---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Such is the nature of men, that howsoever…"
description: "\"Such is the nature of men, that howsoever they may acknowledge many others to be more witty, or more eloquent, or more learned; yet they will hardly be..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/67e/thomas-hobbes-1127_acknowledge_such-is-the-nature-of-men-that-howsoever_324819.jpg"
---

#  Such is the nature of men, that howsoever they may…

![“Such is the nature of men, that howsoever they may acknowledge many others to be more witty, or more eloquent, or more learned; yet they will hardly believe there be many so wise as themselves.” quote by Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/67e/thomas-hobbes-1127_acknowledge_such-is-the-nature-of-men-that-howsoever_324819.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/67e/thomas-hobbes-1127_acknowledge_such-is-the-nature-of-men-that-howsoever_324819.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/67e/thomas-hobbes-1127_acknowledge_such-is-the-nature-of-men-that-howsoever_324819.jpg)

> “Such is the nature of men, that howsoever they may acknowledge many others to be more witty, or more eloquent, or more learned; yet they will hardly believe there be many so wise as themselves.”

[Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/)

## About This Quote

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

People tend to overestimate their own wisdom while undervaluing others', leading to inflated self‑assessment.

**In simple terms:** We think we’re wiser than we are.

Key Takeaway

Check humility in judgments.

Themes

ego wisdom self‑assessment humility

Mood

reflective critical

Type

philosophical observational

When to use this quote

- decision making
- leadership
- team meetings
- peer review

Key Concepts

cognitive bias overconfidence self‑deception

Questions to Reflect On

- When have you misjudged your own wisdom?
- How can you better evaluate others’ insights?

A Different Perspective

Self‑assessment can be accurate in some contexts.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Eloquent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eloquent/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise/) [Witty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/witty/)

## Related quotes

> [“For such is the nature of man, that howsoever they may acknowledge many others to be more witty, or more eloquent, or more learned;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/for-such-is-the-nature-of-man-that-howsoever-they-may-acknowledge/)

[Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/)

> [We could hardly believe that after so many ordeals, after all the trials of modern skepticism, there was still so much left in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-herzen/we-could-hardly-believe-that-after-so-many-ordeals-after-all-the/)

[Alexander Herzen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-herzen/)

> [“his first dawn without Willowbreeze. He could hardly believe the”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-hunter/his-first-dawn-without-willowbreeze-he-could-hardly-believe-the/)

[Erin Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-hunter/)

> [“I’d never dreamed anybody could love me the way he did. And even when he proved it to me time and again – I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ranata-suzuki/i-d-never-dreamed-anybody-could-love-me-the-way-he-did-and-even-when/)

[Ranata Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ranata-suzuki/)

> [“I do not believe in any wise man until I have heard him say &lt;&lt; I doubt it&gt;&gt; three times and &lt;&lt; I don’t know &gt;&gt; two times.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alphonse-karr/i-do-not-believe-in-any-wise-man-until-i-have-heard-him-say-i-doubt/)

[Alphonse Karr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alphonse-karr/)

> [The wisest man is he who does not believe he is wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/proverb/the-wisest-man-is-he-who-does-not-believe-he-is-wise/)

Proverb

> [“I’ve come to believe that wise people don’t tell us what to do; they start by witnessing our story. They take the anecdotes, rationalizations,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/i-ve-come-to-believe-that-wise-people-don-t-tell-us-what-to-do-they/)

[David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/)

> [Non est, crede mihi, sapientis dicere 'Vivam': Sera nimis vita est crastina: vive hodie. Believe me, wise men don't say 'I shall live to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martial/non-est-crede-mihi-sapientis-dicere-vivam-sera-nimis-vita-est/)

[Martial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martial/)

> [“You believe me wise because I taught you once, but I have not been north, as you have. You have seen (what) I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-wolfe/you-believe-me-wise-because-i-taught-you-once-but-i-have-not-been/)

[Gene Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-wolfe/)

> [“It may be laid down as a general rule to which there are few exceptions that, when people are mistaken as to what is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/it-may-be-laid-down-as-a-general-rule-to-which-there-are-few/)

[Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/)

> [For such is the nature of men, that howsoever they may acknowledge many others to be more witty, or more eloquent, or more learned,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/for-such-is-the-nature-of-men-that-howsoever-they-may-acknowledge/)

[Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/)

> [“It was the most eloquent silence I ever heard.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-halse-anderson/it-was-the-most-eloquent-silence-i-ever-heard/)

[Laurie Halse Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-halse-anderson/)

> [His eyes, I’d long since discovered, could be as eloquent and expressive as his pen. The messages they sent me now hardly seemed decent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/his-eyes-i-d-long-since-discovered-could-be-as-eloquent-and/)

[Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/)

> [J. Budziszewski is perhaps the clearest and most eloquent natural lawyer writing today. When reading his works I often find myself amazed by his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-j-beckwith/j-budziszewski-is-perhaps-the-clearest-and-most-eloquent-natural/)

[Francis J. Beckwith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-j-beckwith/)

> [We believe a scientist because he can substantiate his remarks, not because he is eloquent and forcible in his enunciation. In fact, we distrust…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i-a-richards/we-believe-a-scientist-because-he-can-substantiate-his-remarks-not/)

[I. A. Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/i-a-richards/)

## More by Thomas Hobbes

> [“Give an inch, he'll take an ell.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/give-an-inch-he-ll-take-an-ell/)

[Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/)

> [Do not that to another, which thou wouldst not have done to thyself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/do-not-that-to-another-which-thou-wouldst-not-have-done-to-thyself/)

[Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/)

> [For it is with the mysteries of our religion, as with wholesome pills for the sick, which swallowed whole, have the virtue to cure;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/for-it-is-with-the-mysteries-of-our-religion-as-with-wholesome-pills/)

[Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/)

> [Intemperance is naturally punished with diseases; rashness, with mischance; injustice; with violence of enemies; pride, with ruin; cowardice, with oppression; and rebellion, with slaughter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/intemperance-is-naturally-punished-with-diseases-rashness-with/)

[Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/)

> [A man's conscience and his judgment is the same thing; and as the judgment, so also the conscience, may be erroneous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/a-man-s-conscience-and-his-judgment-is-the-same-thing-and-as-the/)

[Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/)

> [He that is to govern a whole Nation , must read in himself, not this, or that particular man; but Mankind; which though it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/he-that-is-to-govern-a-whole-nation-must-read-in-himself-not-this-or/)

[Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/)

> [If men are naturally in a state of war, why do they always carry arms and why do they have keys to lock their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/if-men-are-naturally-in-a-state-of-war-why-do-they-always-carry-arms/)

[Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/)

> [Let a man (as most men do) rate themselves as the highest Value they can; yet their true Value is no more than it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/let-a-man-as-most-men-do-rate-themselves-as-the-highest-value-they/)

[Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/)

> [A free man is he that, in those things which by his strength and wit he is able to do, is not hindered to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/a-free-man-is-he-that-in-those-things-which-by-his-strength-and-wit/)

[Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/)

> [“Covenants, without the sword, are but words and of no strength to secure a man at all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/covenants-without-the-sword-are-but-words-and-of-no-strength-to/)

[Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/)

> [Fear of things invisible in the natural seed of that which everyone in himself calleth religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/fear-of-things-invisible-in-the-natural-seed-of-that-which-everyone/)

[Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/)

> [Because silver and gold have their value from the matter itself, they have first this privilege, that the value of them cannot be altered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/because-silver-and-gold-have-their-value-from-the-matter-itself-they/)

[Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/)

> [What reason is there that he which laboreth much, and, sparing the fruits of his labor, consumeth little, should be more charged than he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/what-reason-is-there-that-he-which-laboreth-much-and-sparing-the/)

[Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/)

> [The cause of Sense, is the External Body, or Object, which presseth the organ proper to each Sense, either immediately, as in theTaste and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/the-cause-of-sense-is-the-external-body-or-object-which-presseth-the/)

[Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/)

> [The characters of man's heart, blotted and confounded as they are with dissembling, lying, counterfeiting, and erroneous doctrines, are legible only to him that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/the-characters-of-man-s-heart-blotted-and-confounded-as-they-are-with/)

[Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/)

[Explore all 285 Thomas Hobbes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/)

## More Acknowledge quotes

> [Black music has always known, and not been afraid to acknowledge just how high the stakes of Black thought are. To summarize the final…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-b-wilderson-iii/black-music-has-always-known-and-not-been-afraid-to-acknowledge-just/)

Frank B. Wilderson III

> [I'm a Christian because Christianity names and addresses sin. It acknowledges the reality that the evil we observe in the world is also present…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-held-evans/i-m-a-christian-because-christianity-names-and-addresses-sin-it/)

[Rachel Held Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-held-evans/)

> [The only way to ease our fear and be truly happy is to acknowledge our fear and look deeply at its source. Instead of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-way-to-ease-our-fear-and-be-truly-happy-is-to-acknowledge/)

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

> [On Thanksgiving Day we acknowledge our dependence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-jennings-bryan/on-thanksgiving-day-we-acknowledge-our-dependence/)

[William Jennings Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-jennings-bryan/)

> [You can't go into games with any fear. You can acknowledge a good team but you can't go in worrying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reece-james/you-can-t-go-into-games-with-any-fear-you-can-acknowledge-a-good-team/)

[Reece James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reece-james/)

> [Conservative feminism is such an artificial term that doesn't mean much to me. For me conservatism means accepting reality. I acknowledge that there are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristina-schroder/conservative-feminism-is-such-an-artificial-term-that-doesn-t-mean/)

[Kristina Schroder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristina-schroder/)

> [We must acknowledge that bearing and raising children is not some pesky, peripheral activity that we engage in, but the whole point.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-maushart/we-must-acknowledge-that-bearing-and-raising-children-is-not-some/)

[Susan Maushart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-maushart/)

> [When we pray, we must begin by conceiving God in full and vigorous images, but we must go on to acknowledge the inadequacy of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-farrer/when-we-pray-we-must-begin-by-conceiving-god-in-full-and-vigorous/)

[Austin Farrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-farrer/)

> [Acknowledging foolishness is a very powerful and important experience. We could almost say that being willing to be a fool is one of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/acknowledging-foolishness-is-a-very-powerful-and-important-experience/)

[Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/)

> [Actually, when I look at my old notebooks, I think I have been a bit self-indulgent and have given myself too much time to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/actually-when-i-look-at-my-old-notebooks-i-think-i-have-been-a-bit/)

[Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/)

> [I would like, then, to end by putting in a good word for the non-industrious poor. At least they aren’t hurting anyone. Insofar as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-graeber/i-would-like-then-to-end-by-putting-in-a-good-word-for-the-non/)

[David Graeber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-graeber/)

> [No one seriously doubts Socrates' maxim: The unexamined life isn't worth living. Self-assessment and attempts at self-improvement are essential aspects of "the good life."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-burton/no-one-seriously-doubts-socrates-maxim-the-unexamined-life-isn-t/)

[Robert A. Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-burton/)

> [As objects of contemplation, images of the atrocious can answer to several different needs. To steel oneself against weakness. To make oneself more numb.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sontag/as-objects-of-contemplation-images-of-the-atrocious-can-answer-to/)

[Susan Sontag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sontag/)

> [It is in the measure that special methods acknowledge their common core in transcendental method, that norms common to all the sciences will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-lonergan/it-is-in-the-measure-that-special-methods-acknowledge-their-common/)

[Bernard Lonergan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-lonergan/)

> [I can hear of the brilliant accomplishments of any of my sex with pleasure and rejoice in that liberality of sentiment which acknowledges them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abigail-adams/i-can-hear-of-the-brilliant-accomplishments-of-any-of-my-sex-with/)

[Abigail Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abigail-adams/)

Browse all 1,475 Acknowledge quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Such is the nature of men, that howsoever they may acknowledge many others to be more witty, or more eloquent, or more learned; yet they will hardly believe there be many so wise as themselves.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Thomas Hobbes"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/such-is-the-nature-of-men-that-howsoever-they-may-acknowledge-many/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Acknowledge"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/such-is-the-nature-of-men-that-howsoever-they-may-acknowledge-many/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/67e/thomas-hobbes-1127_acknowledge_such-is-the-nature-of-men-that-howsoever_324819.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/67e/thomas-hobbes-1127_acknowledge_such-is-the-nature-of-men-that-howsoever_324819.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/67e/thomas-hobbes-1127_acknowledge_such-is-the-nature-of-men-that-howsoever_324819.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Such is the nature of men, that howsoever they may acknowledge many others to be more witty, or more…” — Thomas Hobbes",
                "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": "Thomas Hobbes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Such is the nature of men,...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/such-is-the-nature-of-men-that-howsoever-they-may-acknowledge-many/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/such-is-the-nature-of-men-that-howsoever-they-may-acknowledge-many/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
