---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: there is nothing so easy as to be wise…"
description: "\"there is nothing so easy as to be wise for others; a species of prodigality, by-the-by - for such wisdom is wholly wasted.\" — Letitia Elizabeth Landon"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/847/letitia-elizabeth-landon-2397_advice_there-is-nothing-so-easy-as-to-be-wise-f_688695.jpg"
---

#  there is nothing so easy as to be wise for others; a…

![“there is nothing so easy as to be wise for others; a species of prodigality, by-the-by - for such wisdom is wholly wasted.” quote by Letitia Elizabeth Landon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/847/letitia-elizabeth-landon-2397_advice_there-is-nothing-so-easy-as-to-be-wise-f_688695.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/847/letitia-elizabeth-landon-2397_advice_there-is-nothing-so-easy-as-to-be-wise-f_688695.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/847/letitia-elizabeth-landon-2397_advice_there-is-nothing-so-easy-as-to-be-wise-f_688695.jpg)

> “there is nothing so easy as to be wise for others; a species of prodigality, by-the-by - for such wisdom is wholly wasted.”

[Letitia Elizabeth Landon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/letitia-elizabeth-landon/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Being wise for others is easy but often wasted when not applied personally.

**In simple terms:** Wise for others can be pointless.

Key Takeaway

Focus wisdom on personal growth.

Themes

wisdom selflessness effort

Mood

reflective thoughtful

Type

philosophical advice

When to use this quote

- personal development
- teaching
- leadership
- volunteering

Key Concepts

philosophy human nature

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you apply wisdom to your own life?
- When does helping others become self‑serving?

A Different Perspective

Wisdom without personal practice may lack impact.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Advice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advice/) [Being wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-wise/) [Busybodies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/busybodies/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) [Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise/)

## Related quotes

> [Nor deem the irrevocable Past As wholly wasted, wholly vain, If, rising on its wrecks, at last To something nobler we attain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/nor-deem-the-irrevocable-past-as-wholly-wasted-wholly-vain-if-rising/)

[Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/)

> [Great nations are never impoverished by private, though they sometimes are by public prodigality and misconduct.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/great-nations-are-never-impoverished-by-private-though-they-sometimes/)

[Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/)

> [Prodigality is indeed the vice of a weak nature, as avarice is of a strong one; it comes of a weak craving for those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-taylor/prodigality-is-indeed-the-vice-of-a-weak-nature-as-avarice-is-of-a/)

[Henry Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-taylor/)

> [Prodigality of Time produces Poverty of Mind as well as of Estate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/prodigality-of-time-produces-poverty-of-mind-as-well-as-of-estate/)

[Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/)

> [Corrupt influence is itself the perennial spring of all prodigality, and of all disorder; it loads us more than millions of debt; takes away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/corrupt-influence-is-itself-the-perennial-spring-of-all-prodigality/)

[Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/)

> [Passions often produce their contraries: avarice sometimes leads to prodigality, and prodigality to avarice; we are often obstinate through weakness and daring through timidity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/passions-often-produce-their-contraries-avarice-sometimes-leads-to/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [The passions do very often give birth to others of a nature most contrary to their own. Thus avarice sometimes brings forth prodigality, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-passions-do-very-often-give-birth-to-others-of-a-nature-most/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [If time be of all things the most precious, wasting time must be the greatest prodigality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/if-time-be-of-all-things-the-most-precious-wasting-time-must-be-the/)

[Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/)

> [Gaming is the child of avarice, but the parent of prodigality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/gaming-is-the-child-of-avarice-but-the-parent-of-prodigality/)

[Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/)

> [The injury of prodigality leads to this, that he who will not economize will have to agonize.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-injury-of-prodigality-leads-to-this-that-he-who-will-not/)

[Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/)

> [Making those we love happy sounds innocent as a dove, but it can be as destructive as a lion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florida-scott-maxwell/making-those-we-love-happy-sounds-innocent-as-a-dove-but-it-can-be-as/)

[Florida Scott-Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florida-scott-maxwell/)

> [The goat's business is none of the sheep's concern.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-ferber/the-goat-s-business-is-none-of-the-sheep-s-concern/)

[Edna Ferber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-ferber/)

> [You know how some people are - they always feel they have to do things for other people's good, no matter what happens to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-parkinson-keyes/you-know-how-some-people-are-they-always-feel-they-have-to-do-things/)

[Frances Parkinson Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-parkinson-keyes/)

> [The one prediction that never comes true is, 'You'll thank me for telling you this.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/the-one-prediction-that-never-comes-true-is-you-ll-thank-me-for/)

[Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/)

> [Jane had that happy disposition which would like to imagine that every one really wishes the well-being of his neighbour and struggles, though sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-bottome/jane-had-that-happy-disposition-which-would-like-to-imagine-that/)

[Phyllis Bottome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-bottome/)

## More by Letitia Elizabeth Landon

> [The very effort to forget teaches us to remember.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letitia-elizabeth-landon/the-very-effort-to-forget-teaches-us-to-remember/)

[Letitia Elizabeth Landon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/letitia-elizabeth-landon/)

> [Alas! we makeA ladder of our thoughts, where angels step,But sleep ourselves at the foot: our high resolvesLook down upon our slumbering acts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letitia-elizabeth-landon/alas-we-makea-ladder-of-our-thoughts-where-angels-step-but-sleep/)

[Letitia Elizabeth Landon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/letitia-elizabeth-landon/)

> [Imagination is to love what gas is to the balloon-that which raises it from earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letitia-elizabeth-landon/imagination-is-to-love-what-gas-is-to-the-balloon-that-which-raises/)

[Letitia Elizabeth Landon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/letitia-elizabeth-landon/)

> [I think hearts are very much like glasses. If they do not break with the first ring, they usually last a considerable time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letitia-elizabeth-landon/i-think-hearts-are-very-much-like-glasses-if-they-do-not-break-with/)

[Letitia Elizabeth Landon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/letitia-elizabeth-landon/)

> [the fact is, that life is too short to be occupied by aught but the present - hope and remembrance are equally a waste…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letitia-elizabeth-landon/the-fact-is-that-life-is-too-short-to-be-occupied-by-aught-but-the/)

[Letitia Elizabeth Landon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/letitia-elizabeth-landon/)

> [There is no existence so content as that whose present is engrossed by employment, and whose future is filled by some strong hope, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letitia-elizabeth-landon/there-is-no-existence-so-content-as-that-whose-present-is-engrossed/)

[Letitia Elizabeth Landon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/letitia-elizabeth-landon/)

> [Curiosity is its own suicide.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letitia-elizabeth-landon/curiosity-is-its-own-suicide/)

[Letitia Elizabeth Landon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/letitia-elizabeth-landon/)

> [Curiosity and courtesy are very often at variance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letitia-elizabeth-landon/curiosity-and-courtesy-are-very-often-at-variance/)

[Letitia Elizabeth Landon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/letitia-elizabeth-landon/)

> [No thoroughly occupied man was ever yet very miserable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letitia-elizabeth-landon/no-thoroughly-occupied-man-was-ever-yet-very-miserable/)

[Letitia Elizabeth Landon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/letitia-elizabeth-landon/)

> [Toil is the portion of day, as sleep is that of night; but if there be one hour of the twenty-four which has the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letitia-elizabeth-landon/toil-is-the-portion-of-day-as-sleep-is-that-of-night-but-if-there-be/)

[Letitia Elizabeth Landon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/letitia-elizabeth-landon/)

> [Consistency is a human word, but it certainly expresses nothing human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letitia-elizabeth-landon/consistency-is-a-human-word-but-it-certainly-expresses-nothing-human/)

[Letitia Elizabeth Landon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/letitia-elizabeth-landon/)

> [Shopping, true feminine felicity!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letitia-elizabeth-landon/shopping-true-feminine-felicity/)

[Letitia Elizabeth Landon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/letitia-elizabeth-landon/)

> [We would liken music to Aladdin's lamp — worthless in itself, not so for the spirits which obey its call. We love it for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letitia-elizabeth-landon/we-would-liken-music-to-aladdin-s-lamp-worthless-in-itself-not-so-for/)

[Letitia Elizabeth Landon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/letitia-elizabeth-landon/)

> [There is a large stock on hand; but somehow or other, nobody's experience ever suits us but our own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letitia-elizabeth-landon/there-is-a-large-stock-on-hand-but-somehow-or-other-nobody-s/)

[Letitia Elizabeth Landon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/letitia-elizabeth-landon/)

> [habit is our idea of eternity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letitia-elizabeth-landon/habit-is-our-idea-of-eternity/)

[Letitia Elizabeth Landon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/letitia-elizabeth-landon/)

[Explore all 168 Letitia Elizabeth Landon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/letitia-elizabeth-landon/)

## More Advice quotes

> [The sensible person is always serious about sensible advice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/the-sensible-person-is-always-serious-about-sensible-advice/)

Mak\_786

> [I ask for tips, for advice. What I have also learnt is that I need to do things that are good for me. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthijs-de-ligt/i-ask-for-tips-for-advice-what-i-have-also-learnt-is-that-i-need-to/)

[Matthijs de Ligt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthijs-de-ligt/)

> [Don't get too attached to someone you know you can't be together with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/don-t-get-too-attached-to-someone-you-know-you-can-t-be-together-with/)

[Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/)

> [A low-minded person should not be given good advice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chanakya/a-low-minded-person-should-not-be-given-good-advice/)

[Chanakya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chanakya/)

> [The worst advice? 'Don't listen to the critics.' I think that you really ought to listen to the critics, because sometimes they're telling you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/the-worst-advice-don-t-listen-to-the-critics-i-think-that-you-really/)

[Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/)

> [When I was in my twenties and just so sexually prolific, the first time I went to Machu Picchu, this guy, a spiritual teacher,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-harrelson/when-i-was-in-my-twenties-and-just-so-sexually-prolific-the-first/)

[Woody Harrelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-harrelson/)

> [The best way to succeed in this world is to act on the advice you give to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/the-best-way-to-succeed-in-this-world-is-to-act-on-the-advice-you/)

[Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/)

> [Time is priceless. You have it, but you don't own it. You spend it, but you can't keep it. And once it's gone, there's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/time-is-priceless-you-have-it-but-you-don-t-own-it-you-spend-it-but/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [You don't need to take a persons advice to make him feel good, just ask him for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-j-peter/you-don-t-need-to-take-a-persons-advice-to-make-him-feel-good-just/)

[Laurence J. Peter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-j-peter/)

> [Some of the things that we hold onto the most, are the things that we need to let go of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryaj-ablando-catayas/some-of-the-things-that-we-hold-onto-the-most-are-the-things-that-we/)

[Ryaj Ablando Catayas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryaj-ablando-catayas/)

> [“If your clothes are enough to drive would-be friends away, they're not the kind of friends you want." Typical mother advice. Sweet, honest, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aprilynne-pike/if-your-clothes-are-enough-to-drive-would-be-friends-away-they-re-not/)

[Aprilynne Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aprilynne-pike/)

> [“My kingdom not for a horse, but for a good piece of advice!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/my-kingdom-not-for-a-horse-but-for-a-good-piece-of-advice/)

[Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [I always advise people not to act upon the advice that I give them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/i-always-advise-people-not-to-act-upon-the-advice-that-i-give-them/)

[Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/)

> [ \[A\]s you partake of the world's bill of fare, that's darned good advice to follow. Do a lot of spitting out the hot air.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-seuss/a-s-you-partake-of-the-world-s-bill-of-fare-that-s-darned-good-advice/)

[Dr. Seuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-seuss/)

> [My relationship with Ibrahimovic was completely neutral. He is not the type of player to approach the younger players and give them advice. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kingsley-coman/my-relationship-with-ibrahimovic-was-completely-neutral-he-is-not-the/)

[Kingsley Coman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kingsley-coman/)

[Browse all 8,535 Advice quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advice/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "there is nothing so easy as to be wise for others; a species of prodigality, by-the-by - for such wisdom is wholly wasted.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Letitia Elizabeth Landon"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letitia-elizabeth-landon/there-is-nothing-so-easy-as-to-be-wise-for-others-a-species-of/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Advice"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letitia-elizabeth-landon/there-is-nothing-so-easy-as-to-be-wise-for-others-a-species-of/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/847/letitia-elizabeth-landon-2397_advice_there-is-nothing-so-easy-as-to-be-wise-f_688695.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/847/letitia-elizabeth-landon-2397_advice_there-is-nothing-so-easy-as-to-be-wise-f_688695.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/847/letitia-elizabeth-landon-2397_advice_there-is-nothing-so-easy-as-to-be-wise-f_688695.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“there is nothing so easy as to be wise for others; a species of prodigality, by-the-by - for such wisdom is…” — Letitia Elizabeth Landon",
                "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": "Letitia Elizabeth Landon",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/letitia-elizabeth-landon/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "there is nothing so easy as...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letitia-elizabeth-landon/there-is-nothing-so-easy-as-to-be-wise-for-others-a-species-of/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letitia-elizabeth-landon/there-is-nothing-so-easy-as-to-be-wise-for-others-a-species-of/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
