--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The wise through excess of wisdom is made…" description: "\"The wise through excess of wisdom is made a fool.\" — Ralph Waldo Emerson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/67a/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_excess_the-wise-through-excess-of-wisdom-is-mad_1482657.png" --- # The wise through excess of wisdom is made a fool. ![“The wise through excess of wisdom is made a fool.” quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/67a/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_excess_the-wise-through-excess-of-wisdom-is-mad_1482657.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/67a/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_excess_the-wise-through-excess-of-wisdom-is-mad_1482657.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/67a/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_excess_the-wise-through-excess-of-wisdom-is-mad_1482657.png) > “The wise through excess of wisdom is made a fool.” [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Excessive wisdom can become foolishness, warning against overintellectualizing. **In simple terms:** Too much wisdom makes a fool. Key Takeaway Balance knowledge with humility. Themes wisdom foolishness humility excess Mood thoughtful cautionary Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - academic pursuits - decision making - personal growth Key Concepts philosophy self-awareness critical thinking Questions to Reflect On - When does wisdom become folly? - How to stay humble while learning? A Different Perspective Knowledge without application can be empty. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Excess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excess/) [Fool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fool/) [Foolishness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foolishness/) [Fools and foolishness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fools-and-foolishness/) [Fools and wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fools-and-wise/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) [Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise/) ## Related quotes > [A man is a golden impossibility. The line he must walk is a hair's breadth. The wise through excess of wisdom is made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-man-is-a-golden-impossibility-the-line-he-must-walk-is-a-hair-s/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“The wise man through an excess of wisdom is made a fool.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-wise-man-through-an-excess-of-wisdom-is-made-a-fool/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Wise men learn more from fools than fools from the wise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cato-the-elder/wise-men-learn-more-from-fools-than-fools-from-the-wise/) [Cato the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cato-the-elder/) > [Fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/fools-and-fanatics-are-always-so-certain-of-themselves/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [A fool and his money are soon partying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/a-fool-and-his-money-are-soon-partying/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [The follies of the wise man are known to himself, but hidden from the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/the-follies-of-the-wise-man-are-known-to-himself-but-hidden-from-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [A fellow who is always declaring that he's no fool, usually has his suspicions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilson-mizner/a-fellow-who-is-always-declaring-that-he-s-no-fool-usually-has-his/) [Wilson Mizner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilson-mizner/) > [A fool and his money are soon parted. - Five Hundred Points of Good Husbandry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-tusser/a-fool-and-his-money-are-soon-parted-five-hundred-points-of-good/) [Thomas Tusser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-tusser/) > [Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-foxx/fool-me-once-shame-on-you-fool-me-twice-shame-on-you/) [Virginia Foxx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-foxx/) > [A fool despises good counsel, but a wise man takes it to heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/a-fool-despises-good-counsel-but-a-wise-man-takes-it-to-heart/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [A fool and his money are soon married.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-wells/a-fool-and-his-money-are-soon-married/) [Carolyn Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-wells/) > [A fool and his money are soon invited everywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/a-fool-and-his-money-are-soon-invited-everywhere/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [To know is not to be wise. To know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/to-know-is-not-to-be-wise-to-know-how-to-use-knowledge-is-to-have/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [Wise people are foolish if they cannot adapt to foolish people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/wise-people-are-foolish-if-they-cannot-adapt-to-foolish-people/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [“If fifty million people say a foolish thing, it is still a foolish thing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatole-france/if-fifty-million-people-say-a-foolish-thing-it-is-still-a-foolish/) [Anatole France](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatole-france/) ## More by Ralph Waldo Emerson > [The history of mankind interests us only as it exhibits a steady gain of truth and right, in the incessant conflict which it records…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-history-of-mankind-interests-us-only-as-it-exhibits-a-steady-gain/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [If we will not interfere with our thought, but will act entirely, or see how the thing stands in God, we know the particular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-we-will-not-interfere-with-our-thought-but-will-act-entirely-or/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [A man cannot speak but he judges himself. With his will or against his will he draws his portrait to the eye of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-man-cannot-speak-but-he-judges-himself-with-his-will-or-against-his/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Consideration is the soil in which wisdom may be expected to grow, and strength be given to every up-springing plant of duty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/consideration-is-the-soil-in-which-wisdom-may-be-expected-to-grow-and/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“There is then creative reading as well as creative writing. When the mind is braced by labor and invention, the page of whatever book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/there-is-then-creative-reading-as-well-as-creative-writing-when-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The order of things consents to virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-order-of-things-consents-to-virtue/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Life only avails, not the having lived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/life-only-avails-not-the-having-lived/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Another success is the post-office, with its educating energy augmented by cheapness and guarded by a certain religious sentimentin mankind; so that the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/another-success-is-the-post-office-with-its-educating-energy/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [A child reminds us that playtime is an essential part of our daily routine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-child-reminds-us-that-playtime-is-an-essential-part-of-our-daily/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [No man can be criticised but by a greater than he. Do not, then, read the reviews.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/no-man-can-be-criticised-but-by-a-greater-than-he-do-not-then-read/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Coal lay in ledges under the ground since the Flood, until a laborer with pick and windlass brings it to the surface. We may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/coal-lay-in-ledges-under-the-ground-since-the-flood-until-a-laborer/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [I am; therefore, I had nothing better to do than to think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/i-am-therefore-i-had-nothing-better-to-do-than-to-think/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [In a library we are surrounded by many hundreds of dear friends, but they are imprisoned by an enchanter in these paper and leathern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/in-a-library-we-are-surrounded-by-many-hundreds-of-dear-friends-but/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The compensations of calamity are made apparent to the understanding also, after long intervals of time. A fever, a mutilation, a cruel disappointment, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-compensations-of-calamity-are-made-apparent-to-the-understanding/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) [Explore all 4,802 Ralph Waldo Emerson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) ## More Excess quotes > [In discovering books, you became free to explore the full range of human motives, desires, secrets, and lies. All my life, people have scolded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/in-discovering-books-you-became-free-to-explore-the-full-range-of/) [Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/) > [My conscience is really active. So I feel bad about spending excess amount of money on things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syd/my-conscience-is-really-active-so-i-feel-bad-about-spending-excess/) [Syd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/syd/) > [Christianity does not oppose debauchery and uncontrollable passions and the like as much as it opposes... flat mediocrity, this nauseating atmosphere, this homey, civil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/christianity-does-not-oppose-debauchery-and-uncontrollable-passions/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) > [A too closely watched flower/blossoms the wrong color./Excess attention to the jonquil/turns it gentian. Flowers/need it tranquil to get/their hues right. Some/only open at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-ryan/a-too-closely-watched-flower-blossoms-the-wrong-color-excess/) [Kay Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-ryan/) > [This isn't a picture filled with wonder and a sense of fun; it's so jaded and crass that I almost wonder if it's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-zacharek/this-isn-t-a-picture-filled-with-wonder-and-a-sense-of-fun-it-s-so/) [Stephanie Zacharek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-zacharek/) > [Enjoy the necessities of life but eschew the excesses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-gardner/enjoy-the-necessities-of-life-but-eschew-the-excesses/) [Ian Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-gardner/) > [Most of us try to do too much because we are secretly afraid we will not be able to do anything at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-aster/most-of-us-try-to-do-too-much-because-we-are-secretly-afraid-we-will/) Rick Aster > [As the future is never known with certainty, the evaluation of the prospective benefits requires the formation of expectations. An acceptable house, partner or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-t-mortensen/as-the-future-is-never-known-with-certainty-the-evaluation-of-the/) [Dale T. Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-t-mortensen/) > [I believe that government should confine itself to the public realm and that it should be as stripped down as possible, within reason. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/i-believe-that-government-should-confine-itself-to-the-public-realm/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [All excess is ill; but drunkenness is of the worst sort. It spoils health, dismounts the mind, and unmans men. It reveals secrets, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/all-excess-is-ill-but-drunkenness-is-of-the-worst-sort-it-spoils/) [William Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-penn/) > [“The Deliverator belongs to an elite order, a hallowed subcategory. He’s got esprit up to here. Right now, he is preparing to carry out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/the-deliverator-belongs-to-an-elite-order-a-hallowed-subcategory-he-s/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [Well, as you know, we're working through a difficult period in our financial markets right now as we work off some of the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-paulson/well-as-you-know-we-re-working-through-a-difficult-period-in-our/) [Henry Paulson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-paulson/) > [The saints differ from us in their exuberance, the excess of our human talents. Moderation is not their secret. It is in the wildness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-mcginley/the-saints-differ-from-us-in-their-exuberance-the-excess-of-our-human/) [Phyllis McGinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-mcginley/) > [Despite the recent conviction of many that we're headed back to inflation, I think deflation remains the more likely prospect. You've just got too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-shilling/despite-the-recent-conviction-of-many-that-we-re-headed-back-to/) [Gary Shilling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-shilling/) > [ Look at what I am proposing, and we \[wih Bernie Sanders\] have a vigorous agreement here. We both want to reign in the excesses… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/look-at-what-i-am-proposing-and-we-wih-bernie-sanders-have-a-vigorous/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) [Browse all 952 Excess quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excess/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The wise through excess of wisdom is made a fool.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ralph Waldo Emerson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-wise-through-excess-of-wisdom-is-made-a-fool/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Excess" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-wise-through-excess-of-wisdom-is-made-a-fool/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/67a/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_excess_the-wise-through-excess-of-wisdom-is-mad_1482657.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/67a/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_excess_the-wise-through-excess-of-wisdom-is-mad_1482657.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/67a/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_excess_the-wise-through-excess-of-wisdom-is-mad_1482657.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The wise through excess of wisdom is made a fool.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson", "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": "Ralph Waldo Emerson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The wise through excess of wisdom...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-wise-through-excess-of-wisdom-is-made-a-fool/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-wise-through-excess-of-wisdom-is-made-a-fool/#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 } } ] } ```