--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Being wise, their gifts were no doubt…" description: "\"“Being wise, their gifts were no doubt wise ones, possibly bearing the privilege of exchange in case of duplication. And here I have lamely related to ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6d/o-henry-3281_greatest-treasure_being-wise-their-gifts-were-no-doubt-wis_2842380.jpg" --- # Being wise, their gifts were no doubt wise ones, possibly… ![“Being wise, their gifts were no doubt wise ones, possibly bearing the privilege of exchange in case of duplication. And here I have lamely related to you the uneventful chronicle of two foolish children in a flat who most unwisely sacrificed for each other the greatest treasures of their house…” quote by O. Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6d/o-henry-3281_greatest-treasure_being-wise-their-gifts-were-no-doubt-wis_2842380.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6d/o-henry-3281_greatest-treasure_being-wise-their-gifts-were-no-doubt-wis_2842380.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6d/o-henry-3281_greatest-treasure_being-wise-their-gifts-were-no-doubt-wis_2842380.jpg) > ““Being wise, their gifts were no doubt wise ones, possibly bearing the privilege of exchange in case of duplication. And here I have lamely related to you the uneventful chronicle of two foolish children in a flat who most unwisely sacrificed for each other the greatest treasures of their house. But in a last word to the wise of these days let it be said that of all who give gifts these two were the wisest. Of all who give and receive gifts, such as they are wisest. Everywhere they are wisest. They are the magi.”” [O. Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-henry/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Selfless sacrifice makes the giver the wisest, even when the gifts seem modest. **In simple terms:** Giving selflessly makes you wise. Key Takeaway Value generosity over material gain. Themes selflessness wisdom gift-giving family love Mood warm reflective inspirational Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - holiday celebrations - family gatherings - relationship milestones - charitable acts Key Concepts altruism sacrifice humility Questions to Reflect On - What would you give up for a loved one? - How does selfless giving change relationships? A Different Perspective Self‑interest can undermine true generosity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Greatest treasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatest-treasure/) [Last Word](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/last-word/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [“The magi, as you know, were wise men — wonderfully wise men — who brought gifts to the Babe in the manger. They invented…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/the-magi-as-you-know-were-wise-men-wonderfully-wise-men-who-brought/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [O all who give and receive gifts, such as they are wisest. Everywhere they are wisest. They are the magi.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-henry/o-all-who-give-and-receive-gifts-such-as-they-are-wisest-everywhere/) [O. Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-henry/) > [“And here I have lamely related to you the uneventful chronicle of two foolish children in a flat who most unwisely sacrificed for each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-henry/and-here-i-have-lamely-related-to-you-the-uneventful-chronicle-of-two/) [O. Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-henry/) > [The wise ones fashioned speech with their thought, sifting it as grain is sifted through a sieve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-wise-ones-fashioned-speech-with-their-thought-sifting-it-as-grain/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The wise ones don't grieve because they know that fact of the world. peace of mind can't be obedient from weeping.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/the-wise-ones-don-t-grieve-because-they-know-that-fact-of-the-world/) Mak\_786 > [We are all fools blessed with the knowledge that certain events will come to pass no matter what path we take to get there.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alethea-kontis/we-are-all-fools-blessed-with-the-knowledge-that-certain-events-will/) [Alethea Kontis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alethea-kontis/) > [In the game of life we learn from our mistakes as well as others. By then only the smart, wise ones really learned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/analiza-garcia/in-the-game-of-life-we-learn-from-our-mistakes-as-well-as-others-by/) [Analiza Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/analiza-garcia/) > [“The wise ones usually say that there is knowing in the knowing that one doesn't know.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unathi-magubeni/the-wise-ones-usually-say-that-there-is-knowing-in-the-knowing-that/) [Unathi Magubeni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/unathi-magubeni/) > [“Vitrags (the enlightened ones), those who are free from attachment, saw the world as flawless. Who are we, the wise ones to see the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/vitrags-the-enlightened-ones-those-who-are-free-from-attachment-saw/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“But he had seen so little of life and the world himself, that he could scarcely help being one-sided and narrow-minded; and as he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mrs-alfred-gatty/but-he-had-seen-so-little-of-life-and-the-world-himself-that-he-could/) Mrs. Alfred Gatty > [“Unathi Magubeni, Nwelezelanga: The Star Child The wise ones usually say that there is knowing in the knowing that one doesn't know.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unathi-magubeni/unathi-magubeni-nwelezelanga-the-star-child-the-wise-ones-usually-say/) [Unathi Magubeni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/unathi-magubeni/) > [Read all books in the world, it will not make you wise. Only wise ones are those who know, four letters that love comprise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kabir/read-all-books-in-the-world-it-will-not-make-you-wise-only-wise-ones/) [Kabir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kabir/) > [“The wise ones have been tortured by their minds for lifetimes - listen to what they have to say.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bert-mccoy/the-wise-ones-have-been-tortured-by-their-minds-for-lifetimes-listen/) [Bert McCoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bert-mccoy/) > [“The world belongs to us, the wise ones, we declare...will we be pirates or captains, slumlords or godparents of time? Will we burn the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-safina/the-world-belongs-to-us-the-wise-ones-we-declare-will-we-be-pirates/) [Carl Safina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-safina/) > [ “The wise ones say that there is knowing in the knowing that one doesn’t know. \[122\]” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unathi-magubeni/the-wise-ones-say-that-there-is-knowing-in-the-knowing-that-one-doesn/) [Unathi Magubeni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/unathi-magubeni/) ## More by O. Henry > [He seemed to be made of sunshine and blood-red tissue and clear weather.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-henry/he-seemed-to-be-made-of-sunshine-and-blood-red-tissue-and-clear/) [O. Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-henry/) > [My advice to you, if you should ever be in a hold up, is to line up with the cowards and save your bravery…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-henry/my-advice-to-you-if-you-should-ever-be-in-a-hold-up-is-to-line-up/) [O. Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-henry/) > [“It did not exactly beggar description, but it certainly had that word on the lookout for the mendicancy squad.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-henry/it-did-not-exactly-beggar-description-but-it-certainly-had-that-word/) [O. Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-henry/) > [Fortune is a prize to be won. Adventure is the road to it. Chance is what may lurk in the shadows at the roadside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-henry/fortune-is-a-prize-to-be-won-adventure-is-the-road-to-it-chance-is/) [O. Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-henry/) > [She plucked from my lapel the invisible strand of lint (the universal act of woman to proclaim ownership).](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-henry/she-plucked-from-my-lapel-the-invisible-strand-of-lint-the-universal/) [O. Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-henry/) > [There is no well defined boundary line between honesty and dishonesty. The frontiers of one blend with the outside limits of the other, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-henry/there-is-no-well-defined-boundary-line-between-honesty-and-dishonesty/) [O. Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-henry/) > [All great men have declared that they owe their sucess to the aid and encouragement of some brilliant woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-henry/all-great-men-have-declared-that-they-owe-their-sucess-to-the-aid-and/) [O. Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-henry/) > [Those whom we first love we seldom marry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-henry/those-whom-we-first-love-we-seldom-marry/) [O. Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-henry/) > [Young artists must pave their way to Art by drawing pictures for magazine stories that young authors write to pave their way to Literature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-henry/young-artists-must-pave-their-way-to-art-by-drawing-pictures-for/) [O. Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-henry/) > [A good story is like a bitter pill, with the sugar coating inside of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-henry/a-good-story-is-like-a-bitter-pill-with-the-sugar-coating-inside-of-it/) [O. Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-henry/) > [I've got some of my best yarns from park benches, lamp posts and newspaper stands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-henry/i-ve-got-some-of-my-best-yarns-from-park-benches-lamp-posts-and/) [O. Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-henry/) > [There are stories in everything. I've got some of my best yarns from park benches, lampposts, and newspaper stands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-henry/there-are-stories-in-everything-i-ve-got-some-of-my-best-yarns-from/) [O. Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-henry/) > [I never have time to read now. I did all my reading before I was twenty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-henry/i-never-have-time-to-read-now-i-did-all-my-reading-before-i-was-twenty/) [O. Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-henry/) > [Bride knoweth bride at the glance of an eye. And between them swiftly passes comfort and meaning in a language that man and widows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-henry/bride-knoweth-bride-at-the-glance-of-an-eye-and-between-them-swiftly/) [O. Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-henry/) > [No friendship is an accident.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-henry/no-friendship-is-an-accident/) [O. Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-henry/) [Explore all 135 O. Henry quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-henry/) ## More Greatest treasure quotes > [“The magi, as you know, were wise men — wonderfully wise men — who brought gifts to the Babe in the manger. They invented…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/the-magi-as-you-know-were-wise-men-wonderfully-wise-men-who-brought/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [Gratitude is the single greatest treasure I will take with me from this experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/gratitude-is-the-single-greatest-treasure-i-will-take-with-me-from/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [To me, those are the greatest treasures - the personal letters between my parents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carter-cash/to-me-those-are-the-greatest-treasures-the-personal-letters-between/) [John Carter Cash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carter-cash/) > [I am not a poor child, Lady Eleanor," Madelyne announced, letting her anger sound in her voice. "Duncan won't marry you. He won't sign…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-garwood/i-am-not-a-poor-child-lady-eleanor-madelyne-announced-letting-her/) [Julie Garwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-garwood/) > [How can they be delivered from the life of self, who are not willing to abandon all their possessions? How can they believe themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanne-marie-bouvier-de-la-motte-guyon/how-can-they-be-delivered-from-the-life-of-self-who-are-not-willing/) [Jeanne Marie Bouvier de la Motte Guyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanne-marie-bouvier-de-la-motte-guyon/) > [“You know that crazy heart of yours? The one with lightning crackling and moonlight shining through it. The one you’ve been told not to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-nordby/you-know-that-crazy-heart-of-yours-the-one-with-lightning-crackling/) [Jacob Nordby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-nordby/) > [For true Christians, the Bible is our greatest treasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-macarthur/for-true-christians-the-bible-is-our-greatest-treasure/) [John MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-macarthur/) > [“I pray that the world never runs out of dragons. I say that in all sincerity, though I have played a part in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-a-salvatore/i-pray-that-the-world-never-runs-out-of-dragons-i-say-that-in-all/) [R.A. Salvatore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-salvatore/) > [“For the Christian, the issue is not just that we give, but how. ‘God loves a cheerful giver’ (2 Cor. 9:7). And giving gladly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mathis/for-the-christian-the-issue-is-not-just-that-we-give-but-how-god/) [David Mathis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mathis/) > [“The best news in the world is that there is no conflict between your greatest possible happiness and God's perfect holiness. Being satisfied with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/the-best-news-in-the-world-is-that-there-is-no-conflict-between-your/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [“Real gold doesn't start its journey in a display window at Tiffany. It's dug out of the dirty earth. Sometimes true gold doesn't glitter.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cleo-coyle/real-gold-doesn-t-start-its-journey-in-a-display-window-at-tiffany-it/) Cleo Coyle > [Health is the greatest possession. Contentment is the greatest treasure. Confidence is the greatest friend. Non-being is the greatest joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lao-tzu/health-is-the-greatest-possession-contentment-is-the-greatest/) [Lao Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lao-tzu/) > [Lifes one of the greatest treasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/lifes-one-of-the-greatest-treasure/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The scriptures are one of our greatest treasures. They contain God’s instructions to His people from the beginning of time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-tom-perry/the-scriptures-are-one-of-our-greatest-treasures-they-contain-god-s/) [L. Tom Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-tom-perry/) > [“Hope is a constant companion in this life. It is the one thing that neither cruel nature, God, nor other men can wrench from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontsz/hope-is-a-constant-companion-in-this-life-it-is-the-one-thing-that/) Dean Koontsz [Browse all 96 Greatest treasure quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatest-treasure/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Being wise, their gifts were no doubt wise ones, possibly bearing the privilege of exchange in case of duplication. And here I have lamely related to you the uneventful chronicle of two foolish children in a flat who most unwisely sacrificed for each other the greatest treasures of their house. But in a last word to the wise of these days let it be said that of all who give gifts these two were the wisest. Of all who give and receive gifts, such as they are wisest. Everywhere they are wisest. They are the magi.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "O. 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