--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A Wise man knows that much of what he…" description: "\"A Wise man knows that much of what he says and does is commonplace and trivial. His thoughts are not all solemn and sacred in his own eyes. He is able ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c3/john-lancaster-spalding-3115_able_a-wise-man-knows-that-much-of-what-he-sa_1412076.png" --- # A Wise man knows that much of what he says and does is… ![“A Wise man knows that much of what he says and does is commonplace and trivial. His thoughts are not all solemn and sacred in his own eyes. He is able to laugh at himself and is not offended when others make him a subject whereon to exercise their wit.” quote by John Lancaster Spalding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c3/john-lancaster-spalding-3115_able_a-wise-man-knows-that-much-of-what-he-sa_1412076.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c3/john-lancaster-spalding-3115_able_a-wise-man-knows-that-much-of-what-he-sa_1412076.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c3/john-lancaster-spalding-3115_able_a-wise-man-knows-that-much-of-what-he-sa_1412076.png) > “A Wise man knows that much of what he says and does is commonplace and trivial. His thoughts are not all solemn and sacred in his own eyes. He is able to laugh at himself and is not offended when others make him a subject whereon to exercise their wit.” [John Lancaster Spalding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lancaster-spalding/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Humility comes from recognizing one's own flaws and not taking oneself too seriously. **In simple terms:** Humility means laughing at yourself. Key Takeaway Embrace modesty and humor. Themes humility self‑awareness resilience Mood lighthearted reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal growth - social interaction - public speaking Key Concepts psychology philosophy ego Questions to Reflect On - Do you often take yourself too seriously? - How can self‑deprecation improve relationships? A Different Perspective Humor may be misread as lack of seriousness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Exercise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exercise/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Sacred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sacred/) [Solemn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solemn/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) [Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise/) [Wise man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise-man/) [Wit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wit/) ## Related quotes > [Though Americans talk a good deal about the virtue of being serious, they generally prefer people who are solemn over people who are serious.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-baker/though-americans-talk-a-good-deal-about-the-virtue-of-being-serious/) [Russell Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-baker/) > [“It takes maturity to be able to laugh like a child again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moffat-machingura/it-takes-maturity-to-be-able-to-laugh-like-a-child-again/) [Moffat Machingura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moffat-machingura/) > [I used to be a person that wasn't able to laugh at myself easily.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-carlin-mccall/i-used-to-be-a-person-that-wasn-t-able-to-laugh-at-myself-easily/) [Kelly Carlin-McCall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-carlin-mccall/) > [Being able to laugh at a situation can help you hang on to your perspective. And there's an intimacy in laughter that nothing else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-mabius/being-able-to-laugh-at-a-situation-can-help-you-hang-on-to-your/) [Eric Mabius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-mabius/) > [It is very important as a human being to be able to laugh at yourself and circumstances and particularly as a Christian. We have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yvette-nicole-brown/it-is-very-important-as-a-human-being-to-be-able-to-laugh-at-yourself/) [Yvette Nicole Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yvette-nicole-brown/) > [I get mad like anybody else does, but being able to laugh about getting mad is very healthy, and my kids know that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-c-k/i-get-mad-like-anybody-else-does-but-being-able-to-laugh-about/) [Louis C. K](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-c-k/) > [The more trauma and bad experiences you have, the more you are able to laugh on yourself and the situation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neena-gupta/the-more-trauma-and-bad-experiences-you-have-the-more-you-are-able-to/) [Neena Gupta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neena-gupta/) > [Must be able to laugh at oneself!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catt-sadler/must-be-able-to-laugh-at-oneself/) [Catt Sadler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catt-sadler/) > [Being able to laugh is sexy in a man or woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-stevens/being-able-to-laugh-is-sexy-in-a-man-or-woman/) [Rachel Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-stevens/) > [I'm so lucky that I've always been able to laugh about things, even at my very lowest times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-piper/i-m-so-lucky-that-i-ve-always-been-able-to-laugh-about-things-even-at/) [Katie Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-piper/) > [Not being able to have a laugh with a girl is definitely be a deal breaker for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-maynard/not-being-able-to-have-a-laugh-with-a-girl-is-definitely-be-a-deal/) [Conor Maynard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-maynard/) > [I think it's important to have a sense of humor. You have to be able to laugh at yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/engelbert-humperdinck/i-think-it-s-important-to-have-a-sense-of-humor-you-have-to-be-able/) [Engelbert Humperdinck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/engelbert-humperdinck/) > [“As Haw prepared to leave, he started to feel more alive, knowing that he was finally able to laugh at himself, let go and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-johnson/as-haw-prepared-to-leave-he-started-to-feel-more-alive-knowing-that/) [Spencer Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-johnson/) > [The two things that I require for anyone who's around me: you need to love food, and you need to be able to laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamron-hall/the-two-things-that-i-require-for-anyone-who-s-around-me-you-need-to/) [Tamron Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamron-hall/) > [It's good to be able to laugh at yourself and the problems you face in life. Sense of humor can save you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/it-s-good-to-be-able-to-laugh-at-yourself-and-the-problems-you-face/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) ## More by John Lancaster Spalding > [In giving us dominion over the animal kingdom God has signified His will that we subdue the beast within ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lancaster-spalding/in-giving-us-dominion-over-the-animal-kingdom-god-has-signified-his/) [John Lancaster Spalding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lancaster-spalding/) > [To think profoundly, to seek and speak truth, to love justice and denounce wrong is to draw upon one's self the ill will of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lancaster-spalding/to-think-profoundly-to-seek-and-speak-truth-to-love-justice-and/) [John Lancaster Spalding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lancaster-spalding/) > [There is some lack either of sense or of character in one who becomes involved in difficulties with the worthless or the vicious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lancaster-spalding/there-is-some-lack-either-of-sense-or-of-character-in-one-who-becomes/) [John Lancaster Spalding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lancaster-spalding/) > [Worry, whatever its source, weakens, takes away courage, and shortens life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lancaster-spalding/worry-whatever-its-source-weakens-takes-away-courage-and-shortens-life/) [John Lancaster Spalding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lancaster-spalding/) > [The zest of life lies in right doing, not in the garnered harvest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lancaster-spalding/the-zest-of-life-lies-in-right-doing-not-in-the-garnered-harvest/) [John Lancaster Spalding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lancaster-spalding/) > [They who can no longer unlearn have lost the power to learn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lancaster-spalding/they-who-can-no-longer-unlearn-have-lost-the-power-to-learn/) [John Lancaster Spalding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lancaster-spalding/) > [What we think out for ourselves forms channels in which other thoughts will flow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lancaster-spalding/what-we-think-out-for-ourselves-forms-channels-in-which-other/) [John Lancaster Spalding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lancaster-spalding/) > [Women are aristocrats, and it is always the mother who makes us feel that we belong to the better sort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lancaster-spalding/women-are-aristocrats-and-it-is-always-the-mother-who-makes-us-feel/) [John Lancaster Spalding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lancaster-spalding/) > [Though what we accept be true, it is a prejudice unless we ourselves have considered and understood why and how it is true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lancaster-spalding/though-what-we-accept-be-true-it-is-a-prejudice-unless-we-ourselves/) [John Lancaster Spalding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lancaster-spalding/) > [There are few things it is more important to learn than how to live on little and be therewith content: for the less we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lancaster-spalding/there-are-few-things-it-is-more-important-to-learn-than-how-to-live/) [John Lancaster Spalding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lancaster-spalding/) > [We are more disturbed by a calamity which threatens us than by one which has befallen us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lancaster-spalding/we-are-more-disturbed-by-a-calamity-which-threatens-us-than-by-one/) [John Lancaster Spalding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lancaster-spalding/) > [Be watchful lest thou lose the power of desiring and loving what appeals to the soul this is the miser's curse this the chain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lancaster-spalding/be-watchful-lest-thou-lose-the-power-of-desiring-and-loving-what/) [John Lancaster Spalding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lancaster-spalding/) > [The exercise of authority is odious, and they who know how to govern, leave it in abeyance as much as possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lancaster-spalding/the-exercise-of-authority-is-odious-and-they-who-know-how-to-govern/) [John Lancaster Spalding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lancaster-spalding/) > [We may outgrow the things of children, without acquiring sense and relish for those which become a man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lancaster-spalding/we-may-outgrow-the-things-of-children-without-acquiring-sense-and/) [John Lancaster Spalding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lancaster-spalding/) > [They who see through the eyes of others are controlled by the will of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lancaster-spalding/they-who-see-through-the-eyes-of-others-are-controlled-by-the-will-of/) [John Lancaster Spalding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lancaster-spalding/) [Explore all 139 John Lancaster Spalding quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lancaster-spalding/) ## More Able quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick 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I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/) [Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/) > [I wanted to remember in order to be able to return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-wanted-to-remember-in-order-to-be-able-to-return/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [Government schools, with your tax money, now discourage the teaching of multiplication tables by rote memorization but teach reading by the 'look-and-say' method which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-perry/government-schools-with-your-tax-money-now-discourage-the-teaching-of/) Greg Perry > [I don't know if I would qualify as mainstream. 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