--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Wise men have but few confidants, and…" description: "\"Wise men have but few confidants, and cunning ones none.\" — Josh Billings" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7a/josh-billings-777_confidant_wise-men-have-but-few-confidants-and-cun_767201.png" --- # Wise men have but few confidants, and cunning ones none. ![“Wise men have but few confidants, and cunning ones none.” quote by Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7a/josh-billings-777_confidant_wise-men-have-but-few-confidants-and-cun_767201.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7a/josh-billings-777_confidant_wise-men-have-but-few-confidants-and-cun_767201.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7a/josh-billings-777_confidant_wise-men-have-but-few-confidants-and-cun_767201.png) > “Wise men have but few confidants, and cunning ones none.” [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Only truly wise people have a handful of trusted confidants, while the deceitful have none. **In simple terms:** Wise people have few trusted friends; deceitful have none. Key Takeaway Cultivate trust and avoid deceit. Themes wisdom trust deceit Mood reflective cautious Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - leadership - personal relationships - team building Key Concepts human nature social bonds Questions to Reflect On - Who do you confide in and why? - How does deceit affect relationships? A Different Perspective Even the wise may become isolated if they trust too few. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Confidant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confidant/) [Confidants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confidants/) [Confidence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confidence/) [Greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatness/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) [Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise/) [Wise men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise-men/) ## Related quotes > [“We ought to readily share our successes with those with whom we readily share our problems.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/we-ought-to-readily-share-our-successes-with-those-with-whom-we/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [“Some of our friends are our friends only because we used to be friends.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/some-of-our-friends-are-our-friends-only-because-we-used-to-be-friends/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [“We often want to hear, not what is true, but what we want to hear.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/we-often-want-to-hear-not-what-is-true-but-what-we-want-to-hear/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [“Some confidants have wings and a beak, or four legs and a tail.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/some-confidants-have-wings-and-a-beak-or-four-legs-and-a-tail/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [Most frequently we make confidants from vanity, a love of talking, a wish to win the confidence of others, and to make an exchange…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-alexandre-frederic-duc-de-la-rochefoucauld-liancourt/most-frequently-we-make-confidants-from-vanity-a-love-of-talking-a/) Francois Alexandre Frederic, duc de la Rochefoucauld-Liancourt > [“We seldom look up to the person; we usually look up to their persona.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/we-seldom-look-up-to-the-person-we-usually-look-up-to-their-persona/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [I know so many people, I have plenty friends but I have very few confidants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/usman-ismaheel/i-know-so-many-people-i-have-plenty-friends-but-i-have-very-few/) [Usman Ismaheel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/usman-ismaheel/) > [I don't have close relationships with agents. They're friends, but they're not confidants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-serling/i-don-t-have-close-relationships-with-agents-they-re-friends-but-they/) [Rod Serling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-serling/) > [“I’ve come to believe that wise people don’t tell us what to do; they start by witnessing our story. They take the anecdotes, rationalizations,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/i-ve-come-to-believe-that-wise-people-don-t-tell-us-what-to-do-they/) [David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/) > [“But secret agents, like God, only give signs to their confidants. They are also very cruel and even unhappy at times. At any rate,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-darnielle/but-secret-agents-like-god-only-give-signs-to-their-confidants-they/) [John Darnielle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-darnielle/) > [Gone are the days when I was alone in company many here are my confidants now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allama-iqbal/gone-are-the-days-when-i-was-alone-in-company-many-here-are-my/) [Allama Iqbal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allama-iqbal/) > [A country is not managed through cousins and confidants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benny-gantz/a-country-is-not-managed-through-cousins-and-confidants/) [Benny Gantz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benny-gantz/) > [A journal takes the place of a confidant, that is, of friend or wife; it becomes a substitute for production, a substitute for country…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-journal-takes-the-place-of-a-confidant-that-is-of-friend-or-wife-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I have only one confidant, and that is the silence of night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/i-have-only-one-confidant-and-that-is-the-silence-of-night/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) > [In addition to my other numerous acquaintances, I have one more intimate confidant… My depression is the most faithful mistress I have known —…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/in-addition-to-my-other-numerous-acquaintances-i-have-one-more/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) ## More by Josh Billings > [It ain't because lovers are so sensitive that they quarrel so often; it is because there is so much fun n the making up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/it-ain-t-because-lovers-are-so-sensitive-that-they-quarrel-so-often/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [Man was created a little lower than the angels and has been getting a little lower ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/man-was-created-a-little-lower-than-the-angels-and-has-been-getting-a/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [There is only one good substitute for the endearments of a sister, and that is the endearments of some other fellow's sister.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/there-is-only-one-good-substitute-for-the-endearments-of-a-sister-and/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [Life is a grindstone, and whether it grinds a man down or polishes him up depends on the stuff he's made of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/life-is-a-grindstone-and-whether-it-grinds-a-man-down-or-polishes-him/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [Its harly my dog A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than you love yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/its-harly-my-dog-a-dog-is-the-only-thing-on-earth-that-loves-you-more/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [Perseverance is king.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/perseverance-is-king/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [Unless we put heart and soul into our labor we but brutify our actions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/unless-we-put-heart-and-soul-into-our-labor-we-but-brutify-our-actions/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [A secret ceases to be a secret if it is once confided - it is like a dollar bill, once broken, it is never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/a-secret-ceases-to-be-a-secret-if-it-is-once-confided-it-is-like-a/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [If a man is right, he can't be too radical; if he is wrong, he can't be too conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/if-a-man-is-right-he-can-t-be-too-radical-if-he-is-wrong-he-can-t-be/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [As a general rule, if you want to get at the truth - hear both sides and believe neither.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/as-a-general-rule-if-you-want-to-get-at-the-truth-hear-both-sides-and/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [Economy is a savings-bank, into which men drop pennies, and get dollars in return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/economy-is-a-savings-bank-into-which-men-drop-pennies-and-get-dollars/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [Self-made men are most always apt to be a little too proud of the job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/self-made-men-are-most-always-apt-to-be-a-little-too-proud-of-the-job/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [Poverty is one of them kind of misfortunes that we all of us dread but none of us pity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/poverty-is-one-of-them-kind-of-misfortunes-that-we-all-of-us-dread/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [If the world despises a hypocrite, what must they think of him in heaven?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/if-the-world-despises-a-hypocrite-what-must-they-think-of-him-in/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [The man who gets bit twice by the same dog is better adapted for that kind of business than any other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/the-man-who-gets-bit-twice-by-the-same-dog-is-better-adapted-for-that/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) [Explore all 372 Josh Billings quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) ## More Confidant quotes > [“Some of our friends are our friends only because we used to be friends.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/some-of-our-friends-are-our-friends-only-because-we-used-to-be-friends/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [In addition to my other numerous acquaintances, I have one more intimate confidant… My depression is the most faithful mistress I have known —…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/in-addition-to-my-other-numerous-acquaintances-i-have-one-more/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) > [I have only one confidant, and that is the silence of night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/i-have-only-one-confidant-and-that-is-the-silence-of-night/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) > [A journal takes the place of a confidant, that is, of friend or wife; it becomes a substitute for production, a substitute for country…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-journal-takes-the-place-of-a-confidant-that-is-of-friend-or-wife-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My definition of God: God is not only the alpha, the omega, he is friend, he's a confidant, he is a buddy. He is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-franklin/my-definition-of-god-god-is-not-only-the-alpha-the-omega-he-is-friend/) [DeVon Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-franklin/) > [Does religion fill a much needed gap? It is often said that there is a God-shaped gap in the brain which needs to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/does-religion-fill-a-much-needed-gap-it-is-often-said-that-there-is-a/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [The plea agreement negotiated by Janet Reno's Justice Department with Nora, Gene and Trisha Lum is a hoax. It allows two key players in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-klayman/the-plea-agreement-negotiated-by-janet-reno-s-justice-department-with/) Larry Klayman > [He was my confidant, the person who was always on my side even when he wasn't taking my side.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/he-was-my-confidant-the-person-who-was-always-on-my-side-even-when-he/) [Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/) > [I can't imagine living a life without God in my life. He is my best friend, He's my buddy, He's the one that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reba-mcentire/i-can-t-imagine-living-a-life-without-god-in-my-life-he-is-my-best/) [Reba McEntire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reba-mcentire/) > [My own soul is my most faithful friend. My own heart, my truest confidant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babur/my-own-soul-is-my-most-faithful-friend-my-own-heart-my-truest/) Babur > [Sometimes you fall into the niche of being the confidant guy, or the good-looking guy, or being too charactery, or not charactery enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-pullman/sometimes-you-fall-into-the-niche-of-being-the-confidant-guy-or-the/) [Bill Pullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-pullman/) > [I understand that it was Derian who spoiled everything; he purposefully tainted your view of me and forced you to follow him. I know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shalini/i-understand-that-it-was-derian-who-spoiled-everything-he/) [Shalini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shalini/) > [The books for young people say a great deal about the selection of Friends; it is because they really have nothing to say about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-books-for-young-people-say-a-great-deal-about-the-selection-of/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“Keep your secrets to yourself. Remember, your closest confidant also has a closest confidant who also has a closest confidant.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rotimi-ogunjobi/keep-your-secrets-to-yourself-remember-your-closest-confidant-also/) [Rotimi Ogunjobi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rotimi-ogunjobi/) > [As the years go by, he returns to this invisible world rather than to earth for peace and solace. There also he finds a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-k-gann/as-the-years-go-by-he-returns-to-this-invisible-world-rather-than-to/) [Ernest K. Gann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-k-gann/) [Browse all 68 Confidant quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confidant/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Wise men have but few confidants, and cunning ones none.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Josh Billings" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/wise-men-have-but-few-confidants-and-cunning-ones-none/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Confidant" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/wise-men-have-but-few-confidants-and-cunning-ones-none/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7a/josh-billings-777_confidant_wise-men-have-but-few-confidants-and-cun_767201.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7a/josh-billings-777_confidant_wise-men-have-but-few-confidants-and-cun_767201.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7a/josh-billings-777_confidant_wise-men-have-but-few-confidants-and-cun_767201.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Wise men have but few confidants, and cunning ones none.” — Josh Billings", "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": "Josh Billings", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Wise men have but few confidants,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/wise-men-have-but-few-confidants-and-cunning-ones-none/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/wise-men-have-but-few-confidants-and-cunning-ones-none/#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 } } ] } ```