--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Tis never for their wisdom that one loves…" description: "\"Tis never for their wisdom that one loves the wisest, or for their wit that one loves the wittiest; 'tis for benevolence and virtue and honest fondness..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e7/hester-lynch-piozzi-27737_benevolence_tis-never-for-their-wisdom-that-one-love_1331575.png" --- # Tis never for their wisdom that one loves the wisest, or… ![“Tis never for their wisdom that one loves the wisest, or for their wit that one loves the wittiest; 'tis for benevolence and virtue and honest fondness one loves people.” quote by Hester Lynch Piozzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e7/hester-lynch-piozzi-27737_benevolence_tis-never-for-their-wisdom-that-one-love_1331575.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e7/hester-lynch-piozzi-27737_benevolence_tis-never-for-their-wisdom-that-one-love_1331575.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e7/hester-lynch-piozzi-27737_benevolence_tis-never-for-their-wisdom-that-one-love_1331575.png) > “Tis never for their wisdom that one loves the wisest, or for their wit that one loves the wittiest; 'tis for benevolence and virtue and honest fondness one loves people.” [Hester Lynch Piozzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hester-lynch-piozzi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People are loved for kindness and virtue, not merely for intellect or wit. **In simple terms:** Kindness, love more than cleverness. Key Takeaway Value character over cleverness Themes friendship love virtue Mood warm reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - social circles - family - community building Key Concepts philosophy ethics human nature Questions to Reflect On - How can you show benevolence today? - What virtues do you admire most? A Different Perspective Intellect still matters in some contexts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Benevolence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/benevolence/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Fondness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fondness/) [Honest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honest/) [Kindness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kindness/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [One love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/one-love/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) [Wit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wit/) [Wittiest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wittiest/) ## Related quotes > [Tis never for their wisdom that one loves the wisest...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hester-lynch-piozzi/tis-never-for-their-wisdom-that-one-loves-the-wisest/) [Hester Lynch Piozzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hester-lynch-piozzi/) > [It is never for their wisdom that one loves the wisest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hester-lynch-piozzi/it-is-never-for-their-wisdom-that-one-loves-the-wisest/) [Hester Lynch Piozzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hester-lynch-piozzi/) > [You smile with pomp and rigor, you talk of benevolence and virtue; I act with benevolence and virtue and get murdered time after time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blake/you-smile-with-pomp-and-rigor-you-talk-of-benevolence-and-virtue-i/) [William Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blake/) > [Wisdom loves the children of men, but she prefers those who come through foolishness to wisdom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/wisdom-loves-the-children-of-men-but-she-prefers-those-who-come/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [If evolution was worth its salt, by now it should've evolved something better than survival of the fittest. I think a better idea would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-wagner/if-evolution-was-worth-its-salt-by-now-it-should-ve-evolved-something/) [Jane Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-wagner/) > [The wittiest authors evoke a barely perceptible smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/the-wittiest-authors-evoke-a-barely-perceptible-smile/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Truth, when witty, is the wittiest of all things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustus-hare/truth-when-witty-is-the-wittiest-of-all-things/) [Augustus Hare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustus-hare/) > [Thank your readers and the critics who praise you, and then ignore them. Write for the most intelligent, wittiest, wisest audience in the universe:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-ellison/thank-your-readers-and-the-critics-who-praise-you-and-then-ignore/) [Harlan Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-ellison/) > [Instead of working for the survival of the fittest, we should be working for the survival of the wittiest - then we can all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-tomlin/instead-of-working-for-the-survival-of-the-fittest-we-should-be/) [Lily Tomlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-tomlin/) > [I usually say I write for the smartest, cleverest, wittiest audience I know, and that's me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-ellison/i-usually-say-i-write-for-the-smartest-cleverest-wittiest-audience-i/) [Harlan Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-ellison/) > [There is a road from the eye to the heart that does not go through the intellect. Men do not quarrel about the meaning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/there-is-a-road-from-the-eye-to-the-heart-that-does-not-go-through-2/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [I have a fantastic husband. Here's the honeymoon part: I still think he's the funniest, wittiest, most clever man I've ever known.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-jessica-parker/i-have-a-fantastic-husband-here-s-the-honeymoon-part-i-still-think-he/) [Sarah Jessica Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-jessica-parker/) > [I own four copies of Robin WIlliams's Live on Broadway comedy special for HBO. One in Wilmington, one in L.A., one in my trailer,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophia-bush/i-own-four-copies-of-robin-williams-s-live-on-broadway-comedy-special/) [Sophia Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophia-bush/) > [Already known as one of America’s best and wittiest poets, William Trowbridge has, in Ship of Fool, found the perfect vessel to convey his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-harper-webb/already-known-as-one-of-america-s-best-and-wittiest-poets-william/) Charles Harper Webb > [“The wittiest authors raise the very slightest of smiles.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/the-wittiest-authors-raise-the-very-slightest-of-smiles/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) ## More by Hester Lynch Piozzi > [We look on those approaching the banks of a river all must cross, with ten times the interest they excited when dancing in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hester-lynch-piozzi/we-look-on-those-approaching-the-banks-of-a-river-all-must-cross-with/) [Hester Lynch Piozzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hester-lynch-piozzi/) > [The pleasures of intimacy in friendship depend far more on external circumstances than people of a sentimental turn of mind are willing to concede;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hester-lynch-piozzi/the-pleasures-of-intimacy-in-friendship-depend-far-more-on-external/) [Hester Lynch Piozzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hester-lynch-piozzi/) > [Friendship is far more delicate than love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hester-lynch-piozzi/friendship-is-far-more-delicate-than-love/) [Hester Lynch Piozzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hester-lynch-piozzi/) > [I think character never changes; the Acorn becomes an Oak, which is very little like an Acorn to be sure, but it never becomes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hester-lynch-piozzi/i-think-character-never-changes-the-acorn-becomes-an-oak-which-is/) [Hester Lynch Piozzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hester-lynch-piozzi/) > [ \[Samuel\] Johnson's conversation was by much too strong for a person accustomed to obsequiousness and flattery; it was mustard in a young child's mouth! ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hester-lynch-piozzi/samuel-johnson-s-conversation-was-by-much-too-strong-for-a-person/) [Hester Lynch Piozzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hester-lynch-piozzi/) > [Women bear Crosses better than Men do, but bear Surprizes - worse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hester-lynch-piozzi/women-bear-crosses-better-than-men-do-but-bear-surprizes-worse/) [Hester Lynch Piozzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hester-lynch-piozzi/) > [“Living at Venice is like a Journey to the Moon somehow…And a sweet Planet it is!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hester-lynch-piozzi/living-at-venice-is-like-a-journey-to-the-moon-somehow-and-a-sweet/) [Hester Lynch Piozzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hester-lynch-piozzi/) > [A physician can sometimes parry the scythe of death, but has no power over the sand in the hourglass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hester-lynch-piozzi/a-physician-can-sometimes-parry-the-scythe-of-death-but-has-no-power/) [Hester Lynch Piozzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hester-lynch-piozzi/) > [Every one in this world has as much as they can do in caring for themselves, and few have leisure really to think of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hester-lynch-piozzi/every-one-in-this-world-has-as-much-as-they-can-do-in-caring-for/) [Hester Lynch Piozzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hester-lynch-piozzi/) > [I am perpetually bringing or losing babies, both very dreadful operations to me, and which tear mind and body both in pieces very cruelly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hester-lynch-piozzi/i-am-perpetually-bringing-or-losing-babies-both-very-dreadful/) [Hester Lynch Piozzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hester-lynch-piozzi/) > [What signifies, says some one, giving halfpence to beggars? they only lay it out in gin or tobacco. "And why should they be denied…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hester-lynch-piozzi/what-signifies-says-some-one-giving-halfpence-to-beggars-they-only/) [Hester Lynch Piozzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hester-lynch-piozzi/) > [Friendship is far more delicate than love. Quarrels and fretful complaints are attractive in the last, offensive in the first. And the very things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hester-lynch-piozzi/friendship-is-far-more-delicate-than-love-quarrels-and-fretful/) [Hester Lynch Piozzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hester-lynch-piozzi/) > [... one should know the value of Life better than to pout any part of it away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hester-lynch-piozzi/one-should-know-the-value-of-life-better-than-to-pout-any-part-of-it/) [Hester Lynch Piozzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hester-lynch-piozzi/) > [It is never for their wisdom that one loves the wisest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hester-lynch-piozzi/it-is-never-for-their-wisdom-that-one-loves-the-wisest/) [Hester Lynch Piozzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hester-lynch-piozzi/) > [No companion however wise, no friend however useful, can be to me what my mother has been: her image will long pursue my fancy;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hester-lynch-piozzi/no-companion-however-wise-no-friend-however-useful-can-be-to-me-what/) [Hester Lynch Piozzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hester-lynch-piozzi/) [Explore all 20 Hester Lynch Piozzi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hester-lynch-piozzi/) ## More Benevolence quotes > [Half the misery of human life might be extinguished if men would alleviate the general curse they lie under by mutual offices of compassion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/half-the-misery-of-human-life-might-be-extinguished-if-men-would/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [I rejoice that the reign of Christ is such, while it thrills the soul with emotions, and opens before the highest intellect the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-simpson/i-rejoice-that-the-reign-of-christ-is-such-while-it-thrills-the-soul/) [Matthew Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-simpson/) > [Elect me to office. I will protect and defend the U.S. Constitution. Because there's no constitutional authority for Congress spending on the objects of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/elect-me-to-office-i-will-protect-and-defend-the-u-s-constitution/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) > [The benevolence of wrapping the partridge in a vine leaf brings out its quality, just as the barrel of Diogenes brought forth the qualities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuel-des-essarts/the-benevolence-of-wrapping-the-partridge-in-a-vine-leaf-brings-out/) Emmanuel des Essarts > [“Now general benevolence was one of the leading features of the Pickwickian theory, and no one was more remarkable for the zealous manner in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/now-general-benevolence-was-one-of-the-leading-features-of-the/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [Conservatives say the government can't end poverty by force, but they believe it can use force to make people moral. Liberals say government can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-browne/conservatives-say-the-government-can-t-end-poverty-by-force-but-they/) [Harry Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-browne/) > [The individualism of current economic theory is manifest in the purely self-interested behaviour it generally assumes. It has no real place for fairness, malevolence,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-e-daly/the-individualism-of-current-economic-theory-is-manifest-in-the/) [Herman E. Daly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-e-daly/) > [Nobody but a beggar chooses to depend chiefly upon the benevolence of his fellow-citizens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/nobody-but-a-beggar-chooses-to-depend-chiefly-upon-the-benevolence-of/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [Want compassion is not to be numbered among the general faults of mankind. The black ingredient which fouls our disposition is envy. Hence our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/want-compassion-is-not-to-be-numbered-among-the-general-faults-of/) [Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/) > [When you have lived as long as I have, the div replied, you find that cruelty and benevolence are but shades of the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khaled-hosseini/when-you-have-lived-as-long-as-i-have-the-div-replied-you-find-that/) [Khaled Hosseini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khaled-hosseini/) > [ They \[spies\] cannot be properly managed without benevolence and straightforwardness. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/they-spies-cannot-be-properly-managed-without-benevolence-and/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [Generosity during life is a very different thing from generosity in the hour of death; one proceeds from genuine liberality, and benevolence; the other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martial/generosity-during-life-is-a-very-different-thing-from-generosity-in/) [Martial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martial/) > [There is in St. Paul's definite, soul-stirring assertion of the wrath of God and the reality of the judgment at hand, a truth more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-allen/there-is-in-st-paul-s-definite-soul-stirring-assertion-of-the-wrath/) [Roland Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-allen/) > [Men resemble the gods in nothing so much as in doing good to their fellow creatures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/men-resemble-the-gods-in-nothing-so-much-as-in-doing-good-to-their/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [General benevolence, but not general friendship, made a man what he ought to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/general-benevolence-but-not-general-friendship-made-a-man-what-he/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) [Browse all 371 Benevolence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/benevolence/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Tis never for their wisdom that one loves the wisest, or for their wit that one loves the wittiest; 'tis for benevolence and virtue and honest fondness one loves people.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Hester Lynch Piozzi" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hester-lynch-piozzi/tis-never-for-their-wisdom-that-one-loves-the-wisest-or-for-their-wit/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Benevolence" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hester-lynch-piozzi/tis-never-for-their-wisdom-that-one-loves-the-wisest-or-for-their-wit/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e7/hester-lynch-piozzi-27737_benevolence_tis-never-for-their-wisdom-that-one-love_1331575.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e7/hester-lynch-piozzi-27737_benevolence_tis-never-for-their-wisdom-that-one-love_1331575.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e7/hester-lynch-piozzi-27737_benevolence_tis-never-for-their-wisdom-that-one-love_1331575.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Tis never for their wisdom that one loves the wisest, or for their wit that one loves the wittiest; 'tis for…” — Hester Lynch Piozzi", "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": "Hester Lynch Piozzi", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hester-lynch-piozzi/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Tis never for their wisdom that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hester-lynch-piozzi/tis-never-for-their-wisdom-that-one-loves-the-wisest-or-for-their-wit/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hester-lynch-piozzi/tis-never-for-their-wisdom-that-one-loves-the-wisest-or-for-their-wit/#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 } } ] } ```