finding a way to bring what I bring and fit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-lowe/i-kind-of-pride-myself-on-coming-onto-things-that-are-well-oiled/) [Rob Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-lowe/) > [The amount of things you can do with a kettlebell is unsurpassed by any other training equipment - dumbbells, resistance machines, free weights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laird-hamilton/the-amount-of-things-you-can-do-with-a-kettlebell-is-unsurpassed-by/) [Laird Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laird-hamilton/) > [As in any machine, all the wires must be connected to the mains through one main wire. In the same way, you all must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nirmala-srivastava/as-in-any-machine-all-the-wires-must-be-connected-to-the-mains/) [Nirmala Srivastava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nirmala-srivastava/) > [Can you imagine any better example of divine creative accomplishment that the consummate flying machine that is a bird? The skeleton, very flexible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-murchie/can-you-imagine-any-better-example-of-divine-creative-accomplishment/) [Guy Murchie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-murchie/) > [The popular mind often pictures gigantic flying machines speeding across the Atlantic carrying innumerable passengers in a way analogous to our modern steam ships.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-henry-pickering/the-popular-mind-often-pictures-gigantic-flying-machines-speeding/) [William Henry Pickering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-henry-pickering/) > [The corporate state is an immensely powerful machine, ordered, legalistic, rational, yet utterly out of human control, wholly and perfectly indifferent to any human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-a-reich/the-corporate-state-is-an-immensely-powerful-machine-ordered/) [Charles A. Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-a-reich/) > [The time that one gains cannot be accumulated in a storehouse; it is contradictory to want to save up existence, which, the fact is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-de-beauvoir/the-time-that-one-gains-cannot-be-accumulated-in-a-storehouse-it-is/) [Simone de Beauvoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-de-beauvoir/) > [I don't understand why we're all connected wirelessly via a little machine that goes in our pocket, to everybody in the world, and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-m-chu/i-don-t-understand-why-we-re-all-connected-wirelessly-via-a-little/) [Jon M. Chu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-m-chu/) ## More by Herbie Hancock > [You would not exist if you did not have something to bring to the table of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-hancock/you-would-not-exist-if-you-did-not-have-something-to-bring-to-the/) [Herbie Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-hancock/) > [One of the greatest attributes of jazz, I think, is that it is that open.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-hancock/one-of-the-greatest-attributes-of-jazz-i-think-is-that-it-is-that-open/) [Herbie Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-hancock/) > [You can practice to attain knowledge, but you can't practice to attain wisdom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-hancock/you-can-practice-to-attain-knowledge-but-you-can-t-practice-to-attain/) [Herbie Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-hancock/) > [Most people define themselves by what they do - 'I'm a musician.' Then one day it occurred to me that I'm only a musician…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-hancock/most-people-define-themselves-by-what-they-do-i-m-a-musician-then-one/) [Herbie Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-hancock/) > [I don't think there are any pure Africans of the African Americans, but the African part of our history was pretty much taken away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-hancock/i-don-t-think-there-are-any-pure-africans-of-the-african-americans/) [Herbie Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-hancock/) > [So in other words, we were constantly challenged to grow, and thats what a master does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-hancock/so-in-other-words-we-were-constantly-challenged-to-grow-and-thats/) [Herbie Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-hancock/) > [The strongest thing that any human being has going is their own integrity and their own heart. As soon as you start veering away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-hancock/the-strongest-thing-that-any-human-being-has-going-is-their-own/) [Herbie Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-hancock/) > [Like no matter what happens, this would be the ultimate, they can make something positive happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-hancock/like-no-matter-what-happens-this-would-be-the-ultimate-they-can-make/) [Herbie Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-hancock/) > [There are a lot of records coming out, in every field of music, not just jazz.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-hancock/there-are-a-lot-of-records-coming-out-in-every-field-of-music-not/) [Herbie Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-hancock/) > [I like to present something that the people haven't seen or haven't heard before. Otherwise they might as well just stay home and play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-hancock/i-like-to-present-something-that-the-people-haven-t-seen-or-haven-t/) [Herbie Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-hancock/) > [I don't go around, the way many musicians do, with earbuds in my ear listening to my iPod all day and just sticking my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-hancock/i-don-t-go-around-the-way-many-musicians-do-with-earbuds-in-my-ear/) [Herbie Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-hancock/) > [Creativity and artistic endeavors have a mission that goes far beyond just making music for the sake of music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-hancock/creativity-and-artistic-endeavors-have-a-mission-that-goes-far-beyond/) [Herbie Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-hancock/) > [The most valuable things in life are priceless. They are courage, compassion, wisdom, respect for ourselves and others, and a host of characteristics that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-hancock/the-most-valuable-things-in-life-are-priceless-they-are-courage/) [Herbie Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-hancock/) > [Creativity shouldn't be following radio; it should be the other way around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-hancock/creativity-shouldn-t-be-following-radio-it-should-be-the-other-way/) [Herbie Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-hancock/) > [One thing I like about jazz is that it emphasized doing things differently from what other people were doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-hancock/one-thing-i-like-about-jazz-is-that-it-emphasized-doing-things/) [Herbie Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-hancock/) [Explore all 155 Herbie Hancock quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-hancock/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The thing that we possess, that machines don't, is the ability to exhibit wisdom.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Herbie Hancock" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-hancock/the-thing-that-we-possess-that-machines-don-t-is-the-ability-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ability" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-hancock/the-thing-that-we-possess-that-machines-don-t-is-the-ability-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de2/herbie-hancock-2674_ability_the-thing-that-we-possess-that-machines_1538337.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de2/herbie-hancock-2674_ability_the-thing-that-we-possess-that-machines_1538337.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de2/herbie-hancock-2674_ability_the-thing-that-we-possess-that-machines_1538337.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The thing that we possess, that machines don't, is the ability to exhibit wisdom.” — Herbie Hancock", "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": "Herbie Hancock", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-hancock/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The thing that we possess, that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-hancock/the-thing-that-we-possess-that-machines-don-t-is-the-ability-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-hancock/the-thing-that-we-possess-that-machines-don-t-is-the-ability-to/#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 } } ] } ```