--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Conceit is a privilege of the ignorant…" description: "\"Conceit is a privilege of the ignorant; the wise man is humble because he knows how little he knows.\" — Isabel Allende" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c8/isabel-allende-266_conceit_conceit-is-a-privilege-of-the-ignorant-t_3151088.jpg" --- # Conceit is a privilege of the ignorant; the wise man is… ![“Conceit is a privilege of the ignorant; the wise man is humble because he knows how little he knows.” quote by Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c8/isabel-allende-266_conceit_conceit-is-a-privilege-of-the-ignorant-t_3151088.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c8/isabel-allende-266_conceit_conceit-is-a-privilege-of-the-ignorant-t_3151088.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c8/isabel-allende-266_conceit_conceit-is-a-privilege-of-the-ignorant-t_3151088.jpg) > “Conceit is a privilege of the ignorant; the wise man is humble because he knows how little he knows.” [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Humility arises from recognizing one's limited knowledge, while arrogance stems from ignorance. **In simple terms:** Wise people stay humble. Key Takeaway Acknowledge what you don’t know. Themes humility knowledge ego Mood thoughtful inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - learning environments - leadership - personal growth - teaching Key Concepts philosophy psychology self-awareness Questions to Reflect On - What areas do you need to learn more about? - How can you balance confidence and humility? A Different Perspective Overconfidence can still lead to learning; humility may be mistaken for weakness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conceit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conceit/) [Humble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humble/) [Ignorance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignorance/) [Ignorant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignorant/) [Ignorant Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignorant-wise-742608/) [Know how](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-how/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Knows Little](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows-little-387356/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [Man Humble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-humble-414934/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Privilege](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/privilege/) [Privilege Ignorant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/privilege-ignorant-5657333/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) [Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise/) [Wise man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise-man/) ## Related quotes > [Quick condemnation of all that is not ours, of views with which we disagree, of ideas that do not attract us, is the sign…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-besant/quick-condemnation-of-all-that-is-not-ours-of-views-with-which-we/) [Annie Besant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-besant/) > [“The saviour answered...and said, If you want to be perfect, you will keep these teachings. If not, you deserve to be called ignorant. For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-saviour-answered-and-said-if-you-want-to-be-perfect-you-will-keep/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [O people, you should know that he who is upset because of a false wording that is said about him is not intelligent, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zahid-abas/o-people-you-should-know-that-he-who-is-upset-because-of-a-false/) [Zahid Abas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zahid-abas/) > [“A wise man knows how little he knows and upon his death he drinks wisdom from an empty cup.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tarttelin/a-wise-man-knows-how-little-he-knows-and-upon-his-death-he-drinks/) [John Tarttelin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tarttelin/) > [Nothing but grace makes a man so humble and, at the same time, so glad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/nothing-but-grace-makes-a-man-so-humble-and-at-the-same-time-so-glad/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [If thou desire the love of God and man, be humble, for the proud heart, as it loves none but itself, is beloved of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/if-thou-desire-the-love-of-god-and-man-be-humble-for-the-proud-heart/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [Man must be at once more humble and more confident; more humble in the face of destructive potentials of what he can achieve, more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lerner/man-must-be-at-once-more-humble-and-more-confident-more-humble-in-the/) [Max Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lerner/) > [I know I'm just one man trying to do one thing, and the next day is not promised to any man. I'm very humble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coolio/i-know-i-m-just-one-man-trying-to-do-one-thing-and-the-next-day-is/) [Coolio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coolio/) > [I am a great mayor; I am an upstanding Christian man; I am an intelligent man; I am a deeply educated man; I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-barry/i-am-a-great-mayor-i-am-an-upstanding-christian-man-i-am-an/) [Marion Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-barry/) > [To the humble man, and to the humble man alone, the sun is really a sun; to the humble man, and to the humble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-the-humble-man-and-to-the-humble-man-alone-the-sun-is-really-a-sun/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Sometimes it takes a lowly, title-less man to humble the world. Kings, rulers, CEOs, judges, doctors, pastors, they are already expected to be greater…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/sometimes-it-takes-a-lowly-title-less-man-to-humble-the-world-kings/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [Remember this-all the sighing, mourning, sobbing, and complaining in the world, does not so undeniably evidence a man to be humble, as his overlooking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-brooks/remember-this-all-the-sighing-mourning-sobbing-and-complaining-in-the/) [Thomas Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-brooks/) > [Humility does not mean weakness. It does not mean timidity. It does not mean fear. A man can be humble and fearless. A man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/humility-does-not-mean-weakness-it-does-not-mean-timidity-it-does-not/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [“The ties that bind the wealthy and the proud to home may be forged on earth, but those which link the poor man to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/the-ties-that-bind-the-wealthy-and-the-proud-to-home-may-be-forged-on/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [Let me tell you, Barack Obama is the most down dude in the world, but he's so smart so articulate, such an amazing speaker…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlon-wayans/let-me-tell-you-barack-obama-is-the-most-down-dude-in-the-world-but/) [Marlon Wayans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlon-wayans/) ## More by Isabel Allende > [“I am happier when I love than when I am loved. I adore my husband, my son, and my grandchildren, my mother, my dog,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/i-am-happier-when-i-love-than-when-i-am-loved-i-adore-my-husband-my/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) > [Having a point to start is important. You know that when you decide to write something it's like a commitment. It's like falling in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/having-a-point-to-start-is-important-you-know-that-when-you-decide-to/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) > [Music is a wind that blows away the years, memories, and fear, that crouching animal I carry inside me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/music-is-a-wind-that-blows-away-the-years-memories-and-fear-that/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) > [Everybody has losses - it's unavoidable in life. Sharing our pain is very healing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/everybody-has-losses-it-s-unavoidable-in-life-sharing-our-pain-is/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) > [“The writer and the dreamer have so much in common: They can't control the plot, they are always part of the story or the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/the-writer-and-the-dreamer-have-so-much-in-common-they-can-t-control/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) > [People think that they will sit down and produce the great American novel in one sitting. It doesn't work that way. This is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/people-think-that-they-will-sit-down-and-produce-the-great-american/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) > [“He had a principle: if you lend money and never see the person again, that's money well spent.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/he-had-a-principle-if-you-lend-money-and-never-see-the-person-again/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) > [“Catholics form a majority in Chile, although there are more and more Evangelicals and Pentacostals who irritate everyone because they have a direct understanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/catholics-form-a-majority-in-chile-although-there-are-more-and-more/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) > [“At times I feel as if I had lived all this before and that I have already written these very words, but I know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/at-times-i-feel-as-if-i-had-lived-all-this-before-and-that-i-have/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) > [In 2011, I announced that I was going to retire, and my agent panicked. So she says: 'No, no, no. You have to write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/in-2011-i-announced-that-i-was-going-to-retire-and-my-agent-panicked/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) > [I have lived with passion and in a hurry, trying to accomplish too many things. I never had time to think about my beliefs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/i-have-lived-with-passion-and-in-a-hurry-trying-to-accomplish-too/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) > [I'm surrounded by the scene of aging. I myself am in my 70s and not getting any younger. Although I'm very healthy, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/i-m-surrounded-by-the-scene-of-aging-i-myself-am-in-my-70s-and-not/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) > [I try to write the kind of books I like to read.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/i-try-to-write-the-kind-of-books-i-like-to-read/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) > [“Intimacy needs time to mature—a shared history, tears shed, obstacles overcome, photographs in an album. It’s a slow-growing plant.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/intimacy-needs-time-to-mature-a-shared-history-tears-shed-obstacles/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) > [ The idea of the book \["The Japanese Lover"\] came in a conversation that I had with a friend walking in the streets of New… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/the-idea-of-the-book-the-japanese-lover-came-in-a-conversation-that-i/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) [Explore all 552 Isabel Allende quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) ## More Conceit quotes > [“A session of boasting won't attract any real friends.  It will set you up on a pedestal, however, making you a clearer target.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/a-session-of-boasting-won-t-attract-any-real-friends-it-will-set-you/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [Most of us think of pride as self-centeredness, conceit, boastfulness, arrogance, or haughtiness. All of these are elements of the sin, but the heart,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/most-of-us-think-of-pride-as-self-centeredness-conceit-boastfulness/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [Conceit is a sure sign of insecurity; humility denotes awareness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sivaya-subramuniyaswami/conceit-is-a-sure-sign-of-insecurity-humility-denotes-awareness/) [Sivaya Subramuniyaswami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sivaya-subramuniyaswami/) > [Conceit is a weird disease - it makes everybody sick except the guy who has it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dobson/conceit-is-a-weird-disease-it-makes-everybody-sick-except-the-guy-who/) [James Dobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dobson/) > [Be very slow to believe that you are wiser than all others; it is a fatal but common error. Where one has been saved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/be-very-slow-to-believe-that-you-are-wiser-than-all-others-it-is-a/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [History repeats the old conceits, the glib replies, the same defeats.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/history-repeats-the-old-conceits-the-glib-replies-the-same-defeats/) [Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) > [Being carefree, you can fit in anywhere. If you’re not carefree you keep on bumping up against things. Your life becomes so narrow, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tsoknyi-rinpoche/being-carefree-you-can-fit-in-anywhere-if-you-re-not-carefree-you/) [Tsoknyi Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tsoknyi-rinpoche/) > [This man, who for twenty-five years has been reading and writing about art, and in all that time has never understood anything about art,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/this-man-who-for-twenty-five-years-has-been-reading-and-writing-about/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) > [There is nothing like a good bit of pain for taking the conceit out of one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-welsh-carlyle/there-is-nothing-like-a-good-bit-of-pain-for-taking-the-conceit-out/) [Jane Welsh Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-welsh-carlyle/) > [If you want to conquer conceit, do not desire praise, laurels, nice garments, respect, favor, but like to be blamed and slandered by people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-aleksandrovich-antonov/if-you-want-to-conquer-conceit-do-not-desire-praise-laurels-nice/) [Vladimir Aleksandrovich Antonov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-aleksandrovich-antonov/) > [The smaller the mind, the greater the ego.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-clancy/the-smaller-the-mind-the-greater-the-ego/) [Tom Clancy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-clancy/) > [If a man thinks he is not conceited, he is very conceited indeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-a-man-thinks-he-is-not-conceited-he-is-very-conceited-indeed/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There is simple ignorance, which is the source of lighter offenses, and double ignorance, which is accompanied by a conceit of wisdom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/there-is-simple-ignorance-which-is-the-source-of-lighter-offenses-and/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [Jesus regularly visualized the success of his efforts ... 'I always do what pleases God.' ... Was this conceit? Or was it enlightened creativity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-beth-jones/jesus-regularly-visualized-the-success-of-his-efforts-i-always-do/) [Laurie Beth Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-beth-jones/) > [“Took long enough,” she called out, not wanting to admit how the sight of him made her throat hitch, how the man was so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-mcintyre/took-long-enough-she-called-out-not-wanting-to-admit-how-the-sight-of/) [Katherine McIntyre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-mcintyre/) [Browse all 360 Conceit quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conceit/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Conceit is a privilege of the ignorant; the wise man is humble because he knows how little he knows.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Isabel Allende" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/conceit-is-a-privilege-of-the-ignorant-the-wise-man-is-humble-because/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Conceit" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/conceit-is-a-privilege-of-the-ignorant-the-wise-man-is-humble-because/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c8/isabel-allende-266_conceit_conceit-is-a-privilege-of-the-ignorant-t_3151088.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c8/isabel-allende-266_conceit_conceit-is-a-privilege-of-the-ignorant-t_3151088.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c8/isabel-allende-266_conceit_conceit-is-a-privilege-of-the-ignorant-t_3151088.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Conceit is a privilege of the ignorant; the wise man is humble because he knows how little he knows.” — Isabel Allende", "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": "Isabel Allende", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Conceit is a privilege of the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/conceit-is-a-privilege-of-the-ignorant-the-wise-man-is-humble-because/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/conceit-is-a-privilege-of-the-ignorant-the-wise-man-is-humble-because/#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 } } ] } ```