--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Wisdom consists in being able to…" description: "\"Wisdom consists in being able to distinguish among dangers and make a choice of the least harmful.\" — Niccolo Machiavelli" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5b/niccolo-machiavelli-368_able_wisdom-consists-in-being-able-to-disting_726275.jpg" --- # Wisdom consists in being able to distinguish among dangers… ![“Wisdom consists in being able to distinguish among dangers and make a choice of the least harmful.” quote by Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5b/niccolo-machiavelli-368_able_wisdom-consists-in-being-able-to-disting_726275.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5b/niccolo-machiavelli-368_able_wisdom-consists-in-being-able-to-disting_726275.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5b/niccolo-machiavelli-368_able_wisdom-consists-in-being-able-to-disting_726275.jpg) > “Wisdom consists in being able to distinguish among dangers and make a choice of the least harmful.” [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Wise decision‑making involves weighing risks to choose the least harmful option. **In simple terms:** Choose the safest path among dangers. Key Takeaway Prioritize minimizing harm in choices. Themes decision‑making risk assessment ethics Mood cautious pragmatic Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - business strategy - personal safety - policy development - conflict resolution Key Concepts philosophy strategy Questions to Reflect On - When is a risk worth taking? - How do you balance safety with ambition? A Different Perspective Choosing the least harmful may limit bold progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Able](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) [Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) [Choice Harmful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice-harmful-5698062/) [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Danger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/danger/) [Dangers Make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dangers-make-5698063/) [Distinguish Dangers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distinguish-dangers-5698061/) [Security](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/security/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) [Wisdom Consists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom-consists-753437/) ## Related quotes > [Wisdom consists of knowing how to distinguish the nature of trouble, and in choosing the lesser evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/wisdom-consists-of-knowing-how-to-distinguish-the-nature-of-trouble/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [Spiritual wisdom consists in finding out the subtleties, policies, and depths of any indwelling sin... to trace this serpent in all its turnings and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/spiritual-wisdom-consists-in-finding-out-the-subtleties-policies-and/) [John Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-owen/) > [“Wisdom consists in doing the next thing you have to do, doing it with your whole heart, and finding delight in doing it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meister-eckhart/wisdom-consists-in-doing-the-next-thing-you-have-to-do-doing-it-with/) [Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) > [“Perhaps the preacher is hoping to acquire from her reading what I call “middle wisdom.” Let’s say that middle wisdom consists of insights into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelius-plantinga-jr/perhaps-the-preacher-is-hoping-to-acquire-from-her-reading-what-i/) [Cornelius Plantinga Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelius-plantinga-jr/) > [I believe that all wisdom consists in caring immensely for a few right things, and not caring a straw about the rest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-buchan/i-believe-that-all-wisdom-consists-in-caring-immensely-for-a-few/) [John Buchan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-buchan/) > [“Trie and sound wisdom consists of two parts: the knowledge of God and of ourselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/trie-and-sound-wisdom-consists-of-two-parts-the-knowledge-of-god-and/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [True wisdom consists of tracing effects to their causes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/true-wisdom-consists-of-tracing-effects-to-their-causes/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [“My wisdom consists in my having been many things and in many places in order to become one person—in order to be able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/my-wisdom-consists-in-my-having-been-many-things-and-in-many-places/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“True and sound wisdom consists of two parts: the knowledge of God and of ourselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/true-and-sound-wisdom-consists-of-two-parts-the-knowledge-of-god-and/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [Wisdom consists of the anticipation of consequences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/wisdom-consists-of-the-anticipation-of-consequences/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [True wisdom consists in two things: Knowledge of God and Knowledge of Self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/true-wisdom-consists-in-two-things-knowledge-of-god-and-knowledge-of/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [Wisdom consists not so much in knowing what to do in the ultimate as in knowing what to do next.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-hoover/wisdom-consists-not-so-much-in-knowing-what-to-do-in-the-ultimate-as/) [Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/) > [“I find a naturalistic understanding of human nature to be indispensable to leading a wise and mature life, and it is often exhilarating. Wisdom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/i-find-a-naturalistic-understanding-of-human-nature-to-be/) [Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/) > [“Nearly all the wisdom we possess, that is to say, true and sound wisdom, consists of two parts: the knowledge of God and of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/nearly-all-the-wisdom-we-possess-that-is-to-say-true-and-sound-wisdom/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [It seems to take a lifetime for us to learn that wisdom consists largely in a graceful acceptance of things that do not immediately…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myrtle-reed/it-seems-to-take-a-lifetime-for-us-to-learn-that-wisdom-consists/) [Myrtle Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myrtle-reed/) ## More by Niccolo Machiavelli > [Men generally decide upon a middle course, which is most hazardous, for they know neither how to be entirely good nor entirely bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/men-generally-decide-upon-a-middle-course-which-is-most-hazardous-for/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [Because there are three classes of intellects: one which comprehends by itself; another which appreciates what others comprehend; and a third which neither comprehends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/because-there-are-three-classes-of-intellects-one-which-comprehends/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [It is the duty of a man of honor to teach others the good which he has not been able to do himself because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/it-is-the-duty-of-a-man-of-honor-to-teach-others-the-good-which-he/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [“Anyone who believes that new benefits make men of high station forget old injuries deceives himself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/anyone-who-believes-that-new-benefits-make-men-of-high-station-forget/) [Niccolò Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [He who has once begun to live by rapine always finds reasons for taking what is not his.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/he-who-has-once-begun-to-live-by-rapine-always-finds-reasons-for/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [Everyone who wants to know what will happen ought to examine what has happened: everything in this world in any epoch has their replicas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/everyone-who-wants-to-know-what-will-happen-ought-to-examine-what-has/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [Speaking generally, men are ungrateful, fickle, hypocritical, fearful odanger and covetous ogain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/speaking-generally-men-are-ungrateful-fickle-hypocritical-fearful/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [There is nothing as likely to succeed as what the enemy believes you cannot attempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/there-is-nothing-as-likely-to-succeed-as-what-the-enemy-believes-you/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [For the great majority of mankind are satisfied with appearance, as though they were realities and are often more influenced by the things that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/for-the-great-majority-of-mankind-are-satisfied-with-appearance-as/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [That prince is highly esteemed who conveys this impression of himself, and he who is highly esteemed is not easily conspired against; for, provided…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/that-prince-is-highly-esteemed-who-conveys-this-impression-of-himself/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [“Anyone who studies present and ancient affairs will easily see how in all cities and all peoples there still exist, and have always existed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/anyone-who-studies-present-and-ancient-affairs-will-easily-see-how-in/) [Niccolò Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [I believe that it is possible for one to praise, without concern, any man after he is dead since every reason and supervision for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/i-believe-that-it-is-possible-for-one-to-praise-without-concern-any/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [Men are always averse to enterprises in which they foresee difficulties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/men-are-always-averse-to-enterprises-in-which-they-foresee/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [“He who causes another to become powerful ruins himself, for he brings such a power into being either by design or by force, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/he-who-causes-another-to-become-powerful-ruins-himself-for-he-brings/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [One never finds anything perfectly pure and ... exempt from danger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/one-never-finds-anything-perfectly-pure-and-exempt-from-danger/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) [Explore all 590 Niccolo Machiavelli quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) ## 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 Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. 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