--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Real wisdom is not the knowledge of…" description: "\"Real wisdom is not the knowledge of everything, but the knowledge of which things in life are necessary, which are less necessary, and which are comple..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d1/leo-tolstoy-55_inspirational_real-wisdom-is-not-the-knowledge-of-ever_401957.png" --- # Real wisdom is not the knowledge of everything, but the… ![“Real wisdom is not the knowledge of everything, but the knowledge of which things in life are necessary, which are less necessary, and which are completely unnecessary to know.” quote by Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d1/leo-tolstoy-55_inspirational_real-wisdom-is-not-the-knowledge-of-ever_401957.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d1/leo-tolstoy-55_inspirational_real-wisdom-is-not-the-knowledge-of-ever_401957.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d1/leo-tolstoy-55_inspirational_real-wisdom-is-not-the-knowledge-of-ever_401957.png) > “Real wisdom is not the knowledge of everything, but the knowledge of which things in life are necessary, which are less necessary, and which are completely unnecessary to know.” [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) ## 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 lies in discerning what is essential, what is optional, and what is irrelevant. **In simple terms:** Know what matters and what doesn’t. Key Takeaway Focus on essential knowledge. Themes wisdom prioritization clarity Mood contemplative pragmatic Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - time management - education - decision making - information overload Key Concepts philosophy critical thinking Questions to Reflect On - What can you let go of to simplify life? - How do you decide what is truly necessary? A Different Perspective Not all knowledge is equally valuable. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Real wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-wisdom/) [Things in life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-in-life/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [“Real wisdom is not the knowledge of everything, but the knowledge of which things in life are necessary, which are less necessary, and which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jaques-rousseau-2/real-wisdom-is-not-the-knowledge-of-everything-but-the-knowledge-of/) Jean Jaques Rousseau > [WISDOM IS dependent upon knowledge. Where there is complete ignorance there can be no wisdom, no knowledge of the right thing to do. Man’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-d-wattles/wisdom-is-dependent-upon-knowledge-where-there-is-complete-ignorance/) [Wallace D. Wattles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-d-wattles/) > [“We all know so goddamn well what's best for other people that it seems unnecessary we get to know them before imposing our will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-nadeau/we-all-know-so-goddamn-well-what-s-best-for-other-people-that-it/) [Taylor Nadeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-nadeau/) > [“Social networking platforms made it unnecessary to know people to know people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/social-networking-platforms-made-it-unnecessary-to-know-people-to/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [“Believe me, it is quite unnecessary! I neither know nor care what it cost to redeem Lufra—and if you badger me on this very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-heyer/believe-me-it-is-quite-unnecessary-i-neither-know-nor-care-what-it/) [Georgette Heyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/) > [Knowledge signifies things known. Where there are no things known, there is no knowledge. Where there are no things to be known, there can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-wright/knowledge-signifies-things-known-where-there-are-no-things-known/) [Frances Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-wright/) > [It is our knowledge - the things we are sure of - that makes the world go wrong and keeps us from seeing and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lincoln-steffens/it-is-our-knowledge-the-things-we-are-sure-of-that-makes-the-world-go/) [Lincoln Steffens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lincoln-steffens/) > [The knowledge of anything, since all things have causes, is not acquired or complete unless it is known by its causes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avicenna/the-knowledge-of-anything-since-all-things-have-causes-is-not/) [Avicenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avicenna/) > [All these factors are only valuable if you're curious. But in any case, the more knowledge you have, the more things are open and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-maisel/all-these-factors-are-only-valuable-if-you-re-curious-but-in-any-case/) [Jay Maisel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-maisel/) > [The knowledge of all things is possible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/the-knowledge-of-all-things-is-possible/) [Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/) > [True knowledge is knowledge of why things are as they are, and not merely what they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-berlin/true-knowledge-is-knowledge-of-why-things-are-as-they-are-and-not/) [Isaiah Berlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaiah-berlin/) > [Knowledge is the things we have been taught and learned over time. Wisdom is the application of knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-lauinger/knowledge-is-the-things-we-have-been-taught-and-learned-over-time/) Mike Lauinger > [“What then is good? The knowledge of things. What is evil? The lack of knowledge of things.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca/what-then-is-good-the-knowledge-of-things-what-is-evil-the-lack-of/) [Seneca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca/) > [As we acquire knowledge, things do not become more comprehensible, but more mysterious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/as-we-acquire-knowledge-things-do-not-become-more-comprehensible-but/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [It’s about reaching that moment of pure ecstasy when a drawing just happens. Where every move you make with your hand and every thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-hewlett/it-s-about-reaching-that-moment-of-pure-ecstasy-when-a-drawing-just/) [Jamie Hewlett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-hewlett/) ## More by Leo Tolstoy > [These joys were so trifling as to be as imperceptible as grains of gold among the sand, and in moments of depression she saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/these-joys-were-so-trifling-as-to-be-as-imperceptible-as-grains-of/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [The only significance of life consists in helping to establish the kingdom of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/the-only-significance-of-life-consists-in-helping-to-establish-the/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“I already love in you your beauty, but I am only beginning to love in you that which is eternal and ever precious –…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/i-already-love-in-you-your-beauty-but-i-am-only-beginning-to-love-in/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Energy rests upon love; and come as it will, there's no forcing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/energy-rests-upon-love-and-come-as-it-will-there-s-no-forcing-it/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“If you only knew what those society women are, and women in general! My father is right. Selfish, vain, stupid, trivial in everything—that's what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/if-you-only-knew-what-those-society-women-are-and-women-in-general-my/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [To evoke in oneself a feeling one has once experienced, and having evoked it in oneself, then by means of movements, lines, colors, sounds,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/to-evoke-in-oneself-a-feeling-one-has-once-experienced-and-having/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [To speak of it would be giving importance to that which has none.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/to-speak-of-it-would-be-giving-importance-to-that-which-has-none/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Once we're thrown off our habitual paths, we think all is lost, but it's only here that the new and the good begins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/once-we-re-thrown-off-our-habitual-paths-we-think-all-is-lost-but-it/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“He knew she was there by the rapture and the terror that seized on his heart. She was standing talking to a lady at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/he-knew-she-was-there-by-the-rapture-and-the-terror-that-seized-on/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Rest, nature, books, music...such is my idea of happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/rest-nature-books-music-such-is-my-idea-of-happiness/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“He was not to blame for being born with an irrepressible charachter and a mind some how constrained.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/he-was-not-to-blame-for-being-born-with-an-irrepressible-charachter/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [I ask one thing only: I ask for the right to hope, to suffer as I do. But if even that cannot be, command…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/i-ask-one-thing-only-i-ask-for-the-right-to-hope-to-suffer-as-i-do/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [The idea shared by many that life is a vale of tears is just as false as the idea shared by the great majority,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/the-idea-shared-by-many-that-life-is-a-vale-of-tears-is-just-as-false/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [To say that a work of art is good, but incomprehensible to the majority of men, is the same as saying of some kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/to-say-that-a-work-of-art-is-good-but-incomprehensible-to-the/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [True life is lived when tiny changes occur.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/true-life-is-lived-when-tiny-changes-occur/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) [Explore all 1,754 Leo Tolstoy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) ## More Inspirational quotes > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We talk to God--that is prayer; God talks to us--that is inspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-emilie-cady/we-talk-to-god-that-is-prayer-god-talks-to-us-that-is-inspiration/) [H. Emilie Cady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-emilie-cady/) > [You cant be controlling in improv.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-walsh/you-cant-be-controlling-in-improv/) [Matt Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-walsh/) > [The man who can master his time can master nearly anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/the-man-who-can-master-his-time-can-master-nearly-anything/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Just understand that the good that you want is already here. All you have to do is get in harmony with it. And you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/just-understand-that-the-good-that-you-want-is-already-here-all-you/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [“If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work, and give orders. Instead, teach them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/if-you-want-to-build-a-ship-don-t-drum-up-the-men-to-gather-wood/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [Obviously, if you don't love life, you can't enjoy an oyster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-clark/obviously-if-you-don-t-love-life-you-can-t-enjoy-an-oyster/) [Eleanor Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-clark/) > [It's not the method, it's the mindset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gilbert/it-s-not-the-method-it-s-the-mindset/) [Andy Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gilbert/) > [It's a hard thing to describe. It's just this sense that you got something to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-lehrer/it-s-a-hard-thing-to-describe-it-s-just-this-sense-that-you-got/) [Jonah Lehrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-lehrer/) > [Too much familiarity breeds contempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/too-much-familiarity-breeds-contempt/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [We never really perceive what color is physically!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-albers/we-never-really-perceive-what-color-is-physically/) [Josef Albers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-albers/) > [Politics is not an issue whether you like or dislike , but every citizen must involve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khem-veasna/politics-is-not-an-issue-whether-you-like-or-dislike-but-every/) [Khem Veasna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khem-veasna/) > [God reveals Himself through surprises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/god-reveals-himself-through-surprises/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) [Browse all 114,561 Inspirational quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Real wisdom is not the knowledge of everything, but the knowledge of which things in life are necessary, which are less necessary, and which are completely unnecessary to know.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Leo Tolstoy" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/real-wisdom-is-not-the-knowledge-of-everything-but-the-knowledge-of-2/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Inspirational" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/real-wisdom-is-not-the-knowledge-of-everything-but-the-knowledge-of-2/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d1/leo-tolstoy-55_inspirational_real-wisdom-is-not-the-knowledge-of-ever_401957.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d1/leo-tolstoy-55_inspirational_real-wisdom-is-not-the-knowledge-of-ever_401957.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d1/leo-tolstoy-55_inspirational_real-wisdom-is-not-the-knowledge-of-ever_401957.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Real wisdom is not the knowledge of everything, but the knowledge of which things in life are necessary…” — Leo Tolstoy", "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": "Leo Tolstoy", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Real wisdom is not the knowledge...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/real-wisdom-is-not-the-knowledge-of-everything-but-the-knowledge-of-2/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/real-wisdom-is-not-the-knowledge-of-everything-but-the-knowledge-of-2/#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 } } ] } ```