--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: True wisdom is a thing very…" description: "\"True wisdom is a thing very extraordinary. Happy are they that have it: and next to them, not those many that think they have it, but those few that ar..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1d/john-tillotson-8040_defects_true-wisdom-is-a-thing-very-extraordinar_2391808.jpg" --- # True wisdom is a thing very extraordinary. Happy are they… ![“True wisdom is a thing very extraordinary. Happy are they that have it: and next to them, not those many that think they have it, but those few that are sensible of their own defects and imperfections, and know that they have it not.” quote by John Tillotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1d/john-tillotson-8040_defects_true-wisdom-is-a-thing-very-extraordinar_2391808.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1d/john-tillotson-8040_defects_true-wisdom-is-a-thing-very-extraordinar_2391808.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1d/john-tillotson-8040_defects_true-wisdom-is-a-thing-very-extraordinar_2391808.jpg) > “True wisdom is a thing very extraordinary. Happy are they that have it: and next to them, not those many that think they have it, but those few that are sensible of their own defects and imperfections, and know that they have it not.” [John Tillotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tillotson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True wisdom is rare; those who possess it are happy, and the few who recognize their own flaws are wiser. **In simple terms:** Wisdom is rare; humility about flaws is valuable. Key Takeaway Cultivate humility and self‑awareness. Themes wisdom humility self‑knowledge Mood thoughtful inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - personal growth - leadership - education - mentoring Key Concepts philosophy psychology Questions to Reflect On - How do you assess your own knowledge? - What role does humility play in learning? A Different Perspective Self‑deception can mask true wisdom. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Defects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defects/) [Extraordinary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/extraordinary/) [Imperfection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imperfection/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Next](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/next/) [Sensible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sensible/) [Sensible Defects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sensible-defects-5960233/) [Thing Extraordinary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing-extraordinary-1070553/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [True wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-wisdom/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) [Wisdom Thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom-thing-623636/) ## Related quotes > [“Wisdom was a thing that the Greeks admired; but Christ is the true light of the world, it is through him alone that true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/wisdom-was-a-thing-that-the-greeks-admired-but-christ-is-the-true/) [Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/) > [“There is one thing that I do find extraordinary and it never ceases to amaze me. 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I”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibram-x-kendi/the-only-thing-extraordinary-about-white-people-is-that-they-think/) [Ibram X. Kendi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibram-x-kendi/) > [When my parents were liberated, four years before I was born, they found that the ordinary world outside the camp had been eradicated. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-michaels/when-my-parents-were-liberated-four-years-before-i-was-born-they/) [Anne Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-michaels/) > [If the benevolent ruler stays in power long enough, he eventually concludes that power and wisdom are the same thing. And as he possesses…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-moreell/if-the-benevolent-ruler-stays-in-power-long-enough-he-eventually/) [Ben Moreell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-moreell/) > [Knowledge is a thing you can carry around with you, but you may not apply it. Some knowledge is indiscriminate, and it can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-stevens/knowledge-is-a-thing-you-can-carry-around-with-you-but-you-may-not/) [Cat Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-stevens/) > [Nature is but an image of wisdom, the last thing of the soul; nature being a thing which doth only do, but not know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plotinus/nature-is-but-an-image-of-wisdom-the-last-thing-of-the-soul-nature/) [Plotinus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plotinus/) > [Wisdom is the only thing which can relieve us from the sway of the passions and the fear of danger, and which can teach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/wisdom-is-the-only-thing-which-can-relieve-us-from-the-sway-of-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Wisdom is one thing, to know how to make true judgment, how all things are steered through all things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heraclitus/wisdom-is-one-thing-to-know-how-to-make-true-judgment-how-all-things/) [Heraclitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heraclitus/) > [Among the innumerable mortifications which waylay human arrogance on every side may well be reckoned our ignorance of the most common objects and effects,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/among-the-innumerable-mortifications-which-waylay-human-arrogance-on/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The main thing that develops positional judgement, that perfects it and makes it many-sided, is detailed analytical work, sensible tournament practice, a self-critical attitude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-kotov/the-main-thing-that-develops-positional-judgement-that-perfects-it/) [Alexander Kotov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-kotov/) > [“If men learn this, it will implant forgetfulness in their souls; they will cease to exercise memory because they rely on that which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/if-men-learn-this-it-will-implant-forgetfulness-in-their-souls-they/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Why is wisdom so fair? Why is beauty so wise? Because all else is temporary, while beauty and wisdom are the only real and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-nazarian/why-is-wisdom-so-fair-why-is-beauty-so-wise-because-all-else-is/) [Vera Nazarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-nazarian/) ## More by John Tillotson > [Convulsive anger storms at large; or pale And silent, settles into full revenge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tillotson/convulsive-anger-storms-at-large-or-pale-and-silent-settles-into-full/) [John Tillotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tillotson/) > [Religion in a magistrate strengthens his authority, because it procures veneration, and gains a reputation to it. 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There is no pleasure in the world comparable to the delight and satisfaction that a good person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tillotson/fill-each-day-with-life-and-heart-there-is-no-pleasure-in-the-world/) [John Tillotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tillotson/) > [Whether religion be true or false, it must be necessarily granted to be the only wise principle and safe hypothesis for a man to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tillotson/whether-religion-be-true-or-false-it-must-be-necessarily-granted-to/) [John Tillotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tillotson/) [Explore all 85 John Tillotson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tillotson/) ## More Defects quotes > [It is the common defect of modern art study. 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But he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/jesus-never-met-a-disease-he-could-not-cure-a-birth-defect-he-could/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [With all of its defects, the global market makes war less likely, even between the USA and China.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/with-all-of-its-defects-the-global-market-makes-war-less-likely-even/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [There are few defects in our nature so glaring as not to be veiled from observation by politeness and good-breeding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanis-aw-i-leszczy-ski/there-are-few-defects-in-our-nature-so-glaring-as-not-to-be-veiled/) [Stanisław I Leszczyński](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanis-aw-i-leszczy-ski/) > [I don't want you to praise me...Some praise me because I am a colored girl, and I don't want that kind of praise. 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